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Statistics:

• Length: 62 km (Albion Park to Robertson: 29 km)
• Eastern Terminus: Princes Hwy (A1) & Princes Mwy (M1) at Albion Park Rail
• Western Terminus: Hume Hwy (M31) and Canyonleigh Rd at Sutton Forest (Hoddles Cross Roads)
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along The Route: Albion Park Rail, Albion Park, Tullimbar, Tongarra, Macquarie Pass, Mount Murray and Robertson

Route Numbering:

• Current: A48

• Former:
• Multiplexes:
• Road Authority Internal Classification: HW25 1

General Information:

The Illawarra Highway is a key link in the state's road network, connecting the Illawarra with the Southern Highlands, the Hume Highway and via the Hume Highway: Melbourne and southwestern New South Wales.

Consisting mostly of single carriageway undivided road, the route traverses Macquarie Pass, which is a narrow and windy section of road built to climb the Illawarra Escarpment. The route primarily services small rural and semi-rural communities.

Multiplexes along the route include:

• Tourist Drive 8 for 27 km between Albion Park and Robertson
• Tourist Drive 15 for 22 km between Robertson and and Moss Vale

History:

• 4 July 1898: Macquarie Pass opens to traffic.
• 1936: Shellharbour Council sought the co-operation of neighbouring shires and municipalities, and the Illawarra tourist zone, to have the then Macquarie Pass road taken over by the Main Roads Board. 2
• 2009: RTA undertook extensive safety work on Macquarie Pass including the installation of 'Beware Trucks on Curve' signs. 3
• July 2012: Installation of vehicle activated signs on Macquarie Pass, with the aim to improve road safety by advising motorists of speed and wet weather hazards. 4
• November 2015: 60 km/h zone extended to Yellow Rock Rd Tullimbar. 5
• July 2017: Slope stabilization, widening of road shoulders, installing guardrail and replacing drains underneath the road on Macquarie Pass. 6
• May 2018: At Robertson and Burrawang, shoulders widened and guard rail installed, plus 2 vehicle activated signs installed at this location, the road shoulders were widened and a widened painted median installed. 7

Robertson to Albion Park Rail			Albion Park Rail To Robertson
Preview:	Description:		Preview:	Description:
	Pearsons Lane: Corner of Illawarra Hwy (A48) and Pearsons Ln in Robertson, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands			Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Albion Park Rail after the Princes Mwy (M1) and Princes Hwy (A1) roundabout, December 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: Reassurance directional sign at Robertson, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands			Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the junction with Tongarra Rd (TD8) and Terry St at Albion Park, December 2013. A48 turns right at this junction. Image © Paul Rands
	Approaching Level Crossing: Approaching the level crossing at Robertson, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands			Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the junction with Tongarra Rd (TD8) and Terry St at Albion Park, December 2013. A48 turns right at this junction. Image © Paul Rands
	Level Crossing: Illawarra Hwy (A48) at the level crossing at Robertson, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands			Distance Sign: RD sign at Albion Park, December 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Caalong St (Kangaloon Rd) (TD15) in Robertson, November 2013. The TD15 duplex ends at this junction. Image © Paul Rands			Macquarie Rivulet: Illawarra Hwy (A48) as it crosses Macquarie Rivulet at Tongarra, December 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Kangaloon Road: Corner of Illawarra Hwy (A48) and Kangaloon Rd (TD15) in Robertson, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands			8km Winding Road: Illawarra Highway (A48) approaching Macquarie Pass at Tongarra, December 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Meryla St at Robertson, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands			Macquarie Pass: Illawarra Hwy (A48) at the start of Macquarie Pass at Tongarra, December 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the Meryla St junction in Robertson, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands			Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the Meryla St junction in Robertson, February 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: Reassurance directional sign at Robertson, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands			Distance Sign: Reassurance directional sign at Robertson, December 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Jamberoo Mountain Rd (TD9) in Robertson, November 2013. SR80 has been decommissioned and shown here in error. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign approaching Jamberoo Mountain Rd (TD9) in Robertson, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign approaching Jamberoo Mountain Rd (TD9) in Robertson, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Prohibition Sign: Prohibition sign approaching Jamberoo Mountain Rd (TD9) at Robertson, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Jamberoo Mountain Road: Corner of Illawarra Hwy (A48) and Jamberoo Mtn Rd (TD9) at Robertson, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Jamberoo Mountain Road: Corner of Illawarra Hwy (A48) and Jamberoo Mtn Rd (TD9) at Robertson, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: Reassurance directional sign at Robertson, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Macquarie Rivulet: Illawarra Hwy (A48) as it crosses Macquarie Rivulet at Robertson, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Flashing Warning Sign: Flashing warning sign as the Illawarra Hwy (A48) leaves Robertson, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Macquarie Pass: Illawarra Hwy (A48) at Mt Murray as it starts its descent down the Illawarra Escarpment via Macquarie Pass, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Macquarie Pass: Approaching one of a couple of the tightest bends on the Illawarra Hwy at Mt Murray, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Macquarie Pass: Approaching one of a couple of the tightest bends on the Illawarra Hwy at Mt Murray, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Road Widens Ahead: Old Road Widens Ahead sign at Mt Murray, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Tourism Distance Sign: Tourism based RD sign on Macquarie Pass, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Trucks Must Remain In Low Gear: Sign for heavy vehicles along Macquarie Pass, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Slow Vehicle Turnout: A slow vehicle turnout on Illawarra Hwy (A48) along Macquarie Pass, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Macquarie Pass: The Illawarra Hwy as it descends Macquarie Pass, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	End Trucks Must Use Low Gear: Sign for heavy vehicles at Tongarra, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Macquarie Rivulet: Illawarra Hwy (A48) as it crosses Macquarie Rivulet at Tongarra, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Entering Albion Park: Illawarra Hwy (A48) as it enters the town of Albion Park, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Russell St in Albion Park, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Tongarra Rd and Terry St in Albion Park, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Tongarra Road & Terry Street: Corner of Illawarra Hwy (A48), Tongarra Rd and Terry St in Albion Park, November 2013. A48 turns left at this junction. Image © Paul Rands
	Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Albion Park, November 2013. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of A48 between Sutton Forest and Robertson

1 Roads & Traffic Authority, Schedule of Classified Roads and State & Regional Roads, 31 January 2011
2 Sydney Morning Herald, 17 October 1936, Page 15.
3 Parliament of New South Wales, Hansard & Papers, Legislative Assembly, Questions, 9329 - Macquarie Pass
4 Roads and Maritime Services, Media Releases, Vehicle Activated Signs For Moss Vale Road, Macquarie Pass And Jamberoo Mountain Road, 17 July 2012
5 Roads & Maritime Services, Media Releases, Motorists encouraged to slow down on Illawarra Highway at Tullimbar, 30 October 2015
6 Roads & Maritime Services, Media Releases, Safety to be improved for motorists on Macquarie Pass, 12 July 2017
7 Roads & Maritime Services, Media Releases, Safety improvements on the way along the Illawarra Highway, 14 May 2018

Last updated: 02-Jan-2019 20:15

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