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Gregory Developmental Road (State Route 63)

Statistics:

• Length: 259 km
• Western Terminus: Kennedy Developmental Road (SR62) at Conjuboy
• Eastern Terminus: Flinders Highway (A6) at Charters Towers
• Miscellaneous: Also named Lynd Highway and Sir John McEwen Beef Road 1
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along The Route: Conjuboy, Greenvale, Basalt and Charters Towers

Route Numbering:

• Current:
• Road Authority Internal Classification: 98C 2

General Information:

State Route 63 is a major route in Queensland's north. It passes through mainly bushland and rural areas, except in Charters Towers, where it services commercial and residential areas.

The road forms part of an important inland route between Cairns and Townsville that provides alternative access during post-cyclone flooding in North Queensland. 3

Another name for this roadway is the Sir John McEwen Beef Road named after a former Australian deputy prime minister. More than 40 years ago the late Sir John realised the importance of this road to the growth of the north Australian cattle industry. 1

History:

• 1960s & 70s: Paving of the road to single lane width. 4
• 1999: Construction of overtaking lanes between Charters Towers and Greenvale. 1
• 2009: Work begins to widen the route to 8 metres. 4
• 2010: Work begins on a heavy vehicle rest area, north of Charters Towers. 5
• 2011: Construction of 2 rest areas, located between Charters Towers and Hervey Range Road and another rest area between Hervey's Range Road and Greenvale. 6

Charters Towers to Conjuboy			Conjuboy to Charters Towers
Preview:	Description:		Preview:	Description:
	Road Name Sign: Sign indicating one of the alternate road names for the route, Richmond Hill at Charters Towers, March 2011. Image © Richard Wardle			Diagrammatic Sign: Sign showing directions and distances to towns and localities along the route, Conjuboy, March 2011. Image © Richard Wardle
				Distance Sign: Reassurance directional sign as SR63 leaves Conjuboy, March 2011. Image © Richard Wardle
				Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at Greenvale facing Redbank Drive, March 2011. Image © Richard Wardle
				Distance Sign: RD sign as Gregory Developmental Rd (SR63) leaves Greenvale, March 2011. Image © Richard Wardle
				Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Richmond Hill in Charters Towers approaching Bridge St and Gregory Developmental Rd (SR63) (Hackett Tce), March 2011. Image © Richard Wardle

1 North Queensland Register, Better roads boost Towers tourism, Lester Hanson, 12 November 1999
2 Queensland Government, Transport & Main Roads, The State Road Network of Queensland, 30 June 2010
3 Queensland Government, Ministerial Media Statements, State Government continues to upgrade inland route to improve post-cyclone access in North Queensland, 5 December 2006.
4 Transport & Main Roads, Projects, Gregory Developmental Road: widening works
5 Queensland Government, Ministerial Media Statements, Minister for Main Roads, New heavy vehicle rest area for the Gregory Developmental Road, 6 July 2010.
6 Queensland Government, Ministerial Media Statements, Minister for Main Roads, Pull over driver, 2 December 2010

Last updated: 17-Dec-2019 0:55

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