In 1982 a Logan City Road Needs study was undertaken. This study, together with the amalgamation of the Logan Shire and the northern sectors of the then Albert and Beaudesert shires and the consistently high rate of development in the area lead to a strong need for construction of the Logan Motorway.
‘The quick link' between the then Cunningham Arterial Road to the west, and the Pacific Highway to the east, was originally known as Goodna-Loganholme Road. The Logan Motorway was the missing link for residents, tourists and freight carriers to travel with ease to and from the Gold Coast, Moreton Bay, and the Darling Downs.
In August 1987, four separate contracts were awarded to complete different sections of the motorway. Construction of the motorway commenced on 1 October 1987.
In 1997 the Logan Motorway was upgraded to four lanes (two each way) and the Gateway Extension was constructed.
The Paradise Road Interchange was constructed in 2007 with two additional toll plazas being added onto the Logan Motorway Network. These toll plazas were later replaced with overhead tolling gantries as part of the introduction of free-flow tolling. This interchange is a vital transport solution to cater for anticipated growth in local and freight traffic generated by rapidly increasing commercial and industrial developments near Paradise Road, including Motorway Business Park and Woolworths' distribution facility. It provides direct access to and from Paradise Road to the motorway for local, commercial and heavy vehicles traffic that would otherwise rely on the local roads for access to these developments.
Engineering and unique construction
Design and construction took place over four different sections of the Motorway by four different design and construction companies.
Section 1 Ipswich Rd/Logan Motorway Interchange
Designed by Bornhorst Pty Ltd
Constructed by Thiess Contractors Pty Ltd
Section 2 Oxley Creek to Stapylton Rd
Designed by Gutteridge Haskins Pty Ltd
Constructed by White Industries Pty Ltd
Section 3 Mt Lindsay Highway to Kingston-Beenleigh Rd
Designed by Macdonald Wagner Pty Ltd
Constructed by John Holland Constructions Pty Ltd
Section 4 Kingston-Beenleigh Rd to Pacific Motorway
Designed by Rankine and Hill Pty Ltd
Constructed by Thiess Watkins Pty Ltd
Throughout the project over 32 kilometres of road, 21 bridges and three toll plazas (including amenities buildings and closed circuit television security systems) were constructed.
Official opening
On 13 December 1988, the construction phase of the Logan Motorway was complete. Tagged as ‘the quick link', the motorway granted the first customers a toll free period for one week after its opening.
Traffic
When the Logan Motorway opened to traffic, it was a double lane motorway (single lanes each way) and saw approximately 6000 motorists travel through its toll plazas per day.
Now, over 90,000 vehicles travel along the Logan Motorway a day.