Length:

38 km (Aspley to Bald Hills: 8 km)

Termini:

Northern: Bruce Highway (M1) and Gateway Motorway (M1), Bald Hills

Southern: Pacific Motorway (M1) and Gateway Motorway (M2), Eight Mile Plains

Miscellaneous:

Former names include Riverside Expressway, Southeast Arterial Road and Southeast Freeway

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Aspley, Carseldine and Bald Hills

Current: M3 A3

Former: 1 1 3

Road Authority Internal Classification: ¹

U14 (Gympie Arterial Road)

General Information:

The route takes in the Brisbane's inner south and also skirts the CBD via what was once called the Riverside Expressway, then continues into the northern suburbs via Coronation Drive, Hale Street and the Inner City Bypass before connecting with Bowen Bridge Road, Lutwyche Road, Gympie Road and finally the Gympie Arterial Road for the connection to the Bruce Highway at the Gateway Motorway (M1) junction.

The route includes the Captain Cook Bridge. It is the third crossing of the Brisbane River. It crosses at the South Brisbane Reach of the river, and links Gardens Point to Woolloongabba. It carries four lanes of traffic in either direction.

The Pacific Motorway section of the route had 2 names, the bridges and interchanges in the Brisbane CBD was called the Riverside Expressway and the freeway south of the CBD was known as the South East Freeway. The South East Freeway and Riverside Expressway were two of the early projects to be completed from the Wilbur Smith "Brisbane Transportation Study", which was published in 1965 and made recommendations covering sixteen years to 1981. ²

Mid 1970s: Construction of Gympie Arterial Road in the Bald Hills area. ³

June 2005: Extension of the four lanes on Gympie Road to the roundabout to the intersection of Gympie Road, Anzac Avenue and Dayboro Road, Petrie. ⁴

December 2006: At the intersection of Gympie Road, Samsonvale Road and Bells Pocket Road, Strathpine, the existing traffic signals were updated with new brighter light emitting diode lanterns. Changers were also made to the traffic signals so that traffic can only turn right when protected by a green arrow and extensions were made to the right-turn lanes on the northern side of the intersection by 40 m, and on the southern side by 50 m. ⁴

May 2007: At the intersection of Gympie Road, Samsonvale Road and Bells Pocket Road, Strathpine, work was done to replace the existing traffic signals, changes were made to the traffic signals timing and extensions done to the right-turn lanes. ⁴

June 2007: At the intersection of Gympie Road and Webster Road, Aspley, Main Roads modified signals to provide exclusive right-turn phases for vehicles turning right from Webster Road, provided second left turn lane for vehicles turning left from Webster Road south to Gympie Road west, removed pedestrian crossing on Webster Road South and Gympie Road West approaches and provided staged pedestrian crossing on the Gympie Road East approach. ⁴

June 2008: At the intersection of Gympie Road and Kremzow Road, Brendale, a right-turn lane on Gympie Road was constructed. ⁴

2009: Metroad 3 decommissioned, route renumbered M3 for motorway standard / limited access sections and A3 for suburban arterial road sections. ⁵

Aspley to Bald Hills

Distance Sign:

Northbound RD sign on Gympie Road in Aspley, April 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign approaching the access road to Maundrell Tce in Aspley, April 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Maundrell Terrace Access Road Intersection:

Gympie Road in Aspley approaching the access road to Maundrell Terrace, February 2009. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from October 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign in Aspley approaching Albany Creek Road and Robinson Road (SR28), February 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Albany Creek Rd & Robinson Rd Junction:

Gympie Road at the intersection with Albany Creek Road and Robinson Road (SR28) in Aspley, February 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Zillmere Rd in Aspley, February 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Start Limited Access Road:

Start of Limited Access Road conditions, on Gympie Rd (A3) at Aspley, April 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Entering Carseldine:

Gympie Rd (A3) as it enters the suburb of Carseldine, April 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Beams Road in Carseldine, February 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Gympie Rd approaching the interchange with Gympie Rd and Gympie Arterial Rd at Carseldine, February 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Carseldine, April 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Supplemental AD Sign:

Supplemental advance directional sign for the interchange with Gympie Rd and Gympie Arterial Rd at Carseldine, February 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Gympie Road & Linkfield Road:

Gympie Rd (M3) at the interchange with Linkfield Rd (SR40), Gympie Rd (unnumbered) and Gympie Arterial Rd (M3) at Carseldine, April 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Gympie Road / Gympie Arterial Road Split:

The interchange with Gympie Rd and Gympie Arterial Rd at Carseldine, February 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Start Motorway:

Start to motorway conditions at Carseldine, April 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign near the Linkfield Rd bridge at Bald Hills for the interchange with Strathpine Rd (SR58) and Hoyland St, February 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Strathpine Road:

Gympie Arterial Rd (M3) as it passes under Strathpine Rd at Bald Hills, April 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

UPDATED Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching the interchange with Strathpine Rd (SR58) and Hoyland St, June 2025. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from February 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Trailblazer:

Trailblazer indicating this exit to access M1 (Gateway Mwy), at the interchange with Strathpine Rd (SR58) and Hoyland St, February 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

UPDATED Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the interchange with Strathpine Rd (SR58) and Hoyland St, June 2025. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from February 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

UPDATED End M3 500 m:

Sign indicating M3 ends in 500 m at Bald Hills, June 2025. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from May 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the interchange with the sand and gravel pits at Bald Hills, May 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

End M3:

Northern terminus of M3 - the interchange with Bruce Hwy and Gateway Mwy (M1) at Bald Hills, May 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Bald Hills to Aspley

Advance Directional Sign:

Gantry on Bruce Hwy (M1) with AD signs at Bald Hills, approaching the interchange with Gateway Mwy (M1) and Gympie Arterial Rd (M3), April 2013. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from March 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Gateway Mwy / Gympie Arterial Rd Interchange:

Southbound on the Bruce Hwy (M1) at the interchange with Gateway Mwy (M1) and Gympie Arterial Rd (M3), April 2013. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from March 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign at Bald Hills on Gympie Arterial Rd (M3) near Gateway Mwy (M1) interchange, June 2018.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Bald Hills on Gympie Arterial Rd (M3) approaching Strathpine Rd (SR58) and Hoyland St, April 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Bald Hills on Gympie Arterial Rd (M3) approaching Strathpine Rd (SR58) and Hoyland St, April 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

High Vehicle Detour Sign:

High vehicle detour sign approaching Strathpine Rd (SR58) & Hoyland St interchange at Bald Hills, April 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Strathpine Road & Hoyland Street:

Gympie Arterial Rd (M3) at the Strathpine Rd (SR58) & Hoyland St interchange, Bald Hills, April 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Bald Hills approaching Linkfield Rd (SR40), March 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Bald Hills approaching Linkfield Rd (SR40), March 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Bald Hills approaching Linkfield Rd (SR40), March 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

End Motorway 1 km:

Sign on Gympie Arterial Rd (M3) at Bald Hills, indicating distance to end of motorway conditions, March 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Linkfield Road:

Gympie Arterial Rd (M3) at the interchange with Linkfield Rd (SR40) at Bald Hills, March 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Freeway Green Sign:

Freeway green End Of Motorway sign at Carseldine, March 2012. M3 becomes Gympie Rd (A3) here.

Image © Paul Rands

Entering Carseldine:

Gympie Rd (A3) as it enters the suburb of Carseldine, March 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Approaching Beams Road:

Gympie Road (A3) approaching Beams Road in Carseldine, March 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Beams Road Intersection:

Gympie Road (A3) at the junction with Beams Road in Carseldine, March 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Beams Road Intersection:

Gympie Road (A3) at the junction with Beams Road in Carseldine, June 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Distance Sign:

RD sign at Carseldine after the Beams Rd intersection, March 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Limited Access Road Sign:

Old sign at Carseldine indicating the route is a limited access road, which prevents unauthorised connections being made to the roadway, June 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Approaching Zillmere Road:

Advance directional sign next to Cabbage Tree Creek approaching Zillmere Road in Aspley, June 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Zillmere Road Intersection:

Gympie Rd at the Zillmere Rd junction in Aspley, June 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Gayford Street in Aspley, which is used as an access route to Albany Creek Road (SR28), July 2011.

Image © Rob Tilley

Gayford Street Intersection:

Intersection directional sign over the lanes at the junction with Gayford Street in Aspley, which is used as an access route to Albany Creek Road (SR28),July 2011.

Image © Rob Tilley

Approaching Windrest Street:

AD sign in Aspley on Gympie Rd, approaching the junction with Windrest St, June 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Aspley approaching Robinson Road & Albany Creek Road (SR28), June 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Approaching Ellison and Webster Roads:

AD sign approaching the intersection with Ellison Road and Webster Road (SR27) at Aspley, June 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the intersection with Ellison Road and Webster Road (SR27) at Aspley, June 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the intersection with Ellison Road and Webster Road (SR27) at Aspley, June 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Distance Sign:

Reassurance directional sign on Gympie Rd (A3) at Aspley, June 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advanced Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Murphy Road in Aspley, June 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley