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Pacific Highway, New England Highway, John Renshaw Drive, Southern Freeway, Mount Ousley Road & Princes Highway (National Route 1) (Decommissioned) - Former Alignment: Brunswick Heads to Ballina

Statistics:

• Length: 1149 km (Brunswick Heads to Ballina: 44 km)
  • Northern section: 668 km
  • Southern section: 481 km
• Northern Terminus:
  • Northern section: Gold Coast Highway (SR2) and Tugun Bypass (M1) at Tweed Heads West
  • Southern section: Princes Highway (Metroad 1) at Waterfall
• Southern Terminus:
  • Northern section: John Renshaw Drive (NH1) and New England Highway (NH15) at Beresfield
  • Southern section: Princes Highway (A1) at New South Wales / Victoria border
• Miscellaneous: Continues as Princes Highway (A1) in Victoria
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along The Route:
  • Northern section: Brunswick Heads, Tyagarah, Ewingsdale, St Helena, Bangalow, Newrybar, Knockrow, Tintenbar, Cumbalum, Ballina and West Ballina

Route Numbering:

• Former:
• Road Authority Internal Classification: SH10 (Tweed Heads West to Hexham) 1
• Decommissioned: 2013

General Information:

National Route 1 forms part of the main coastal route between Victoria and Queensland. The route features a mix of rural highway, arterial and freeway design standards. The route forms part of what is collectively known as Highway 1. It is Australia's coastal highway joining all mainland's state capitals and coastal towns circumnavigating the entire Australian continent. It is also the longest numbered highway in the world, covering more than 14 500 km.

In New South Wales, National Route 1 was truncated by National Highway 1 between Beresfield and Wahroonga, by Metroad 1 between Wahroonga and Waterfall and by M1 at Tweed Heads West.

Northern Section:

The northern section of National Route 1 took in a small section of New England Highway and the rest was made up by the Pacific Highway. The route varies from dual carriageway arterial and highway standard, to motorway standard and the rest is generally undivided rural highway conditions. The Pacific Highway is very well trafficked, and as a result notorious for a large amount of road trauma within the state. These crashes have resulted in more than 50% of the route being divided since the late 1980s.

• Pacific Highway:

The Pacific Highway section of NR1 runs between Brunswick Heads and Hexham, and also between Wahroonga and the Gore Hill Freeway at Artarmon. The northern section between Brunswick Heads and Hexham is a mix of dual carriageway, rural highway and urban arterial roadway. The southern section between Wahroonga and Artarmon is urban arterial standard and passes through one of Sydney's more affluent areas.

The highway traces its origins back to an early settler, George Peat, who owned the land between the Hawkesbury River and Mooney Mooney Creek. To provide access to his property, Peat began a ferry service across the Hawkesbury River in 1844 and surveyed, then constructed a road between Hornsby and Kariong in 1854. After his death in 1870, the ferry service was abandoned and the road fell into disrepair, finally closing to all traffic in 1899, following the completion of the Sydney-Newcastle railway.

Demand for a route between Sydney and Newcastle dates back to the early 20th century. When the only access was via the sea or via a long route through the town of Wiseman's Ferry. In the 1920s, the then Main Roads Board undertook a series of surveys to form an easier and more reliable route north from Sydney. In 1928 construction began on upgrading the old road and converting it to a modern standard, plus creating  a new route north, utilising some of the abandoned Peat's Ferry Rd, while improving the horizontal and vertical alignments. In May 1930 the ferry service across the Hawkesbury River was re-established to service the new road until such times that a bridge became necessary. June 1930 marked the completion of the concrete surfacing.

During the time of the Hornsby to Gosford contruction, improvements were made to roads between Gosford to Newcastle as part of the link. On May 17 in 1929, the route was named as the Great Northern Highway. The work from Hornsby to Gosford cost almost £1 million, however it was money well spent, reducing the trip from Sydney to Newcastle from 9 hours to 4 ½ hours.

History:

Pacific Highway:

• 1931: Completion of concrete bridge over the Brunswick River at Brunswick Heads Great Northern Highway and the North Coast Highway were grouped together and renamed the Pacific Highway. 2
• 1934: Near Ballina, the section between Burn's Point Ferry (along Burns Point Ferry Road and the Ballina-Lismore trunk road (Bruxner Highway) bypassed by Ballina Bypass), a length of approximately 1 km, was reconstructed in cement concrete. 3
• 1939: By this time, two thirds of the Pacific Highway was bitumen paved. 4
• 9 March 1945: Gazette showing the route of the Pacific Highway was deviated via Brunswick Heads eliminating a section of road via Mullumbimby, previously part of the Pacific Highway. 5
• November 1946: Reconstruction of the Pacific Highway between Raleigh and Coff's Harbour was commenced. Approximately 12 miles of the Highway were reconstructed with a bituminous surface. 6
• 1947: Construction of concrete bridge over Byron Creek at Bangalow. 6
• 1951: Construction of Tintenbar deviation. 7
• 1953: Work began on a reinforced concrete bridge 220 feet long over North Creek Canal at 1.5 miles west of Ballina and another reinforced concrete bridge 220 feet long over the same creek 1.5 miles north of Ballina. 8
• 1955: 543 miles out of 574 miles of Pacific now with a bitumen surface. 9
• 1957: Reconstruction in River Street, Ballina, was commenced on a new route in approach to a new concrete bridge, over North Creek Canal west of Ballina. On the Pacific Hwy at Burns Point near West Ballina, additional ferry ramps and approaches were constructed close to the existing ramps so that a second ferry vessel can be operated in holiday and other periods when required by traffic. 10
• 1958: Climbing lanes were constructed on the Pacific Highway north of Bangalow. 11
• 1965: Construction was commenced on a deviation at Newrybar which eliminated a narrow winding section. The length of the deviation is 1.3 miles and is located approximately 14 miles north of Bangalow. 12
• 1967: The relocation of buildings was carried out on the proposed deviation at Newrybar. Construction of a climbing lane was commenced north of Brunswick Heads. 13
• 1968: The widening of cuttings started north of Brunswick Heads, to enable the construction of a climbing lane for slow-moving vehicles. 14
• 1972: Construction of a climbing lane north of Brunswick Heads was completed. 15
• 1973: Reconstruction was completed between Tintenbar and Knockrow. 16
• 1977: Reconstruction and widening, including provision of climbing lanes, was commenced near Bangalow. Pacific Highway converted to Priority Road from Nambucca Heads to Queensland Border (366 km) 17
• December 1994: The first stage of the Bangalow Bypass was opened to traffic. This was a single carriageway with overtaking lanes for both northbound and southbound traffic. 18 Bridges were constructed over the Byron Bay Road, Byron Creek and the North Coast Railway Line. A bridge was also constructed at the northern end of the bypass, taking southbound highway traffic destined for Bangalow and Lismore over the new highway. All major earthworks for the second carriageway were undertaken during the first stage of the Bangalow Bypass, to ensure minimal disruption to local residents during construction of Stage 2.
• 10 December 1997: The second carriageway of Bangalow Bypass was opened to traffic. Work also included duplication of bridges constructed under Stage 1. 19
• 5 June 1998: Brunswick Heads Bypass Stage 1 opens to traffic after stop-start construction as a result of a contractor going into voluntary administration. The upgrade provides a 3.4 km bypass of Brunswick Heads including two bridges, fauna underpasses and wildlife fencing. The first stage was a single carriageway with at-grade intersections. 20
• February 1999: Construction started on the Ewingsdale Interchange at the Myocum Road / Ewingsdale Road intersection (Byron Bay turn-off). 21
• 4 September 2000: Ewingsdale Interchange opens to traffic. 21
• February 2001: Completion of Ewingsdale Interchange. 21
• December 2001: Opening of the dual carriageway Tandy's Lane upgrade. 22
• 11 July 2007: The 8.6 kilometre dual carriageway upgrade of the Pacific Highway between Brunswick Heads to Yelgun was opened to traffic. 23
• May 2008: Construction begins on Ballina Bypass. The route is 12 kilometres of dual carriageway, extending from south of Ballina at the intersection of the Bruxner and Pacific highways to north of Ballina at the intersection of Ross Lane at Tintenbar. 24
• March 2011: The Cumbalum to Ross Lane section of Ballina Bypass was opened to traffic. 24
• 1 March 2011: Ballina Bypass (Pacific Highway) opens to traffic, just after 4:30 pm. 25
• November 2011: The second stage of Ballina Bypass from Teven Road to Cumbalum interchange was opened. 24
• 2012: Works start on the 17 kilometres of four-lane divided road from the northern end of the Ballina bypass at Ross Lane to the existing Ewingsdale interchange. 24
• May 2012: The final section of the Ballina Bypass project, which separated the Bruxner and Pacific highways, was opened to traffic. 24

This page features photos of former alignments between Brunswick Heads and Ballina

Ballina:

Brunswick Heads to Ballina			Ballina to Brunswick Heads
Preview:	Description:		Preview:	Description:
	Advance Directional Sign: Pacific Hwy (NR1) (now Tamarind Dr) approaching Bangalow Rd at Ballina, May 2005. Image © Paul Rands			Cherry Street: Cherry Street at Ballina, approaching Bentinck St, July 2007. Cherry St used to be the NR1 route before it was shifted to Kerr St, further west. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on the roundabout with Bangalow Rd, Ballina, May 2005. Image © Paul Rands			Cherry Street: Cherry St at the Burnet St junction, Ballina, July 2007. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Kerr St (former Pacific Hwy) at Ballina, approaching Bentick St, May 2005. Image © Paul Rands			Cherry Street: Cherry St at the Winton Ln junction, Ballina, July 2007. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Kerr St (former Pacific Hwy) at Ballina, approaching River St (TD30), May 2005. NR1 used to turn right at this location. Image © Paul Rands			River Street: River St at Ballina, July 2007. NR1 used to travel this section of River St before being truncated at Kerr St. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on the roundabout with River St (TD30), Ballina, May 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at West Ballina on Keppell St approaching Barlows Rd and the then Pacific Hwy (NR1), March 2006. Note the incrorrect NH1 shield. Image © Paul Rands

1 Roads and Traffic Authority, Schedule of Classified Roads and State & Regional Roads, 31 January 2011
2 Main Roads Board, Annual Report, 1930-31
3 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1933-34
4 RTA Thematic History, 2nd Edition, 2006
5 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1944-45
6 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1946-47
7 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1951-52
8 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1953-54
9 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1955-56
10 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1956-57
11 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1962-63
12 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1964-65
13 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1966-67
14 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1967-68
15 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1971-72
16 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1972-73
17 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1977-78
18 Roads and Maritime Services, Project Fact Sheet, Bangalow Bypass
19 Roads and Maritime Services, Project Fact Sheet, Bangalow Bypass
20 Roads and Maritime Services, Project Fact Sheet, Brunswick Heads Bypass (Stage 1)
21 Roads and Maritime Services, Project Fact Sheet, Ewingsdale Interchange
22 Roads and Maritime Services, Projects, Pacific Highway Upgrade, Ballina to Tweed Heads, Completed Projects, Tandy's Lane
23 Roads and Maritime Services, Projects, Pacific Highway Upgrade, Ballina to Tweed Heads, Completed Projects, Brunswick Heads to Yelgun
24 Roads and Maritime Services, Pacific Highway upgrade Monthly achievement report, May 2012
25 The Northern Star, First Cars Try Ballina Bypass, 2 March 2011

Last updated: 18-Dec-2019 10:08

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