Constructing Lower Gold Coast Highway
Work is underway to construct a new retaining wall along the Lower Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads. These works are critical and will create additional space on the Gold Coast Highway for the light rail corridor.
What will change?
Gold Coast Highway currently accommodates four traffic lanes with a retaining wall that separates the Lower Gold Coast Highway.
Artist impression of the current traffic arrangement
At completion of our works, the Gold Coast Highway will be widened to accommodate two traffic lanes in both directions, and two light rail tracks.
Artists impression of final traffic arrangement, indicative only
Changes to the Gold Coast Highway
On-street parking on the southbound side of the Gold Coast Highway has been permanently removed
Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction
Two light rail tracks will be constructed in the centre of the Gold Coast Highway
A new light rail station will be constructed at Second Avenue.
Changes to the Lower Gold Coast Highway
Lower Gold Coast Highway will be reduced to one lane northbound
On-street parking will continue to be removed for the duration of construction, and permanently in some areas. View our interactive parking map to see where parking is retained.
Changes to pedestrian access
The pedestrian crossing at Second Avenue is closed for the duration of construction. Pedestrian access is provided via the new temporary crossing to the north of Fourth Avenue or south at West Burleigh Road
When light rail works are complete, pedestrian crossings will be available near Second and Fourth avenues, Burleigh Heads
What will the retaining wall look like?
A new retaining wall will be constructed the length of the Lower Gold Coast Highway which is approximately 900m long and will feature a sandblasted wave pattern to represent the nearby beach.
The area in front of the wall will be landscaped with low lying vegetation including shrubs and grasses.
A road safety barrier will be installed on top of the retaining wall. The road barrier will be a metal-slatted barrier which will be approximately 1metre high.
Building the retaining wall
Step 1: Site preparation
Saw cutting and excavation activities will occur along the length of the Lower Gold Coast Highway. These works will commence at West Burleigh Road and progress north to Ferny Fairway.
Timing: Mid-September 2023
Step 2: Wall demolition
Demolition of the existing retaining wall will be completed in block-by-block sections. Work will commence at West Burleigh Road and progress north along Lower Gold Coast Highway.
Timing: Mid-September to October 2023
Step 3: Piling
Construct the foundations of the new retaining wall with bored piles.
A pile is formed by drilling a hole into the ground with an auger (a drill resembling a large corkscrew) attached to a piling rig. A steel cage is placed into the hole and concrete is poured to form the pile. The top section of the piles then tied together to form a capping beam. More than 400 piles will be installed along the Lower Gold Coast Highway to construct the new retaining wall.
Step 4: Construct the new retaining wall
The new retaining wall panels will be constructed on-site.
Traffic changes
View the interactive construction map for traffic changes on Lower Gold Coast Highway.
