Sunshine Motorway
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Sunshine Motorway Queensland |
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|---|---|
| Type | Freeway |
| Length | 45.3 km (28 mi) |
| Route number(s) |
 State Route 70 |
| South end |
 Bruce Highway (State Highway M1, Sippy Downs
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|
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| North end | Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville |
| Major suburbs / towns | Mountain Creek, Maroochydore, Pacific Paradise, Coolum Beach, Peregian Springs, Weyba Downs |
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Highways in Australia National Highway • Freeways in Australia Highways in Queensland |
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Brisbane Road (State Route 6)
Maroochydore Road
Yandina Coolum Road (State Route 11)
The Sunshine Motorway is a thirty-three kilometre Australian motorway on the Sunshine Coast region of Queensland, just north of Brisbane. It was initially a tolled motorway before these were removed in 1996 after excessive complaint regarding any such need of a toll. It is part of State Route 70, which extends north a further 12.3 kilometres to Noosaville. For completeness, and to aid in understanding of the usage of this road, the extension is included in this article.
The Sunshine Motorway is unusual in as much as it is a low budget motorway and also because it changes direction dramatically from East-West to North-South at the Nicklin Way interchange. It starts at the interchange with the Bruce Highway at Palmview continuing east past Sippy Downs and Mountain Creek where it then meets the Nicklin Way and heads North to end at the Emu Mountain Road near Peregian Beach. Because it is low budget, most of the traffic travels in only one lane in each direction, however from the Bruce Highway to Kawana Way and from the Nicklin Way to the Mudjimba/David Low Way exit it is dual carriageway. Towns along the motorway include Mooloolaba and Maroochydore, both of which are known for being holiday spots.
The Queensland State Government has committed to spending a large amount of money on duplication sections of the Sunshine Motorway, due to significant growth within the area. The latest upgrade was completed in 2008, along with the Maroochydore Road upgrade.
Stage One of the motorway (Bruce Highway to Pacific Paradise) opened on 20 January 1990. This section contained three toll booths, and was completely grade-separated.
Stage Two of the motorway (Pacific Paradise to Peregian Springs) was officially opened on 29 December 1993. Unlike Stage One, this section did not include toll booths, but did pass through two large roundabouts. Emu Mountain Road was realigned and reconstructed to carry motorway traffic to Eumundi-Noosa, on which work was completed in October 1993.
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