New England Highway

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This article is about the New England Highway in Australia. For the system of numbered highways in New England, United States, from 1922 to 1927, see New England road marking system.

New England Highway

Queensland
–New South Wales
General information
TypeHighway
Length883 km (549 mi)[1]
Route number(s)
  • A3 (2005-present)
    (Yarraman-Warwick)
  • A15 (2005/2013-present)
    (Warwick-Branxton)
  • A43 (2014-present)
    (Branxton-Hexham)
  • Concurrency:
  • A1 (Beresfield-Hexham)
Former
route number
  • National Route 42 (1974-2005)
    (Yarraman-Warwick)
  • National Highway 15 (1974-2005/2013)
    (Warwick-Beresfield)
  • National Route 15 (1955-1974)
    (Warwick-Hexham)
  • A15 (2013-14)
    (Branxton-Beresfield)
Major junctions
North end D'Aguilar Highway
Yarraman, Queensland
 
South end Pacific Highway
Hexham, New South Wales
Location(s)
Major settlementsCrows Nest, Toowoomba, Warwick, Tenterfield, Glen Innes, Armidale, Tamworth, Muswellbrook, Maitland
Highway system
  • Highways in Australia
  • National Highway • Freeways in Australia
  • Highways in Queensland
  • Highways in New South Wales

The New England Highway is an 883-kilometre (549 mi) long[1] highway in Australia running from Hexham at Newcastle, New South Wales at its southern end to Yarraman, north of Toowoomba, Queensland at its northern end. It is part of Australia's National Highway system, and forms part of the inland route between Brisbane and Sydney.[2]

Route description[]

At its southern end the New England Highway connects to the Pacific Highway and at its northern end it connects to the D'Aguilar Highway. It traverses the Hunter Valley, New England, and the Southern and Darling Downs regions.

During the winter months, some parts of the New England Highway are subject to frost and snowfall,[3][4] with the 350 km section from the Moonbi Ranges to Stanthorpe located at high altitudes.

Traffic volume[]

In 2013–14, the New England Highway and Cunningham Highway combined (known as the Sydney-Brisbane inland route) had an average annual daily traffic count of just over 13,000 vehicles, which is approximately half that seen on the coastal route (i.e., the Pacific Highway and Pacific Motorway).[2] Heavy vehicles account for approximately 13% of the traffic seen on the route.[2]

Speed cameras[]

As of November 2018, fixed speed cameras were located at Ben Lomond (between Ross Road and Ben Lomond Road), Blandford (between Hayles Street and Mills Street) and Tenterfield (between Duncan Street and George Street).[5] Average speed enforcement (point-to-point) cameras target heavy vehicles between Singleton and Muswellbrook.[6][7]

From Brisbane, National Highway 15 (green) follows the Cunningham Highway until Warwick where it then follows southwards, the New England Highway ...
... through Armidale, Tamworth, Maitland and Hexham where it joins the Pacific Highway

History[]

The New England Highway has its origins in the track which developed north from Newcastle to reach the prime wool growing areas of the New England region which Europeans settled following expeditions by NSW Surveyor-General John Oxley in 1818 and botanist Allan Cunningham in 1827 and 1829.[citation needed] The rough track, navigable only by horse or bullock dray, crossed the Liverpool Range, went through Tamworth and ended at Tenterfield.[8] The track became known as the Great Northern Road.[9] During the 1860s, several robberies occurred along the road,[10][11] with infamous bushranger Captain Thunderbolt known to be active in the area.[12]

When the NSW main road system was reorganised in August 1928, the Great Northern Road was gazetted as part of state highway 9 and renamed the Great Northern Highway.[13] At proclamation, the Great Northern Highway was described as stretching from North Sydney to the Queensland border at Mount Lindesay, via Newcastle, Maitland, Tamworth, Armidale, Tenterfield and Woodenbong.[13] The route became known as the New England Highway in early-1933 by combining the Great Northern Highway and the Brisbane-Mount Lindesay-Warwick Highway into a single uniformly-named road from Hexham to Brisbane.[14][15] In 1936 the road was described by contemporary observers as being in good condition, with spectacular scenery and excellent accommodation en route.[16][17]

In 1954 the New England Highway was re-routed through Warwick along the route that was then known as the Lockyer-Darling Downs Highway.[18] Against the wishes of the Beaudesert Shire Council and the Woodenbong Chamber of Commerce,[19] the former New England Highway through Beaudesert was renamed the Mount Lindesay Highway.[18]

In the 1970s, the Queensland Main Roads Department rerouted the designation of the New England Highway north of Warwick to follow the former (national route 17) so that it terminated in Toowoomba.[citation needed] The section of the highway between Brisbane and Warwick was renamed as part of the Cunningham Highway, which until that time had extended only westward from Warwick to Goondiwindi.[citation needed]

Intersection of New England Highway and Golden Highway between Branxton and Singleton
Thunderbolts Rocks, New England Highway (south of Uralla), where Thunderbolt conducted some of his robberies.
Statue of Captain Thunderbolt at the intersection of New England Highway and Thunderbolts Way, Uralla, NSW
Statue of Captain Thunderbolt at the intersection of New England Highway and Thunderbolts Way, Uralla, NSW

Highway improvements[]

As of July 2021, completed, current or proposed improvements on the New England Highway include:[20]

  • Belford to the Golden Highway. Construction contract for this $97 million project awarded June 2021.
  • Bolivia Hill
  • Bridge barrier improvements to four bridges between Ravensworth and Liddell. Work commenced July 2021.
  • Fitzgerald Bridge at Aberdeen
  • Maitland roundabout improvements. $4.9 million project nearing completion.
  • Muswellbrook bypass. Community feedback on the preferred option is to be sought in 2021.
  • New England Highway draft corridor strategy
  • New England Highway and Wyndella Road intersection, Lochinvar
  • Safety improvements Whittingham. Work commenced April 2021.
  • Safety upgrade Willow Tree To Uralla. Work commenced at Kootingal January 2021.
  • Scone bypass. See below.
  • Singleton rail underpass. See below.
  • Singleton bypass. In April 2021 community feedback was incorporated into this $700 million project.
  • Tenterfield heavy vehicle bypass

Scone bypass[]

The Scone Bypass was opened in March 2020. In addition to bypassing the town centre, it also replaces the last railway level crossing on the New England Highway.[21]

Singleton rail underpass[]

The New England Highway upgrade and rail bridge replacement at Singleton (known as Gowrie Gates) was opened in July 2019. This upgrade is not part of the proposed Singleton bypass.[22]

Former route allocations[]

The New England Highway has many former route allocations including former National Route 15. Where and when the former route numbers were implemented are stated below. Yarraman – Warwick:

  • National Route 42 (1974–2005)
  • A3 (2005-present)

Warwick – QLD/NSW border:

  • National Route 15 (1955–1974)
  • National Highway 15 (1974-2005)
  • A15 (2005-present)

QLD/NSW border – Branxton:

  • National Route 15 (1955–1974)
  • National Highway 15 (1974-2013)
  • A15 (2013-present)

Branxton – Beresfield:

  • National Route 15 (1955–1974)
  • National Highway 15 (1974-2013)
  • A15 (2013-2014)
  • A43 (2014-present)

Beresfield – Hexham:

  • National Route 15 (1955–1974)
  • National Highway 15 (1974-1988)
  • National Highway 1 (1988-2013)
  • A1 (2013-present)
  • A43 (2014-present)

Major junctions[]

StateLGA / LGALocationkm[1]miDestinationsNotes
QueenslandToowoombaYarraman00.0 D'Aguilar Highway (A3) – Nanango, Goomeri, Biloela
D'Aguilar Highway (A17) – Caboolture, Esk, Ipswich		T intersection northern terminus; north (A3) and southeast (A17) as the D'Aguilar Highway
Wutul3321 Oakey Cooyar Road (SR68) – OakeyT intersection; New England Highway continues southeast
Crows Nest Creek7446Bridge over the river (no known name)
ToowoombaHampton8653 Esk Hampton Road (SR85) – EskFour-way intersection; northern concurrency terminus as ; New England Highway continues south
Harlaxton11370Griffiths Street – Cranley to Warrego Highway (A2) – Dalby, Gatton, IpswichT intersection; New England Highway continues south
Toowoomba11873 Toowoomba Connection Road (A21) – Gatton, IpswichFour-way intersection; eastern concurrency terminus as ; New England Highway continues west
11974 Toowoomba Connection Road (A21) – DalbyFour-way intersection; western concurrency terminus as ; New England Highway continues south
Toowoomba Connection Road (A21, SR85) – GoondiwindiFour-way intersection; southern concurrency terminus as ; New England Highway continues south
Cambooya13383Drayton Connection Road – Drayton, ToowoombaY intersection; New England Highway continues south
13785 Cambooya Connection Road (SR48) – KararaT intersection; New England Highway continues south
Clifton162101 Gatton Clifton Road (SR80) – GattonT intersection; New England Highway continues south
Southern DownsGlengallan188117 Cunningham Highway (A15) – Ipswich, WarwickDirectional T interchange; southern terminus as ; northern concurrency terminus as ; New England Highway and Cunningham Highway continues south
Condamine River199124O.O. Madsen Bridge
Southern DownsWarwick202126 Cunningham Highway (National Route 42) – Goondiwindi4-way intersection; southern terminus as ; New England Highway continues south
Stanthorpe258160High Street – Stanthorpe to Texas Road – TexasT intersection; New England Highway continues south
State border299186Queensland – New South Wales state border
New South WalesTenterfieldTenterfield313194Bruxner Highway – BoggabillaUncontrolled 4-way intersection; northern concurrency terminus; New England Highway continues south
318198 Bruxner Highway (B60) – Casino, Lismore, BallinaUncontrolled 4-way intersection; southern concurrency terminus; New England Highway continues south
Deepwater River370230Bridge over the river (no known name)
Glen Innes SevernGlen Innes409254 Gwydir Highway (B76) – Inverell, Warialda, Moree, GraftonUncontrolled 4-way intersection
ArmidaleArmidale511318 Waterfall Way (B78) – RaleighRoundabout; New England Highway continues south
Bendemeer576358 Oxley Highway (B56) – Walcha, Wauchope, Port MacquarieT intersection; northern concurrency terminus as ; New England Highway continues south
TamworthTamworth616383 Oxley Highway (B56) – Gunnedah, Coonabarabran to Manilla Road (B95) – Manilla, WarialdaRoundabout; southern concurrency terminus as ; New England Highway continues south
Peel River616383Bridge over the river (no known name)
Liverpool PlainsWillow Tree687427 Kamilaroi Highway (B51) – Gunnedah, Narrabri, Walgett, BourkeDirectional T interchange; New England Highway continues south
Pages River707439Bridge over the river (no known name)
Pages River710440Bridge over the river (no known name)
Pages River714444Bridge over the river (no known name)
Hunter River759472Fitzgerald[23] Bridge
MuswellbrookMuswellbrook773480Denman Road – DenmanT intersection; New England Highway continues southeast
Hunter River819509Bridge over the river (no known name)
SingletonWhittingham831516 Golden Highway (B84) – Denman, Merriwa, Dunedoo, DubboT intersection; New England Highway continues southeast
Belford839521 Hunter Expressway (M15) – West Wallsend, NewcastleT intersection; transitions to ; incomplete access to/from the New England Highway (no shield) as it continues east
Branxton842523 Clift Street to Wine Country Drive (B82) – Rothbury, Pokolbin, CessnockT intersection; New England Highway (no shield) continues east
844524 unnamed road (A43) to Hunter Expressway (M15) – Singleton, NewcastleY intersection; New England Highway transitions to and continues southeast
MaitlandMaitland866538Cessnock Road – Kurri Kurri, CessnockRoundabout; New England Highway continues southeast
NewcastleTarro878546 John Renshaw Drive (A1) – Raymond Terrace, Taree, Kempsey, Coffs Harbour, BrisbaneDirectional T interchange; incomplete northwest concurrency terminus as ; New England Highway continues southeast
Hexham883549 Pacific Highway (A1) – Newcastle, Raymond Terrace, Taree, Kempsey, BrisbaneDirectional T interchange; southeast concurrency terminus as ; southeastern terminus; continues east and north as the Pacific Highway
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •       Concurrency terminus
  •       Incomplete access
  •       Route transition

Cities and towns[]

From its junction with the Pacific Highway at Hexham, 12 km (7 mi) inland from Newcastle the New England Highway connects the following cities and towns:

New South Wales[]

  • Maitland
  • Singleton
  • Muswellbrook
  • Scone
  • Tamworth
  • Armidale
  • Glen Innes
  • Tenterfield

Queensland[]

  • Wallangarra
  • Stanthorpe
  • Warwick
  • Toowoomba

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "1 New England Highway, Yarraman QLD 4614 to 187 Maitland Road, Hexham NSW 2322". Google Maps. Google Inc. 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) (2016). Traffic on the national road network, 2013–14, Information Sheet 80 (PDF). Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  3. ^ "More Snow Pics: Because you can never have enough". The Armidale Express. 17 July 2015.
  4. ^ "Snow turns to ice closing highway". Guyra Argus. 9 August 2012.
  5. ^ "Current locations - New fixed digital speed camera location - November 2018". Transport for New South Wales. NSW Government. Archived from the original on 31 January 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  6. ^ "Average speed enforcement camera locations". Transport for New South Wales. NSW Government. Archived from the original on 31 January 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  7. ^ "Average Speed Enforcement for Heavy Vehicles: Factsheet" (PDF). Transport for New South Wales. NSW Government. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 January 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  8. ^ Tenterfield District Historical Society (1949). Tenterfield. National Library of Australia. p. 31.
  9. ^ "New England Highway : History and Development". Ozroads. Archived from the original on 4 March 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2016.[self-published source]
  10. ^ "Daring mail robbery on the Great Northern Road". Newcastle Chronicle and Hunter River District News. National Library of Australia. 30 October 1861. p. 2. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  11. ^ "Highway robberies on the Great Northern Road". Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser. National Library of Australia. 22 December 1863. p. 3. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  12. ^ "Memories of Thunderbolt". Coffs Harbour Advocate. National Library of Australia. 10 May 1940. p. 2. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b "Main Roads Act, 1924-1927". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (110). National Library of Australia. 17 August 1928. pp. 3814–3815. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  14. ^ "New England Highway". Kyogle Examiner. National Library of Australia. 14 February 1933. p. 2. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  15. ^ "New England Highway". Uralla Times. National Library of Australia. 23 February 1933. p. 11. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  16. ^ "Motoring along the New England Highway, part 1". Sydney Mail. National Library of Australia. 2 September 1936. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  17. ^ "Motoring along the New England Highway, part 2". Sydney Mail. National Library of Australia. 9 September 1936. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b ""New England" Highway now via Warwick". Warwick Daily News. National Library of Australia. 9 November 1954. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  19. ^ "New England Highway: Council against change of name". Beaudesert Times. National Library of Australia. 21 May 1954. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  20. ^ "New England Highway". Roads and Maritime Services. NSW Government. Archived from the original on 31 January 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  21. ^ "New England Highway Bypass of Scone - completed". Transport for NSW. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  22. ^ "New England Highway upgrade and rail bridge replacement at Gowrie Gates". Transport for NSW. 11 September 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  23. ^ "Opening the bridge". Trove. 27 July 1893. Archived from the original on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.

External links[]

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