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Statistics:

• Length: 45 km
• Western Terminus: Western Motorway (M4) and Leonay Parade at Emu Plains
• Eastern Terminus: Western Motorway (M4) & Parramatta Road (A4) at Strathfield
• Miscellaneous: Great Western Highway is truncated at Emu Plains from Russell Street, but continues as A32 from Lapstone at the end of the Western Motorway (M4). Parramatta Road continues as A4 from North Strathfield
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along The Route: Emu Plains, Penrith, Kingswood, Werrington, St Marys, Oxley Park, Colyton, Mt Druitt, Minchinbury, Rooty Hill, Huntingwood, Arndell Park, Blacktown, Prospect, Greystaynes, Girraween, Pendle Hill, Wentworthville, Westmead, Mays Hill, Parramatta, Granville, Clyde, Silverwater, Auburn, Lidcombe, Homebush West, Homebush and Strathfield

Route Numbering:

• Current: A44

• Former:
• Multiplexes: 
• Road Authority Internal Classification: HW5 1

General Information:

A44 is an east-west route that forms a major arterial route in Sydney's western suburbs. It's a mostly multi-laned road, much of which is divided. It's Australia's oldest road.

Since the completion of Western Mwy (M4) the importance of the route has changed, however it's still one of the city's busier routes.

Multiplexes along the route include:

• Tourist Drive 9, for 1300 m at Parramatta

History:

• 1791: A track was cut between Sydney and Parramatta, which was used for official business only, not general travel. 2
• January 1797: Governor Captain John Hunter orders the route be of the track between Sydney and Parramatta to be upgraded. 2
• July 1797: Work begins to widen the track between Sydney and Parramatta to 20 feet wide. 2
• August 1797: Completion of the widening of the track between Sydney and Parramatta. 2
• October 1797: Bridge over Duck River completed. 2
• 10 May 1810: Tolling is introduced along the route between Sydney and Parramatta, and beyond to Windsor. The tolling was introduced to fund road upgrades. 2
• June 1858: The Main Roads Management Act appoints Captain BH Martindale as the person responsible for the management of 3 main roads in the colony including the Great Western Road, from Sydney via Parramatta, Penrith, Hartley and Bathurst to Wellington. 2
• 7 June 1926: A board meeting resolved to set aside funding from the Commonwealth's road funding scheme for road development to be used on some of NSW 'great trunk routes', which included the Great Western Road. 2
• 1938: Installation of warning signs, roadmarkings and guide posts along a 60 mile stretch between Parramatta and Mt Victoria. These were implemented for testing, for a possible statewide rollout. 2
• 1939: After successful testing of warning signs, roadmarkings and guide posts, the system was implemented statewide. Also the full completion of pavement along the Great Western Road. 2
• 1960s: Great Western Hwy re-routed to its present location at Prospect. 2
• 1980s: Great Western Hwy widened from 4 lanes to 6 lanes between St Marys and Werrington, and also between Blacktown and Prospect. Also Great Western Highway re-routed away from High St in Penrith after the opening of a pedestrian mall along High St.
• 1990s: Great Western Hwy truncated at Russell St in Emu Plains when the Western Mwy (Metroad 4) was extended up into the Blue Mountains.
• 2013: State Route 44 replaced by A44.

1 Roads and Traffic Authority, Schedule of Classified Roads (and unclassified Regional Roads), 25 February 2008
2 Department of Main Roads. The Roadmakers, A History of Main Roads in New South Wales, ISBN 0 7240 0439 4

Last updated: 05-Jul-2020 14:19

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