Road Photos & Information: New South Wales: Newell Highway (National Highway 39)

Road Photos & Information: New South Wales

Newell Highway (National Highway 39) - Coonabarabran to Moree (Decommissioned)

Statistics:

Length: 1059 km (Coonabarabran to Moree: 219 km)
Northern Terminus: Queensland Border at Boggabilla
Southern Terminus: Victorian Border at Tocumwal
Miscellaneous: Continues as Cunningham Highway (NH39) in Queensland and as Goulburn Valley Highway (A39) in Victoria
Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along The Route: Dandry, Pillaga, Bohena Creek, Narrabri, Edgeroi, Bellata and Gurley

Route Numbering:

Former:
Multiplexes:
Road Authority Internal Classification: HW17 1
Decommissioned: 2013

General Information:

The Newell Highway is the longest highway in NSW, stretching from the Victorian border at Tocumwal to the Queensland border. It's the economic backbone for freight and livestock transporters, tourism operators, caravanners and holiday makers, emergency services, government, media and business owners. 2

The majority of the route is undivided roadway, with various overtaking sections where required.

The Newell Highway is named after HH Newell. He was the first commissioner for Main Roads in New South Wales. He passed away in 1941. 3 Prior to his appointment to the newly formed Main Roads Board on March 9, 1925, he was the District Engineer at the Wollongong branch of the Department of Public Works. 4

Multiplexes along the route include:

National Route 37 (Kamilaroi Hwy), for 5 km at Narrabri
National Route 38 (Gwydir Hwy), for 450 metres at Moree

History:

1930s: Aerial investigations carried out to establish the route of the Newell Hwy. 4
1938: Route of Newell Highway proclaimed. The route chosen generally followed exisitng roads, but 2 sections between Narrandera and Wyalong, and also between Coonabarabran and Narrabri required fresh construction. 4
June 1946: Work commenced on a 69 mile section of highway between Coonabarabran and Narrabri. 4
1949: Construction completed between Coonabarabran and Narrabri. 4
1969: Work begins to complete bitumous sealing along highway length. 4
August 1973: Sealed surface completed along entire Newell Highway. The last section to be done was between Moree and Boggabilla. 4
1 December 2009: Reduction of Newell Hwy speed limit from 110 km/h outside urban areas to 100 km/h. 5
13 December 2010: The new bridge over the Mehi River was officially opened to traffic. Following the opening of the bridge traffic was switched onto the northern section of the Moree town centre bypass via the Gwydir Highway connection. 6

Click here for historical images of the route between Coonabarabran and Moree

Coonabarabran to Moree		Moree to Coonabarabran
Preview:	Description:	Preview:	Description:
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Dandry approaching Borambitty Rd, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Entering Gurley: Newell Hwy (NH39) as it enters the town of Gurley, July 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Borambitty Road: Newell Hwy (NH39) at the Borambitty Rd junction in Dandry, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Gurley Town Centre: Newell Hwy as it passes through Gurley, July 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Number One Break Road: Newell Hwy (NH39) at the junction with Number One Break Rd in Dandry, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Services Sign: Services sign approaching the Tookey Ck Rest Area at Bellata, July 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: Tourism based RD sign at Dandry, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Entering Bellata: Newell Hwy (NH39) as it enters the town of Bellata, July 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	West Port Road: Intersection directional sign near Narrabri at the West Port Rd junction, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Bellata-Millie Road: Newell Hwy (NH39) at the Bellata-Millie Rd junction in Bellata, July 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Narrabri approaching the Kamilaroi Hwy (NR37) roundabout, November 2010. Click here for a photo by Rob Tilley from April 2005 of the previous sign. The NR37 duplex begins at this junction. Image © Rob Tilley		Bellata Town Centre: Newell Hwy (NH39) near Wilga St in Bellata, July 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at Narrabri at the Kamilaroi Hwy (NR37) roundabout, November 2010. Click here for a photo by Rob Tilley from April 2005 of the previous sign. Image © Rob Tilley		Entering Edgeroi: Newell Hwy (NH39) as it enters the town of Edgeroi, July 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Entering Narrabri: Welcome sign as the Newell Hwy (NH39) enters the Narrabri town centre, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Narrabri approaching Bingara Rd (TD3), July 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional SIgn: AD sign at Narrabri approaching Mooloobar St, April 2005. Image © Rob Tilley		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Kamilaroi Hwy (NR37) in Narrabri, May 2011. Click here for a photo of the previous sign from July 2005. Image © Rob Tilley
	Intersection Directional SIgn: ID sign at Narrabri at the roundabout with Mooloobar St, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Kamilaroi Highway: Newell Hwy (NH39) at the junction with Kamilaroi Hwy (NR37) in Narrabri, May 2011. The NR37 duplex starts at this junction. Image © Rob Tilley
	Ugoa Street: Newell Hwy (NH39) at the junction with Ugoa St in Narrabri, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign in Narrabri approaching Barwan St & Killarney St, May 2011. NH39 turns right at this junction. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Tibbereena St and Narrabri Ck in Narrabri, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Barwan Street & Killarney Street: Newell Hwy (NH39) at the roundabout with Barwan St & Killarney St in Narrabri, July 2005. Click here for a photo of the previous sign from July 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Tibbereena Street: Intersection directional sign at the junction with Tibbereena St in Narrabri, November 2010. Click here for a photo by Rob Tilley from April 2005 of the previous sign. NH39 turns left at this junction. Image © Rob Tilley		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the roundabout with Newell Hwy (NH39), Killarney St and Barwan St in Narrabri, May 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Distance Sign: RD sign in the Narrabri CBD, April 2005. Image © Rob Tilley		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the roundabout with Newell Hwy (NH39), Killarney St and Barwan St in Narrabri, May 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Barwan St and Killarney St in Narrabri, November 2010. NH39 turns left at this intersection. Image © Rob Tilley		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the roundabout with Newell Hwy (NH39), Killarney St and Barwan St in Narrabri, May 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the roundabout with Barwan St and Killarney St in Narrabri, April 2005. Image © Rob Tilley		Intersection Directional Sign: ID signs as the Newell Hwy (NH39) negotiates way around the Narrabri CBD, May 2011. This is where Killarney St changes to Tibbereena St. Image © Rob Tilley
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the roundabout with Barwan St and Killarney St in Narrabri, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign in Narrabri approaching the Newell Hwy (NH39) and Tibbereena St roundabout, May 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Narrabri approaching the Kamilaroi Hwy (NR37) junction, November 2010. Click here for a photo by Rob Tilley from April 2005 of the previous sign. Image © Rob Tilley		Tibbereena Street: ID sign in Narrabri at the Newell Hwy (NH39) and Tibbereena St roundabout, May 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Narrabri approaching the Kamilaroi Hwy (NR37) junction, January 2004. This sign has since been removed. Image © Michael Greenslade		Black Intersection Directional Sign: Black ID sign in Narrabri at the Newell Hwy (NH39) and Tibbereena St roundabout, July 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at Narrabri at the Kamilaroi Hwy (NR37) junction, November 2010. Click here for a photo by Rob Tilley from April 2005 of the previous sign. The NR37 duplex ends at this junction. Image © Rob Tilley		Advance DIrectional Sign: AD sign at Narrabri approaching Mooloobar St, July 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign on the outskirts of Narrabri, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the Mooloobar St roundabout in Narrabri, May 2011. Click here for a photo of the previous sign from July 2005. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Narrabri approaching Bingara Rd (TD3), November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign in Narrabri approaching Kamilaroi Hwy (NR37) roundabout, May 2011. Click here for a photo of the previous sign taken in May 2005. The NR37 duplex ends at this junction. Image © Rob Tilley
	Bingara Road: Intersection directional sign at Narrabri at the Bingara RD (TD3) intersection, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign in Narrabri at the Kamilaroi Hwy (NR37) roundabout, May 2011. Click here for a photo of the previous sign from July 2005. The NR37 duplex ends at this junction. Image © Rob Tilley
	Tarlee Road & Couradda Road: Intersection directional sign at the junction with Tarlee Rd and Couradda Rd at Edgeroi, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign in Narrabri at the Kamilaroi Hwy (NR37) roundabout, May 2011. The NR37 duplex ends at this junction. Image © Rob Tilley
	Gallathera Lane: Intersection directional sign at the Gallathera Ln junction in Edgeroi, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Distance Sign: RD sign as the Newell Hwy (NH39) leaves Narrabri, May 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Byalla Lane: Newell Hwy (NH39) at Edgeroi at the Byalla Ln junction, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		West Port Road: Intersection directional sign near Narrabri at the West Port Rd junction, May 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Wilga Street: Newell Hwy (NH39) at the Wilga St junction in Bellata, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Cains Crossing Road: Newell Hwy (NH39) at the Cains Crossing Rd junction in Bohena Ck, May 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Millie-Bellata Road: Newell Hwy (NH39) at the Millie-Bellata Rd junction in Bellata, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Distance Sign: Tourism based RD sign at Pilliga, May 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Glenroy Street & Gurley Creek Road: Intersection directional sign at the Glenroy St and Gurley Ck Rd junction in Bellata, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Number One Break Road: Newell Hwy (NH39) at the junction with Number One Break Rd in Dandry, May 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Glenroy Street & Gurley Creek Road: Intersection directional sign at the Glenroy St and Gurley Ck Rd junction in Bellata, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley		Borambitty Road: Newell Hwy (NH39) at the Borambitty Rd junction in Dandry, May 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
Click here for the continuation of National Highway 39 between Moree and Queensland Border Click here for the continuation of National Highway 39 between Gilgandra and Coonabarabran

1 Roads and Traffic Authority, Schedule of Classified Roads and State & Regional Roads, 31 January 2011
2 Roads and Traffic Authority, Road Projects, Western Region, Newell Highway
3 Department of Main Roads, Main Roads of New South Wales brochure
4 Department of Main Roads, The Roadmakers, A History of Main Roads in New South Wales, ISBN0 7240 0439 4
5 Roads & Traffic Authority, Rules & Regulations, Newell Highway Reduced Speed Limit
6 Roads & Traffic Authority, Projects, Western Region, Moree Town Centre Bypass

Last updated: 08-Sep-2020 21:11

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