Road
Photos & Information: New South Wales
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Illawarra HIghway (National Route 48) (Decommissioned) |
Statistics:
- Length: 62 km
- Eastern
Terminus: Princes Hwy (NR1) at Albion Park Rail
- Western
Terminus: Hume Hwy (NH31) 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, Robertson, Burrawang, Moss Vale and Sutton Forest
Route Numbering:
- Former:
- Multiplexes:
- Road Authority
Internal Classification: HW25 1
- Decommissioned: 2013
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:
- State Route 79 for 4 km between Nowra Rd (SR79) at Moss Vale and the roundabout with Suttor Rd and Argyle Rd (SR79) in Moss Vale.
- State Route 80 for 11 km between Robertson and Avoca
- Tourist Drive 8 for 27 km between Albion Park and Robertson
- Tourist Drive 14 for 14 km between Moss Vale and Sutton Forest
- 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.
- 2009: RTA undertook extensive safety work on Macquarie Pass including the installation of 'Beware Trucks on Curve' signs.
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
Last updated: 17-Dec-2019 0:55
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