Traffic diverted as Oak building demolished

DRIVERS are urged to avoid a section of Surfers Paradise, following a major building fire.

Both northbound lanes of the Gold Coast Highway will be closed until around 4pm today (Sunday), as crews demolish the old Oak Building.

The section, between Clifford Street and Remembrance Drive has been down to one lane for most of the morning, as crews deal with the damage to the building.

Southbound lanes remain open, while northbound traffic will be diverted via the Isle of Capri. That could lead to major congestion on Bundall Road as well as side roads through Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

Investigations are continuing into the cause of the intense Oak building fire which completely destroyed the abandoned landmark which had become a target of vandals and was often used by the homeless.

No one was inside when the blaze broke out, around 2.15am.