Road Photos & Information: New South Wales
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Western Distributor, Victoria Road, James Ruse Drive, Cumberland Highway, Old Windsor Road, Hawkesbury Valley Way, East Market Street, March Street, Kurrajong Road, Bells Line of Road, Chifley Road, Eddy Street, Lithgow Street, Mort Street & Main Street (State Route 40) - Former Alignment: Windsor To Rydalmere (Decommissioned) |
Statistics:
- Length: 117 km (Former alignment between Windsor and Rydalmere: 34 km)
- Eastern
Terminus: (Former alignment): James Ruse Dr (SR40) and Victoria Rd (SR40) interchange at Rydalmere
- Western
Terminus: (Former alignment): Hawkesbury Valley Way (SR40 / TD14) at Windsor
- Miscellaneous: State Route 40 is in 2 sections after it was decommissioned between Windsor and Rydalmere as well as between Dawes Point and Rozelle. The route was then rerouted via North Parramatta, Northmead, Old Toongabbie and Seven Hills. The former alignment consists of Macquarie St, Windsor Rd, Church St and Victoria Rd.
- Suburbs, Towns
& Localities Along The Route: (Former alignment): Parramatta, North Parramatta, Northmead, Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill, Kellyville, Beaumont Hills, Rouse Hill, Box Hill, Riverstone, Vineyard, McGraths Hills, Mulgrave and Windsor.
Route Numbering:
- Former:
- Road Authority
Internal Classification: MR637 (Church St, Parramatta) and MR184 (North Parramatta-Windsor) 1
General Information:
State Route 40 is major route of New South Wales. The eastern section is an arterial road linking various western and inner western suburbs with Sydney's CBD. The western section is an alternative route over the Blue Mountains, connecting the state's west to Sydney.
As a result of traffic pattern changes and various road upgrades in northwestern Sydney, SR40 was decommissioned in favour of a superior route in 2007. 2 For a number of years SR40 duplexed with Metroad 2 along Windsor Rd between Kellyville and Windsor, but eventually it was decommissioned after upgrades to dual carriageway were completed.
History:
- 1792 onwards: Construction of what is now named Windsor Road and Old Windsor Road. 4
- 1794: A road was established between the Green Hills / Hawkesbury area and the older settlement at Parramatta. 4
- 1797: Governor Hunter ordered landholders to undertake road improvements along the Hawkesbury Road, including widening the road to 20 feet. (This is the date for the creation of the Windsor Road as a carriageway). 4
- 1802: A bridge was constructed at a new South Creek crossing of the Windsor Road, financed by tolls, and replacing the previous punt crossing further east. The current road alignment at South Creek dates from this time. The earlier road alignment, leading to the punt crossing, is reflected in the alignment of the present day Hawkesbury Road. 4
- 1805: Surveyor James Meehan surveyed an alignment between Parramatta and Kellyville which became the basis for the (New) Windsor Road in 1813. 4
- 1810: Governor Macquarie established five towns along the Hawkesbury River: Windsor, Richmond, Pitt Town, Wilberforce, and Castlereagh. A contractor, James Harrex, was engaged to build a new turnpike road between Parramatta and Kellyville, following Meehan's 1805 alignment via Castle Hill. This new alignment would avoid the hilly section (referred to by Governor King in 1803 as "the Seven Hills") of the original (Old) Windsor Road. The new alignment also enabled a more direct route to the Hawkesbury from Sydney. 4
- 1812: Upon the failure of James Harrex to complete the new road works, John Howe took over and completed the contract, which included the construction of 70 bridges. The new road was 32 feet wide and alignment stones marked the carriageway. 4
- 1810s: Governor Macquarie introduced a toll system on the Windsor Road with toll gates north of Parramatta and south of Rouse Hill. 4
- 1816: Construction of a toll house at Rouse Hill. 4
- 11 September 1833: Windsor Road was proclaimed as a Main Road and gazetted, with Old Windsor Road being declared a Parish Road. 4
- 1835 A toll house, the second on the site, was constructed at the South Creek crossing near Windsor. 4
- 1849: The Windsor Road Trust was formed to oversee maintenance of the Windsor Road. 4
- 1853: Fitzroy Bridge constructed across South Creek at Windsor, replacing the earlier Howe's Bridge. 4
- 1924: The Department of Public Works used water-based macadam in reconstructing the Windsor Road near Rouse Hill. Water-based macadam was an improved road surface treatment necessitated by the rapid rise of the motor vehicle. 4
- 1926: A bitumen coating was laid completed on Windsor Road near Rouse Hill, and renewed in 1928-9. 4
- 22 May 1928: Windsor Road, together with Bells Line of Road and the Darling Causeway was announced as Main Road 184. 4
- 1940s: Cutting and filling of the Old Windsor and Windsor Roads was reportedly undertaken by the United States military to prepare evacuation routes should a Japanese invasion take place in Sydney. 4
- 1948: Shoulders of the Windsor Road were widened to 22 feet to provide for anticipated traffic. 4
- October 2002: Upgrade to four lanes from Norbrik to Celebration Drive, Glenwood completed. 4
- March 2002: Upgrade to four lanes from Sunnyholt Road to Merriville Road, Kellyville completed. 4
- June 2002: Upgrade to four lanes from Henry Road to Curtis Road, Vineyard completed. 4
- February 2003: Intersection improvements at Old Windsor Road and Seven Hills Road, and Seven Hills Road to Abbott Road, Seven Hills completed. 4
- August 2003: Upgrade to four lanes from Merriville Road to Schofields Road, Rouse Hill completed. 4
- April 2004: Upgrade to four lanes from Schofields Road to Mile End Road, Rouse Hill completed, and also the upgrade to four lanes from Level Crossing Road to Henry Road, Vineyard completed, plus the upgrade to four lanes from Curtis Road, Vineyard to Pitt Town Road, McGraths Hill completed. 4
- December 2004: Upgrade to four lanes from Norwest Boulevard to Showground Road, Castle Hill completed 4
- July 2006: Upgrade to four lanes from Roxborough Park Road to Norwest Boulevard, Baulkham Hills completed, also the upgrade to four lanes from Acres Road to Old Windsor Road, Kellyville completed. 4
- September 2006: Upgrade to four lanes from Boundary Road to Level Crossing Road, Vineyard completed. 4
- December 2006: Upgrade to four lanes opened to traffic from Mile End Road, Rouse Hill to Boundary Road, Box Hill. 4
- 2007: State Route 40 is split into 2 sections after it was decommissioned between Windsor and Rydalmere. The route was then rerouted via North Parramatta, Northmead, Old Toongabbie and Seven Hills. 3
- 2010: Removal of final SR40 remnants along Windsor Rd at McGraths Hill. 5
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Seven Hills Road & Old Northern Road:
Seven Hills Rd at the junction with Windsor Rd (former SR40) at Old Northern Rd at Baulkham Hills, December 2005.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Black Directional Sign:
Old sign on Metroad 2 showing the duplexed SR40, this sign was replaced during upgrades to Windsor Road. Corner of Windsor Road and Junction Road Riverstone.
May 2004.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Cook Street & Hills Motorway:
Windsor Rd (former SR40) at Cook Rd in Baulkham Hills, with the interchange with Hills Mwy (Metroad 2) in the distance, December 2005.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Black Kilometre Plate:
Old black kilometre plate on Windsor Rd near Bandon Rd at Vineyard, 2004.
Image © Jamie Scuglia |
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Distance Sign:
RD sign in the Baulkham Hills area after the Cook Rd junction, December 2005.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Black Kilometre Plate:
Old black kilometre plate on Windsor Rd near Poole Rd at Kellyville, 2004.
Image © Jamie Scuglia |
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1 Roads & Traffic Authority, Schedule of Classified Roads and State & Regional Roads, 31 January 2011
2 Roads & Traffic Authority, Signposting Guidelines
3 Sam Laybutt (OzRoads)
4 Roads & Traffic Authority
5 Paul Mech
Last updated: 16-Jul-2019 1:34
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