Road Photos & Information: New South Wales: Hume Highway: Wilton to Mittagong (Decommissioned)

Road Photos & Information: New South Wales

Hume Highway (National Highway 31) - Wilton To Mittagong (Decommissioned)

Statistics:

Length: 500 km (Wilton to Mittagong: 29 km)
Northern Terminus: Narellan Road (Metroad 9) interchange at Mt Annan, near Campbelltown on the outskirts of southwestern Sydney.
Southern Terminus: NSW-Vic border at Albury
Miscellaneous: Continues as Hume Freeway (NH-M31) at the Victorian border and travels for 303 km to the Metropolitan Ring Road (M80).
Suburbs, Towns & Localities along route: Wilton, Tahmoor, Bargo, Yanderra, Yerrinbool and Mittagong

Route Numbering:

Former:
Decommissioned: 2013
Road Authority Internal Classification: HW2 1

General Information:

The Hume Highway is one of Australia's most vital highway links. Providing access between Sydney and Melbourne, Australia's 2 largest cities. The National Highway section of the Hume Highway consists of almost 100% dual carriageway road, either rural expressway or motorway standard. Works to duplicate small sections of highway that are not dual carriageway are well underway.

In NSW, the highway in one form or another started life as the Great South Road, linking Sydney with the southern highlands and eventually beyond. The highway was named in 1928 after Hamilton Hume (1797-1873), a famous explorer in the early 19th century who, in 1824, in conjunction with William Hovell first found an overland route between Sydney and the infant colonial outpost of Port Phillip, the original name of Melbourne.

NH31 is the main freight and commuter route between Sydney and Melbourne and has gone through a massive amount of transformation over the past 30 or so years, with many towns being bypassed along its route as well and gradual upgrades to motorway standards. Since the 1960s, the road has either been duplicated, where alignments allow for it, and also large deviations have also been part of the upgrade process.

The route around the Mittagong area averages around 16,000 vehicles every day, in other sections the number drops off a little or closer to Sydney increases.1

The route forms the Remembrance Driveway which honours war veterans, click here for the Remembrance Driveway web site.

History:

1950s: In 1952, a group of citizens met and formed a committee under Lt-General Sir Frank Berryman to create a national memorial to servicemen by using trees and shrubs as living memorials. The NSW Premier, J J Cahill, officially launched the scheme on 9 December 1953. The Remembrance Driveway project as it was called started on 5 February 1954, when trees were planted at either end of the Driveway at the War Memorial, Canberra, and in Macquarie Place, Sydney, by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. By June 1959, 10,000 trees had been planted. Since then, planting of trees in avenues or groves has continued. When the M5 Motorway replaced the Hume Highway (and also Camden Valley Way) south of Liverpool, it became the focus for planting trees and shrubs in remembrance. 1
May 1977: South Western Freeway between Yanderra and Alpine opens to traffic
December 1980: Opening of freeway between Campbelltown and Yanderra north of Mittagong. This section of the Hume Hwy features the highest bridge ever built in NSW was the Pheasants Nest Bridge across the Nepean River, which is 76 metres above water level. 2 When this section was built, it formed part of the longest freeway in Australia at the time and won the DMR world wide design and engineering awards.

Click here for the former alignment between Mittagong and Narellan (SR89)
Click here for historical images of the route between Wilton and Mittagong
Click here for construction images of the route between Wilton and Mittagong

Mittagong to Wilton		Wilton to Mittagong
Preview:	Description:	Preview:	Description:
	Drapers road: Northbound at Colo Vale as the highway passes under Drapers Rd, August 2013. Image © Paul Rands		Nepean River: Hume Hwy (NH31) as it crosses Nepean River via Pheasants Nest bridge, August 2010. Click here for construction information. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: Northbound at Colo Vale approaching the SR89 / TD12 interchange. April 2010. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the previous sign. Image © Paul Rands		Distance Sign: RD sign at Pheasants Nest, August 2010. Click here for a photo of the previous sign from December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign approaching Church Av and Old Hume Hwy (SR89 / TD12) at Colo Vale. April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Services sign: Services sign at Pheasants Nest approaching the service centre, which was the first service centre built on a NSW freeway, September 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the northbound exit at Colo Vale for Church Av and the Old Hume Highway (SR89 / TD12) alignment through Alpine, Yanderra and Yerrinbool. August 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Services sign: Services sign at Pheasants Nest approaching the service centre, which was the first service centre built on a NSW freeway, September 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Church Avenue & Old Hume Highway: Hume Hwy (NH31) at the Colo Vale interchange for Church Av and the Old Hume Hwy (SR89 / TD12). April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Services Centre: The services centre at Pheasants Nest, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Church Avenue & Old Hume Highway: Hume Hwy (NH31) at the Colo Vale interchange for Church Av and the Old Hume Hwy (SR89 / TD12). April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Spillage Sign: Sign detailing information on reporting spills at Pheasants Nest, which is part of the catchment area for Nepean and Avon Dams, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	RD Sign: Northbound distance sign at Alpine, note the incorrect National Route 31 shield, should be a green and gold National Highway shield instead. April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Bargo for Avon Dam Rd interchange, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Northbound at Yerrinbool: Typical freeway conditions as you head towards Sydney at Yerrinbool. April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Bargo for Avon Dam Rd interchange, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Sierra Street Overpass: Northbound under Sierra Street at Yerrinbool. All freeway overpasses incorporate anti-rock throwing guards, due several fatal crashes caused by rock throwing at vehicles windscreens. April 2010 Image © Paul Rands		Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Bargo for Avon Dam Rd interchange, August 2010. Click here for a photo of the previous sign from December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Typical style services sign as you head north at Yanderra, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Services Sign: Services sign approaching Avon Dam Rd interchange at Bargo, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental AD Sign: Northbound supplemental AD sign at Yanderra, indicating the Bargo (Remembrance Drive) exit is the best one for access to the town of Tahmoor. April 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Safe-T-Cam Sign: Sign approaching the Safe-T-Cam site at Bargo, which is used to check heavy vehicles, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign for the Remembrance Drive (Old Hume Hwy) interchange, April 2010, northbound at Yanderra. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the previous sign. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Bargo for Avon Dam Rd interchange, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Services sign at Yanderra approaching Remembrance Dr (SR89 / TD12). August 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Bargo for Avon Dam Rd interchange, August 2010. Click here for a photo of the previous sign from December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Spillage Sign: Sign detailing information on reporting spills at Yanderra, which is part of the catchment area for Nepean and Avon Dams. April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Avon Dam Road: Intersection directional sign at Avon Dam Rd interchange at Bargo, September 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Remembrance Dr (SR89 / TD12) interchange, April 2010, northbound at Yanderra. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the previous sign. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on the interchange with Avon Dam Rd in Bargo, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Remembrance Drive Interchange: Northbound at SR89 / TD12 interchange at Yanderra, August 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on the interchange with Avon Dam Rd in Bargo, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Remembrance Driveway Signage: The Hume Highway and Federal Highway between Canberra and Sydney feature a memorial to fallen soldiers called the Remembrance Driveway. This photo is of the sign reminding motorists of this memorial, on the current freeway alignment between Alpine and Bargo as you head north. Image © Sam Laybutt (ozroads.com.au)		Safe-T-Cam Site: Hume Hwy (NH31) at Bargo approaching the Safe-T-Cam site at the Avon Dam overpass, September 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: Northbound RD sign after the Bargo / Remembrance Drive (Old Hume Highway) interchange at Bargo, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Avon Dam Road: Hume Hwy (NH31) as it passes under Avon Dam Rd overpass, which also carries pipes from Nepean Dam and is also the Safe-T-Cam site, September 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Safe-T-Cam Sign: Sign approaching the Safe-T-Cam site at Bargo, which is used to check heavy vehicles. April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Distance Sign: RD sign after the Avon Dam Rd interchange at Bargo, September 2010. Click here for a photo of the previous sign from December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Safe-T-Cam Site: Hume Hwy (NH31) at Bargo approaching the Safe-T-Cam site at the Avon Dam overpass. April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Distance Sign: RD sign with incorrect NR31 shield at Yanderra after the Remembrance Dr (SR89 / TD12) interchange, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Avon Dam Road Overpass: Passing under the bridge and water supply pipes at Bargo. There are access ramps here, which are north facing. April 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Welcome to Capital Country: Tourism based RD sign at Yerrinbool, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on the Avon Dam Rd interchange at Bargo. August 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Sierra Street: Hume Hwy (NH31) as it passes under Sierra St in Yerrinbool, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: Northbound RD sign after the Avon Dam Road interchange at Bargo, August 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from April 2010. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the previous sign. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Alpine for the Church Av / Old Hume Hwy (SR89 / TD12) interchange, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Signage for the Pheasants Nest service centre, northbound, August 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from April 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Alpine for the Church Av / Old Hume Hwy (SR89 / TD12) interchange, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Signage for the Pheasants Nest service centre, northbound. April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Alpine for the Church Av / Old Hume Hwy (SR89 / TD12) interchange, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Pheasants Nest Service Centre Exit: Slip lane for the Mobil service station at Pheasants Nest, northbound, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Church Avenue & Old Hume Highway: Hume Hwy (NH31) at the interchange with Church Av and Old Hume Hwy (SR89 / TD12) at Alpine, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Tourist Sign: Brown tourist attraction sign with historical marker as you head northbound about 2.5 km south of the Picton Road interchange at Pheasants Nest. April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Alpine for the Old Hume Hwy (SR79 / TD14) interchange, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental AD Sign: Sign indicating the Wilton Road exit, 2 km ahead, is the best exit for access to Appin, April 2010 at Pheasants Nest. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the previous sign. Image © Paul Rands		Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Alpine for the Old Hume Hwy (SR79 / TD14) interchange, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign, northbound at Pheasants Nest for Picton Rd (SR88) interchange, April 2010. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the previous sign. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Aylmerton for the Old Hume Hwy (SR79 / TD14) interchange, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Northbound sign for services available at Picton, this sign should actually show more pictograms than it does, because there is accommodation, fuel and dining available at Picton. April 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Services Sign: Services sign approaching Old Hume Hwy (SR79 / TD14) interchange at Aylmerton, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign, northbound at Wilton for Picton Rd (SR88) interchange, April 2010. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the previous sign. Image © Paul Rands		Bypassed Town Sign: Bypassed town sign at Aylmerton for the Old Hume Hwy (SR79 / TD14) interchange, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Nepean River: Crossing the Nepean River via Pheasants Nest Bridge as you head north at Wilton, August 2013. Click here for construction information. Image © Paul Rands		Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Aylmerton for the Old Hume Hwy (SR79 / TD14) interchange, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Picton Road: Picton Rd (SR88) interchange at Wilton, April 2010. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the previous sign. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Aylmerton for the Old Hume Hwy (SR79 / TD14) interchange, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Picton Road: Picton Rd (SR88) interchange at Wilton, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Old Hume Highway: Intersection directional sign with remnant SR89 shield at the interchange with Old Hume Hwy (SR79 / TD14) at Aylmerton. This sign has since been replaced with an SR79 sign. December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Picton Road: Northbound as you pass under the Picton Road (SR88) overpass, April 2010. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of the Hume Hwy (NH31) between Mittagong and Sutton Forest Click here for the continuation of the Hume Hwy (NH31) between Wilton and Campbelltown

1 Roads and Traffic Authority
2 Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

Last updated: 26-Feb-2017 20:30

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