Road Photos & Information: New South Wales: Gwydir Highway (National Route 38) - Jackadgery to South Grafton (Decommissioned)

Road Photos & Information: New South Wales

Gwydir Highway (National Route 38) - Jackadgery to South Grafton (Decommissioned)

Statistics:

Length: 565 km (Jackadgery to South Grafton: 44 km)
Eastern Terminus: Pacific Hwy (NR1) at South Grafton
Western Terminus: Castlereagh Hwy (NR55) at Walgett
Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along The Route: South Grafton, Ramornie and Jackadgery

Route Numbering:

Former:
Multiplexes:
Road Authority Internal Classification: HW12 1
Decommissioned: 2013

General Information:

National Route 38 is a rural highway in northern New South Wales, which connects the north coast with outback NSW. For the most part it's undivided, except in a handful of spots.

It runs parallel with the Gwydir River, and is named after Lord Gwydir by Alan Cunningham who crossed the river at Gravesend in 1827.

Multiplexes along the route include:

State Route 91 for 200 m at South Grafton

History:

1895: Most of the route, between Moree and Grafton was marked on a map of Railway and Coaching Routes. 2
July 1928: The route was proclaimed the Gwydir Highway. 2
1930s: A comprehensive improvement program was undertaken by the Department of Main Roads (DMR) with resources directed towards the newly classified State Highways. Improvements to the Gwydir Highway included re-routing of the road across the mountainous country between Glen Innes and Grafton. 2
1959: Construction begins on Jackadgery Bridge over Mann River at Jackadgery. 3
9 December 1960: Official opening of the deviation between Grafton and Glen Innes by Robert James Heffron, who was an Australian Labor Party premier of NSW from 23 October 1959 to 30 April 1964.
7 October 1961: Jackadgery Bridge opens to traffic. The bridge replaced a low level timber bridge. 2
1965: Construction of the bridge over Orara River at Ramornie. 2
4 May 1966: Bridge over Orara River opens to traffic. The bridge replaced a low level timber bridge. 2

Jackadgery to South Grafton		South Grafton to Jackadgery
Preview:	Description:	Preview:	Description:
	Entering Jackadgery: Gwydir Hwy (NR38) as it enters the town of Jackadgery, July 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: Southbound AD sign on Pacific Hwy (NR1) approaching Gwydir Hwy (NR38 / SR91) at South Grafton, August 2004. Image © Paul Rands
	Mann River: Gwydir Hwy (NR38) as it crosses Mann River via Jackadgery Bridge at Jackadgery, July 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign assembly at the junction with Pacific Hwy (NR1) at South Grafton, August 2004. Image © Paul Rands
	Mann River: Gwydir Hwy (NR38) as it crosses Mann River via Jackadgery Bridge at Jackadgery, July 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: Northbound AD sign on Pacific Hwy (NR1) approaching Gwydir Hwy (NR38 / SR91) at South Grafton, August 2004. Image © Paul Rands
	Mann River: Gwydir Hwy (NR38) as it crosses Jackadgery Ck at Jackadgery, July 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign assembly at the junction with Pacific Hwy (NR1) at South Grafton, August 2004. Image © Paul Rands
	Old Kangaroos Sign: Old style single panel kangaroos warning sign at Jackadgery, July 2007. Modern kangaroo signs consist of a kangaroo pictogram by itself within a yellow diamond, with a rectangle distance panel under it. Image © Paul Rands		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign assembly at the roundabout with Summerland Way (SR91) and Ryan St at South Grafton, August 2004. The SR91 duplex ends at this junction. Image © Paul Rands
	Purgatory Creek Road: Corner of Gwydir Hwy (NR38) and Purgatory Ck Rd at Ramornie, July 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Distance Sign: Reassurance directional sign as Gwydir Hwy (NR38) leaves South Grafton, May 2005. Image © Rob Tilley
	Ramornie: Gwydir Hwy (NR38) on a slightly windy alignment through Ramornie, July 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Ramornie: Beautiful backdrop as Gwydir Hwy (NR38) passes through Ramornie, May 2005. Image © Rob Tilley
	Orara River: Gwydir Hwy (NR38) as it crosses Orara River via I. Tindal Bridge at Ramornie, July 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Mann River: Gwydir Hwy (NR38) as it crosses Mann River via Jackadgery Bridge at Jackadgery, August 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Orara River: Gwydir Hwy (NR38) as it crosses Orara River via I. Tindal Bridge at Ramornie, July 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Mann River: Gwydir Hwy (NR38) as it crosses Mann River via Jackadgery Bridge at Jackadgery, August 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Timber and Wire Safety Fencing: Older style timber and wire safety fencing in the Ramornie area, July 2007. Image © Paul Rands
	Timber and Wire Safety Fencing: Older style timber and wire safety fencing in the Ramornie area, July 2007. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Gwydir Hwy (NR38) approaching Old Grafton Rd at Waterview, July 2007. Image © Paul Rands
	Old Grafton Road: Corner of Gwydir Hwy (NR38) and Old Grafton Rd at Waterview, July 2007. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Gwydir Hwy (NR38) approaching Rogan Bridge Rd, July 2007. Image © Paul Rands
	50km/h Sign: Sign dating back to the introduction of 50km/h urban speed limits at South Grafton, July 2007. Image © Paul Rands
	South Grafton: Gwydir Hwy (NR38) as it passes through South Grafton, July 2007. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Gwydir Hwy (NR38) approaching Summerland Way (SR91 / TD22) and Ryan St at South Grafton, July 2007. The SR91 duplex begins here. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Gwydir Hwy (NR38) approaching Pacific Hwy (NR1) at South Grafton, July 2007. National Route 38 ends at this intersection. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of NR38 between Glen Innes and Jackadgery

1 Roads & Traffic Authority, Schedule of Classified Roads and State & Regional Roads, January 2011
2 Department of Main Roads, The Roadmakers, A History of Main Roads in New South Wales, ISBN 0 7240 0439 4
3 National Library of Australia, Catalogue, Construction of Jackadgery Bridge, New South Wales, 1959 / Thiess Bros. Pty Ltd.

Last updated: 17-Dec-2019 0:55

This site © Paul Rands. All rights reserved. Some portions © (copyright) by their respective and credited owners. Permission must be obtained before using any images from this site. For details, please email by clicking here.