Road Photos & Information: New South Wales: Newell Highway (National Highway 39) - Gilgandra to Coonabarabran (Decommissioned)

Road Photos & Information: New South Wales

Newell Highway (National Highway 39) - Gilgandra to Coonabarabran (Decommissioned)

Statistics:

Length: 1059 km (Gilgandra to Coonabarabran: 90 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: Tooraweena, Wattle Springs and Coonabarabran

Route Numbering:

Former:
Multiplexes:
Road Authority Internal Classification: HW17 1
Decommissioned: 2013

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 majority of the route is undivided roadway, with various overtaking sections where required.

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

Multiplexes along the route include:

National Route 34 (Oxley Hwy), 99 km from Gilgandra to Coonabarabran

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
June 1946: Work commenced on a 69 mile section of highway between Coonabarabran and Narrabri. 4
1949: Construction completed between Coonabarabran and Narrabri. 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 and deviation at Gowang near Wallumburrawang Creek.
1 December 2009: Reduction of Newell Hwy speed limit from 110 km/h outside urban areas to 100 km/h. 5

Click here for construction photos betwen Gilgandra and Coonabarabran.

Gilgandra to Coonabarabran		Coonabarabran to Gilgandra
Preview:	Description:	Preview:	Description:
	Curban-Biddon Road: Intersection directional sign assembly at the junction with Curban-Biddon Rd in Biddon, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign approaching Oxley Hwy (NR34) near Coonabarabran, May 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Biddon-Bearbung Road: Intersection directional sign at Biddon at the junction with Biddon-Bearbung Rd, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Oxley Hwy (NR34) near Coonabarabran, May 2011. Note the missing NR34 shield beside the NH39 shield. The NR34 duplex starts at this junction. Image © Rob Tilley
	Dooroombah Road: Intersection directional signs at the Dooroombah Rd junction in Biddon, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the junction with Oxley Hwy (NR34) near Coonabarabran, May 2011. Note the incorrect NR39 shield (should be green and gold NH39) and the missing NR34 shield beside what should be a NH39 shield. The NR34 duplex starts at this junction. Image © Rob Tilley
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Tooraweenah approaching Coonamble-Tooraweenah Rd (TD1) and Tooraweenah-Mendooran Rd, July 2006. Image © Rob Tilley		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Oxley Hwy (NR34) approaching Newell Hwy (NH39) near Coonabarabran, April 2005. Note the missing NR34 shield beside the NH39 shield. The NR34 duplex starts at this junction. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Services sign at Tooraweenah approaching Coonamble-Tooraweenah Rd (TD1) and Tooraweenah-Mendooran Rd, July 2006. Image © Rob Tilley		Distance Sign: RD sign at Coonabarabran, October 2004. Note the missing NR34 shield beside the NH39 shield. Image © Jamie Scuglia
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Tooraweenah approaching Coonamble-Tooraweenah Rd (TD1) and Tooraweenah-Mendooran Rd, August 2011. Click here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from November 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Wide Load Sign: Sign at Coonabarabran indicating the route for wide loads through the town centre, May 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Coonamble-Tooraweenah Road & Tooraweenah-Mendooran Road: Newell Hwy (NH39 / NR34) at the junction with Coonamble-Tooraweenah Rd (TD1) and Tooraweenah-Mendooran Rd in Tooraweenah, August 2011. Click here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from July 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Services Sign: Services sign at Coonabarabran urging motorist to take a break in the town, April 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Coonamble-Tooraweenah Road & Tooraweenah-Mendooran Road: Newell Hwy (NH39 / NR34) at the junction with Coonamble-Tooraweenah Rd (TD1) and Tooraweenah-Mendooran Rd in Tooraweenah, April 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Services Sign: Services sign at Coonabarabran urging motorist to take a break in the town, April 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign as Newell Hwy (NH39 / NR34) leaves Tooraweenah, August 2011. Click here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from November 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign for Dalgarno St (TD1) in Coonabarabran, May 2005. Image © Rob Tilley
	Hickeys Falls: Newell Hwy (NH39 / NR34) at the junction with the Hickey Falls access road at Gowang, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign for North St in Coonabarabran, May 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Wattle Springs approaching Tannabar Rd & Mendooran Rd, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		White Street: Intersection directional sign at White St (TD2) in Coonabarabran, May 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Tannabar Road & Mendooran Road: Newell Hwy (NH39 / NR34) at Wattle Springs at the junction with Tannabar Rd and Mendooran Rd, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands		Trailblazer: Trailblazer assembly near White St in Coonabarabran, May 2011. Click here for a photo from April 2005 of the original painted installation of these trailblazers. Image © Rob Tilley
	Distance Sign: RD sign at Wattle Springs, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign for Dalgarno St (TD1) in Coonabarabran, April 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Wattle Spring approaching Warrumbungles Way, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Dalgarno St (non TD1 section) in Coonabarabran approaching Newell Hwy (NH39 / NR34), November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley
	Warrumbungles Way: Newell Hwy (NH39 / NR34) at the intersection with Warrambungles Way at Wattle Springs, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Memorial Clock: Memorial clock located in the middle of the Dalgarno St (TD1) roundabout in Coonabarabran, April 2005. Image © Rob Tilley
	Distance Sign: RD sign near Coonabarabran, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign in Coonabarabran approaching Edwards St, May 2011. Click here for a photo from April 2005 of the original installation of this sign. Note the incorrect NR39 shield (should be green and gold NH39). Image © Rob Tilley
	Safe-T-Cam: Newell Hwy (NH39 / NR34) at the Coonabarabran Safe-T-Cam, which monitors the movements of heavy vehicles, to ensure they're following various safety regulations, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Black Intersection Directional Sign: Black ID sign in Coonabarabran at the junction with Edwards St, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Services sign urging motorists to stop and rest in Coonabarabran, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Tannabar approaching Warrumbungles Way, May 2005. Image © Rob Tilley
	Entering Coonabarabran: Newell Hwy (NH39 / NR34) as it enters the town of Coonabarabran, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Wattle Springs approaching Tannabar Rd & Mendooran Rd, May 2005. Note the missing NH39 and NR34 shields. Image © Rob Tilley
	Black Advance Directional Sign: Black AD sign in Coonabarabran approaching Edwards St, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Tannabar Road & Mendooran Road: Newell Hwy (NH39 / NR34) at Wattle Springs at the junction with Tannabar Rd and Mendooran Rd, May 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Black Intersection Directional Sign: Black ID sign in Coonabarabran at the junction with Edwards St, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Distance Sign: RD sign at Wattle Springs, May 2005. Image © Rob Tilley
	Coonabarabran Town Centre: Newell Hwy (NH39 / NR34) as it passes through the Coonabarabran town centre, April 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Tooraweenah approaching Coonamble-Tooraweenah Rd (TD1) and Tooraweenah-Mendooran Rd, May 2005. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Signs: Newer and old black advance directional signs approaching Dalgarno St (TD1) in Coonabarabran, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Distance Sign: RD sign as Newell Hwy (NH39 / NR34) leaves Tooraweenah, May 2005. Image © Rob Tilley
	Memorial Clock: Memorial clock located in the middle of the Dalgarno St (TD1) roundabout in Coonabarabran, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign assembly at the Dalgarno St (TD1) roundabout in Coonabarabran, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign assembly at the Dalgarno St (TD1) roundabout in Coonabarabran, April 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Pages River: Newell Hwy (NH39 / NR34) as it crosses Pages River via Mary Jane Cain Bridge at Coonabarabran, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign approaching White St (TD2) in Coonabarabran, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign for North St in Coonabarabran, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley
	Black Advance Directional Sign: Black AD sign approaching White St (TD2) in Coonabarabran, January 2004. Image © Michael Greenslade
	White Street: Newell Hwy (NH39 / NR34) at the junction with White St (TD2) in Coonabarabran, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley
	North Street: Intersection directional sign at the North St junction in Coonabarabran, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Trailblazer Assembly: Trailblazer assembly past North St in Coonabarabran, August 2011. Click here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from November 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign approaching the Oxley Hwy (NR34) split at Coonabarabran, November 2010. NH39 turns left at this junction, ending the NR34 duplex. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching the Oxley Hwy (NR34) split at Coonabarabran, October 2004. NH39 turns left at this junction, ending the NR34 duplex. Image © Jamie Scuglia
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the Oxley Hwy (NR34) split at Coonabarabran, April 2005. NH39 turns left at this junction, ending the NR34 duplex. Image © Rob Tilley
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the Oxley Hwy (NR34) split at Coonabarabran, November 2010. NH39 turns left at this junction, ending the NR34 duplex. Image © Rob Tilley
	Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Coonabarabran, April 2005. Image © Rob Tilley
Click here for the continuation of National Highway 39 between Coonabarabran and Moree Click here for the continuation of National Highway 39 between Dubbo and Gilgandra

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
5 Roads & Traffic Authority, Rules & Regulations, Newell Highway Reduced Speed Limit

Last updated: 08-Sep-2020 20:42

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