Construction has begun on Varsity Lakes/Reedy Creek interchange (Exit 85)

By Krystal Etherington and Adriana Lambert, Bond University Journalism Students

Construction has begun on the $85 million Varsity Lakes and Reedy Creek road renovation project to ease local traffic congestion.

Plans include revamping exit 85, adding traffic lights and providing access to the new railway extension and service roads.

Varsity Lakes resident Melissa Berriman said she travelled on the Pacific M1 every morning.

"I have to drop my children off at school and using exit 85 in peak hour traffic is a nightmare, the new construction will hopefully improve the traffic," she said.

Resident Stephan Rodgers works in Burleigh Heads and uses the M1 regularly.

"I sit in traffic congestion on the M1 most mornings, exit 85 is in great need of traffic control improvements," he said.

The construction is expected to finish in time for the opening of the new Railway Station at the end of 2009.