The road is the main urban corridor between the Gold Coast and Brisbane, where many spectators for the event are expected to travel from.

The widening of the stretches of the motorway affecting the Gold Coast will not happen until after the Games, forcing the Australian organisers to try to find a solution to ensure traffic runs smoothly during the event.

The Gold Coast’s population is expected to increase to 1.2 million during the 10-day event, with an extra 600,000 visitors from overseas and across the nation expected to attend. 

An express lane would be open to the Commonwealth Games family and to buses carrying spectators with tickets, who are entitled to free transport. 

"We have our challenges with transport, I admit that," Gold Coast 2018 chairman Peter Beattie told the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) General Assembly here today. 

"But we hope to have a dedicated lane for the Commonwealth Games which we are confident will make things run smoothly."

The lane will also help ensure that athletes competing in basketball and shooting, events due to take place in Brisbane, are not affected by heavy traffic.

Queensland's Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey claimed the M1 congestion would be managed "as best as it can be"for the Games, with the stalled upgrade unable to go ahead before Gold Coast 2018.

“We will do everything we can in the next 18 months to ensure transport surrounding the Games flows well," he told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

"As for the M1 we will manage it as best we can."

The Gold Coast 2018 presentation to the CGF General Assembly was also marked by children from Edmonton, who have partnered with a school in the Gold Coast, handing out invitations in the shape of a surfboard to the 71 countries and territories eligible to compete in the Games.