Road Photos & Information: New South Wales
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Newell Highway (National Highway 39) (Decommissioned) |
Statistics:
- Length: 1059 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: Tocumwal, Finley, Jerilderie, Narrandera, Grong Grong, Ardlethan, West Wyalong, Wyalong, Forbes, Parkes, Peak Hill, Tomingley, Dubbo, Gilgandra, Tooraweenah, Coonabarabran, Narrabri, Edgeroi, Bellata, Gurley, Moree and Boggabilla
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 Highway 20 (Sturt Hwy), for 700 metres at Gillenbah near Narraderra
- National Route 24 (Mid Western Hwy), for 37 km from West Wyalong to Caragabal
- National Route 34 (Oxley Hwy), 99 km from Gilgandra to Coonabarabran
- National Route 37 (Kamilaroi Hwy), for 5 km at Narrabri
- National Route 38 (Gwydir Hwy), for 450 metres at Moree
- National Route 58 (Riverina Hwy), for 150 metres at Finley
- State Route 94 (Burley Griffin Way), for 18 kilometres between Mirrool and Ardlethan
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
- 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 and deviation at Gowang near Wallumburrawang Creek.
- November 2009: Work begins on the construction of turn lanes and junction upgrades at Gawnes Road at Grong Grong, Murrell Creek Road at Ardlethan, Bartels Lane at Alleena and Storms Lane at Alleena. 5
- 1 December 2009: Reduction of Newell Hwy speed limit from 110 km/h outside urban areas to 100 km/h. 6
- April 2010: Trial begins of a new style of centre line markings. The trial areas were setup at 12 km north of Parkes and 15 km north of West Wyalong.
Each trial section on the Newell Highway is about five kilometres long. 7
- 13 December 2010: The new bridge over the Mehi River was officially opened to traffic. Following the opening of the bridge traffic was switched onto the northern section of the Moree town centre bypass via the Gwydir Highway connection. 8
Click here for the official Newell Highway web site, which features marketing campaigns, brochures and maps to help promote the regions serviced by the highway.
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, ISBN 0 7240 0439 4
5 Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Media Release, Work Underway On Newell Highway Blackspots, 16 November 2009.
6 Roads & Traffic Authority, Rules & Regulations, Newell Highway Reduced Speed Limit
7 Roads & Traffic Authority, NSW Centre for Road Safety, Downloads, Newell Highway centreline marking trial display
8 Roads & Traffic Authority, Projects, Western Region, Moree Town Centre Bypass
Last updated: 12-Jul-2019 0:03
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