On 27 July 2016, the M1 Pacific Motorway-Gateway Motorway Merge Upgrade (southbound lanes) project was positively assessed as a Priority Project on the Infrastructure Priority List.

The project would reduce congestion by reducing existing motorway merge points and reconfigure bus ramps. The Pacific Motorway between Tugun and Brisbane is the busiest road corridor in Queensland, and is part of the National Land Transport Network between Sydney and Brisbane.