Australian engineering and construction firm Seymour Whyte will start construction on the upgrade of the Coomera Interchange (Exit 54) on the Pacific Motorway in Queensland, Australia.

Around 163 jobs will be created as part of the A$74.7m ($54.9m) project on the Gold Coast, which will help reduce congestion through the busy interchange.

Work under the upgrade project will include widening of the off-ramp in both directions and is expected to be completed in time for the opening of Scentre Group’s new Coomera Town Centre.

"The upgrade would ease the pressure of rapid residential and commercial growth along the motorway."

Additional activities include upgrading both existing roundabouts to signalised intersections in order to reduce the risk of queuing on the motorway ramps.

As part of the project, a new bridge will be built to the north of the existing bridge over the Pacific Motorway for eastbound traffic and is scheduled to be completed next year.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said: "The upgrade would ease the pressure of rapid residential and commercial growth along the motorway.

"In the past ten years, the area’s rapid growth has led to the current interchange reaching capacity."

Queensland minister for main roads and road safety Mark Bailey said: "It demonstrates the Australian and Queensland Governments’ commitment to delivering enhanced transport infrastructure that will serve the Gold Coast for decades to come."

In addition to improving pedestrian and cycle safety, the upgrade will reduce the number of rear-end crashes at the end of the exit ramps, as well as provide better access to the new Coomera Town Centre.

The project is jointly funded with A$47.4m ($34.8m) from the Queensland government, A$10m ($7.3m) from the Australian Government and A$17.3m ($12.7m) from Scentre Group.