Length:

1802 km (Eight Mile Plains to Brisbane River: 16 km)

Termini:

Northern: Draper St (unnumbered), Portsmith

Southern: NSW Border at Tugun

Miscellaneous:

Continues as Pacific Mwy (M1) in NSW

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Eight Mile Plains, Rochedale, Mackenzie, Belmont, Tingalpa and Murarrie

Current: M1

Former: 1 1 20

Road Authority Internal Classification: ¹

N332

General Information:

The M1 / A1 corridor is the main coastal route from the NSW border to the northern tip of the east coast of Australia, and links major cities and towns with Brisbane, and beyond the NSW border, Sydney.

The Gateway Motorway passes through Brisbane's eastern suburbs, and services mostly residential and industrial areas, both north and south of the Brisbane River. It provides access to ports and the airport.

The Gateway Motorway features dual bridges over the Brisbane River, once known as the Gateway Bridges, but now named Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges, named after an Australian senior public servant and administrator. The bridges operate under an electronic tolling system where motorists pay via a transponder or temporary online account.

The bridges have a number of interesting features including: ²

A height clearance of 55 m over the high tide mark of the Brisbane River, to allow the largest of ships to pass safely under the bridge.

A clear span width of at least 230 m so ships of varying size and width could safely manoeuvre under the bridge.

A maximum 80 m height of the superstructure (including the height of the lamp posts and direction signs) so as not to interfere with flight paths of aircraft taking off or landing at Brisbane Airport.

At the time of its completion, the bridge boasted a number of Australian and world class achievements, including: ²

The longest cantilevered concrete box girder main river span, at a length of 260 m.

An erection truss weighing 650 t.

Stressing cables in the approach spans were the highest loaded cables in a structure in Australia, with 2200 t of 12 mm low relaxation stressing strand.

Bridge bearings, with a maximum tested load of 4300 t, were the biggest pot bearings made in Australia.

Gateway Motorway:

June 1980: The Gateway Bridge Company was established to oversee construction of the Gateway Bridge and, following construction, to maintain the bridge and collect tolls. ³

August 1980 Work began on the six-lane Gateway Bridge over Brisbane River. ²

December 1985: The Gateway Bridge and motorway approaches were completed.

1986: The Gateway Arterial was constructed in two stages and was completed.

11 January 1986: The original Gateway Bridge was officially opened. ⁴ Around 200,000 people attended the opening festivities and walked the new bridge.

19 September 1991: Wynnum Road to Lytton Road duplication opened by Minister for Transport David Hamill. ⁵

December 1993: Logan Road on-ramp opened. ⁵

September 1994: Miles Platting Road interchange opened. ⁵

1995: Construction began on a southern extension to the Logan Motorway, creating the Southern Brisbane Bypass, which eventually was renamed to Gateway Motorway. ⁶

13 May 1997: The Southern Brisbane Bypass was opened to traffic by Vaughan Johnson, then-Minister for Transport and Main Roads. ⁶

9 March 2007: Work starts on second Gateway Bridge over Brisbane River. ⁷

September 2008: An extra lane on the Gateway Motorway over Wynnum Road opened to traffic. ⁸

Click or tap here for photos of the former alignment between Loganholme and Eight Mile Plains.
Click or tap here for construction photos between Loganholme and Eight Mile Plains.

Eight Miles Plains to Brisbane River

Freeway Green Sign:

Freeway green Motorway Entrance sign at Eight Mile Plains, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Bus Way Exit:

ID sign at the entrance to the South East Busway, Rochedale, March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Miles Platting Rd interchange, Rochedale, July 2018. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the Miles Platting Rd interchange, Rochedale, July 2018. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Rochedale, August 2022.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Wishart approaching Mt Gravatta-Capalaba Rd (Metroad 2 / SR21), August 2022. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from July 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Wishart approaching Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Rd (SR21 / Metroad 2), August 2022. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from July 2018. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the interchange with Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Rd (SR21 / Metroad 2) at Wishart, August 2022. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from July 2018. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Belmont approaching Old Cleveland Rd (SR22), August 2022. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from July 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Belmont, approaching Old Cleveland Rd (SR22), August 2022.

Image © SUPPLIER

Old Cleveland Road:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Old Cleveland Rd (SR22) interchange, Belmont, August 2022.

Image © SUPPLIER

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Belmont on the off-ramp to Old Cleveland Rd (SR22), August 2022. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign at Tingalpa approaching Old Cleveland Rd (SR22), August 2022. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from July 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Wynnum Road:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Wynnum Rd (SR23) interchange at Tingalpa, August 2022. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from July 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Wynnum Road:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the Wynnum Rd (SR23) interchange, August 2022.

Image © Rob Tilley

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Tingalpa, August 2022.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Murarrie, approaching Port of Brisbane Mwy (M4), August 2022.

Image © Rob Tilley

Variable Messaging Sign:

VMS displaying travel times to next 3 exits, Murarrie, August 2022.

Image © Rob Tilley

Port of Brisbane Mwy Interchange:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Port of Brisbane Mwy (M4), August 2022. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from July 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Port of Brisbane Mwy Interchange:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Port of Brisbane Mwy (M4), August 2022. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Michael Greenslade from November 2012.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Leo Hielscher Bridge over Brisbane River at Murarrie, approaching Southern Cross Way & Kingsford Smith Dr (SR25), August 2022. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from July 2011.

Image © Rob Tilley

Brisbane River to Eight Miles Plains

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign over the lanes on Sir Leo Hielscher Bridge over the Brisbane River at Murarrie approaching Lytton Rd interchange, February 2015. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign over the lanes on Sir Leo Hielscher Bridge over the Brisbane River at Murarrie approaching Lytton Rd interchange, June 2012.

Image © Justin Cozart

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign over the lanes at Murarrie approaching Port of Brisbane Hwy (M4), February 2015. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Justin Cozart from June 2012.

Image © Rob Tilley

Port of Brisbane Mwy Interchange:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Port of Brisbane Mwy (M4), February 2015. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Justin Cozart from June 2012.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign for Wynnum Rd (SR23) interchange, June 2012.

Image © Justin Cozart

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Wynnum Rd (SR23), Tingalpa, August 2022. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Justin Cozart from June 2012.

Image © Rob Tilley

Wynnum Road Interchange:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Wynnum Rd (SR23) at Tingalpa. March 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Tingalpa, February 2015. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Justin Cozart from June 2012.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Belmont approaching Old Cleveland Rd (SR22) interchange, August 2022. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Justin Cozart from June 2012.

Image © Rob Tilley

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign at Belmont approaching Old Cleveland Rd (SR22) interchange, December 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Old Cleveland Rd (SR22) interchange at Belmont. August 2022. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Justin Cozart from June 2012.

Image © Rob Tilley

Old Cleveland Road Interchange:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Old Cleveland Rd (SR22) at Belmont. June 2012.

Image © Justin Cozart

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Rd (SR21 / Metroad 2) at Mackenzie, August 2022. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Rd (SR21 / Metroad 2) at Mackenzie, August 2022. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from November 2010.

Image © Rob Tilley

Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road Interchange:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Rd (SR21 / Metroad 2), Mackenzie, December 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on the off-ramp to Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Rd (SR21 / Metroad 2) at Mackenzie, December 2009. Note the incorrect M2 route number.

Image © Rob Tilley

Distance Sign:

Reassurance directional sign at Mackenzie, June 2012.

Image © Justin Cozart

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Rochedale approaching Miles Platting Rd and Pacific Mwy (M1) interchanges, August 2022. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Justin Cozart from June 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from December 2009. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from August 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching the interchange with Miles Platting Rd and Pacific Mwy (M1) at Rochedale, August 2022. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Justin Cozart from June 2012.

Image © Rob Tilley

Miles Platting Road Interchange:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at the interchange with Miles Platting Rd at Rochedale, August 2022. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Justin Cozart from June 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from August 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Pacific Motorway Interchange:

Gateway Mwy (M1) at Rochdedale at the interchange with Pacific Mwy (M1 and M3) and Gateway Mwy (M2), May 2016. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Justin Cozart from June 2012. Click or tap here for a photo (with exit numbering) of this location by Rob Tilley from August 2009. Click or tap here for a photo (without exit numbering) of this location by Rob Tilley from August 2009.

Image © Michael Greenslade