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Newell Highway (National Highway 39) - Narrandera to Wyalong - Former Alignment (Decommissioned)

Statistics:

• Length: 1059 km (Narrandera to Wyalong: 140 km)
• Northern Terminus: Queensland Border at Boggabilla
• Southern Terminus: Victorian Border at Tocumwal
• Miscellaneous: Continues as Cunningham Highway (NH39) in Queensland and as Goulburn Valley Highway (A39) in Victoria
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along The Route: Grong Grong, Ardlethan, West Wyalong, and Wyalong

Route Numbering:

• Current:  None
• Former:  

General Information:

The Newell Highway is the longest highway in NSW, stretching from the Victorian border at Tocumwal to the Queensland border. It's the economic backbone for freight and livestock transporters, tourism operators, caravanners and holiday makers, emergency services, government, media and business owners. 2

The Newell Highway is named after HH Newell. He was the first commissioner for Main Roads in New South Wales. He passed away in 1941. 3 Prior to his appointment to the newly formed Main Roads Board on March 9, 1925, he was the District Engineer at the Wollongong branch of the Department of Public Works. 4

This page looks at former alignments between Narrandera and Wyalong

History:

• 1930s: Aerial investigations carried out to establish the route of the Newell Hwy. 4
• 1938: Route of Newell Highway proclaimed. The route chosen generally followed exisitng roads, but 2 sections between Narrandera and Wyalong, and also between Coonabarabran and Narrabri required fresh construction. 4
• 1950s: Bitumous sealing completed between Finley and Narrandera, plus a deviation near Jerilderie to bypass 2 railway crossings and 2 deviations were constructed between Jerilderie and Narranderra to avoid flood prone areas. Bitumous sealing also occured on improved alignments between Narrandera and Forbes, between Forbes and Dubbo and also north of Dubbo. 4
• 1969: Work begins to complete bitumous sealing along highway length. 4
• August 1973: Sealed surface completed along entire Newell Highway. The last section to be done was between Moree and Boggabilla. 4
• 2005: Commencement of bypass works at Ardlethan.

Narrandera to Wyalong			Wyalong to Narrandera
Preview:	Description:		Preview:	Description:
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at Stuart St (former Burley Griffin Way) and former alignment of Newell Hwy (NH39) at Ardlethan. April 2005. Image © Rob Tilley			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on former alignment of Newell Hwy at Mirrool approaching Burley Griffin Way (SR94), May 2005. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on former alignment of Newell Hwy at Beckom approaching Burley Griffin Way (SR94), April 2005. Image © Rob Tilley			Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on former alignment of Newell Hwy at Mirrool approaching Burley Griffin Way (SR94), May 2005. Image © Rob Tilley
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on former alignment of Newell Hwy at Beckom approaching Burley Griffin Way (SR94), May 2005. Image © Rob Tilley			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on former alignment of Newell Hwy at Ardlethan approaching former Burley Griffin Way (SR94) (Stuart St), May 2005. Image © Rob Tilley
				Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on former alignment of Newell Hwy at Ardlethan approaching former Burley Griffin Way (SR94) (Stuart St), April 2005. Image © Rob Tilley
				Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on former alignment of Newell Hwy at Ardlethan approaching former Burley Griffin Way (SR94) (Stuart St), May 2005. Image © Rob Tilley
				Reassurance Directional Sign: RD sign on former alignment of Newell Hwy at Ardlethan, May 2005. Image © Rob Tilley

1 Roads and Traffic Authority, Schedule of Classified Roads and State & Regional Roads, 31 January 2011
2 Roads and Traffic Authority, Road Projects, Western Region, Newell Highway
3 Department of Main Roads, Main Roads of New South Wales brochure
4 Department of Main Roads, The Roadmakers, A History of Main Roads in New South Wales, ISBN0 7240 0439 4

Last updated: 17-Dec-2019 0:55

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