Road Photos & Information: New South Wales: Hume Highway (National Highway 31) - Mittagong To Sutton Forest (Decommissioned)

Road Photos & Information: New South Wales

Hume Highway (National Highway 31) - Mittagong To Sutton Forest (Decommissioned)

Statistics:

Length: 500 km (Mittagong to Sutton Forest: 35 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 (M31) at the Victorian border and travels for 303 km to the Metropolitan Ring Road (M80).
Suburbs, Towns & Localities along route: Mittagong, Berrima and Sutton Forest

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.

Here are some interesting statistics on the Hume Highway: 2

The Mittagong Bypass is 15 km long.

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.
March 1989: Berrima was bypassed by the South Western Freeway 3
1992: Mittagong and Goulburn Bypasses open
2002: Replacement of bridges over Nattai River and Gibbergunyah Creek near Mittagong 2

Click here for the former alignment between Mittagong and Sutton Forest

Mittagong to Sutton Forest		Sutton Forest to Mittagong
Preview:	Description:	Preview:	Description:
	Drapers Road: Hume Hwy (NH31) at Willow Vale as it passes under Drapers Rd, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Services Sign: Services sign at Sutton Forest for the service centre attached to the Sally's Corner Rd interchange, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Nattai River: Hume Hwy (NH31) as it crosses Nattai River at Mittagong, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: Northbound AD sign for the exit with Sally's Corner Road (service centre) at Sutton Forest, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Mittagong: Hume Hwy (NH31) as it traverses the hills north of MIttagong, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Sally's Corner Road & Service Centre: Northbound at the Service Centre and Sally's Corner Road interchange at Sutton Forest, August 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Mittagong: Hume Hwy (NH31) as it traverses the hills north of MIttagong, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Sally's Corner Road & Service Centre: Northbound at the Service Centre and Sally's Corner Road interchange at Sutton Forest, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Old Hume Highway: Hume Hwy (NH31) as it passes under Old Hume Hwy at Welby, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: Northbound signage for the Illawarra Hwy interchange at Sutton Forest, August 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Freeway Green Distance Sign: 1980s freeway green RD sign at Woodlands, December 2009. Sign has since been replaced. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: Northbound signage for the Illawarra Hwy interchange at Sutton Forest, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Old Hume Highway: Hume Hwy (NH31) as it crosses Old Hume Hwy at Woodlands, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Sutton Forest approaching Illawarra Hwy (NR48). Northbound, August 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Greenhills Road: Hume Hwy (NH31) as it crosses Greenhills Rd in Berrima, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Bypassed Town Signage: Another sign indicating access to a bypassed town. This time it's Bowral, which can be accessed via the Illawarra Highway, travelling through Moss Vale. August 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from April 2006 at Sutton Forest. Image © Paul Rands
	Old Mandemar Road: Hume Hwy (NH31) as it crosses Old Mandemar Rd in Berrima, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Northbound at Sutton Forest: Hume Hwy (NH31) at the Illawarra Hwy (NR48) Interchange, August 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Wingecarribee River: Hume Hwy (NH31) as it crosses Wingecarribee River at Berrima, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Distance Sign: Northbound RD sign after the Illawarra Highway (NR48) interchange at Sutton Forest, August 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Berrima for Medway Rd interchange, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign, northbound at Berrima apporaching Old Hume Hwy (SR89). August 2013. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the old freeway green sign in this location. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Berrima for Medway Rd interchange, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Services & Historic Town Sign: Combined sign indicating Berrima's historical status and also services available. August 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from April 2006, northbound at Berrima, about 1.5 km from the interchange. Image © Paul Rands
	Medway Road: Hume Hwy (NH31) at Berrima at the Medway Rd interchange, December 2009. Note the SR89 shield, it's a remnant, and should've been prefixed with 'To'. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign, northbound at Berrima. August 2013 approaching Old Hume Hwy (SR89). Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the old freeway green sign in this location. Image © Paul Rands
	Medway Road: Hume Hwy (NH31) at Berrima at the Medway Rd interchange, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Sutton Forest approaching Golden Vale Rd, August 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	End Freeway 2km: Freeway green end freeway sign from the 1980s at Berrima, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Golden Vale Road: Corner of Hume Hwy (NH31) and Golden Vale Rd at Sutton Forest, August 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	End Freeway 2km: Freeway green end freeway sign from the 1980s at Berrima, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Bypassed Town Sign: Typical signage indicating access to a bypassed town, this time Berrima, August 2013. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of this location. Image © Paul Rands
	End Freeway Sign Old freeway green sign denoting the end of freeway conditions at the Berrima (Old Hume Hwy / Mereworth Rd) interchange. The highway from here to the south is not all grade separated and has at-grade junctions with local roads and farms, and therefore can't be classed as a fully fledged motorway, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Old Hume Highway Interchange: Northbound at the Berrima interchange with the Old Hume Highway, August 2013. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the old freeway green sign in this location. Image © Paul Rands
	Medway Rivulet: Hume Hwy (NH31) as it crosses Medway Rivulet at Berrima, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Start Freeway Sign: Sign denoting the beginning of freeway conditions at the Berrima (Old Hume Hwy / Mereworth Rd) interchange. The highway from here to the south is not all grade separated and has at-grade junctions with local roads and farms, and therefore can't be classed as a fully fledged motorway. Northbound, August 2013. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the old freeway green sign in this location. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign Southbound RD sign at Sutton Forest. December 2009. Click here for a photo from July 2006 of the old freeway green sign from mid 1980s, when the interchange for the Old Hume Highway through Berrima was built. Image © Paul Rands		Medway Road Interchange: Northbound through the Medway Rd interchange, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Sutton Forest approaching Golden Vale Rd, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Distance Sign: Northbound RD sign just after the Old Hume Highway interchange at Berrima. August 2013. Click here for a photo from April 2006 of the old freeway green sign in this location. Image © Paul Rands
	Golden Vale Road: Hume Hwy (NH31) at the junction with Golden Vale Rd in Sutton Forest, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Wingecarribee River: Northbound at the Wingecarribee River at Berrima, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Kardinia Lane & Belanglo Road: Hume Hwy (NH31) at Sutton Forest at the junction with Kardinia Ln and Belanglo Rd, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Crossing Greenhills Road: Northbound bridge over Greenhills Road at Berrima, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Services sign at Sutton Forest for the Mackey VC Rest Area, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Passing Over Old Hume Highway: Northbound at Welby as you drive over the Old Hume Highway, April 2006. Note the old weathered sign to the left of the bridge. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Sutton Forest for Illawarra Hwy (NR48) interchange, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: Advance directional sign for the Old Hume Hwy interchange. Northbound at Welby, August 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Sutton Forest for the Eling Forest Winery, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: Northbound signage for the Mittagong (SR89, Old Hume Hwy) exit, Welby, August 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Sutton Forest for Illawarra Hwy (NR48) interchange, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Supplemental AD Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Welby, August 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Eling Forest Winery: Hume Hwy (NH31) at the entrance to Eling Forest Winery at Sutton Forest, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Services Sign: Northbound sign at Welby indicating services available at Mittagong. August 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Sutton Forest for Illawarra Hwy (NR48) interchange, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Northbound at Welby: Old Hume Highway interchange, the freeway once ended here to go through to Mittagong's town centre before coming out at what is now the Aylmerton interchange. August 2013. Click here for a photo of this location from April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Services sign at Sutton Forest for the Mackey VC Rest Area, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Old Hume Highway: Hume Hwy (NH31) at the Old Hume Hwy (SR89) interchange at Welby, August 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Services sign at Sutton Forest near the Mackey VC Rest Area, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Northbound at Mittagong: Sign indicating a low speed lane ahead, there is a handful of these signs between Mittagong and Goulburn as the highway traverses some steep hills, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Mackey VC Rest Area: Hume Hwy (NH31) at the entrance to Mackey VC Rest Area at Sutton Forest, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Northbound at Mittagong: Climbing lane as you head up the hill before the Gibbergunyah Creek bridges. April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Illawarra Highway: Hume Hwy (NH31) at the interchange with Illawarra Hwy at Sutton Forest, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Northbound approaching the twin bridges: Heading down the gorge with Gibbergunyah Creek near Mittagong, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Illawarra Highway: Hume Hwy (NH31) at the interchange with Illawarra Hwy at Sutton Forest, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Twin Bridges at Mittagong: The twin bridges in the Gibbergunyah Creek area. These bridges required massive retrofits due to subsidence back in the 90s. April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Illawarra Highway Interchange Westbound at Sutton Forest on the Illawarra Highway, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Twin Bridges at Mittagong: The twin bridges in the Gibbergunyah Creek area. These bridges required massive retrofits due to subsidence back in the 90s. April 2006 Image © Paul Rands
	Illawarra Highway Interchange Westbound at Sutton Forest on the Illawarra Highway, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Nattai River: Crossing the Nattai River, west of Mittagong, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Black Advance Directional Sign Eastbound just before the Illawarra Highway interchange is this very nice relic in great condition. It's the pictogram AD sign on Canyonleigh Road. Image © Paul Rands
	Illawarra Highway Interchange Eastbound at Sutton Forest on the Illawarra Highway, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Illawarra Highway Interchange Eastbound at Sutton Forest on the Illawarra Highway, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Southbound RD Sign Distance sign after the NR48 / Illawarra Hwy Interchange at Sutton Forest, December 2009. Click here for a photo of the old sign from April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign Sign indicating the upcoming service centre located at Sutton Forest, along with Sally's Corner Road. Southbound, April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign Southbound AD sign for the exit with Sally's Corner Road (service centre) at Sutton Forest, December 2009. Click here for a photo of the old sign from April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign Signage for the upcoming service centre located at Sutton Forest, along with Sally's Corner Road. Southbound, April 2006. Next services mentioned is the service centre located just south of the Marulan town centre. Image © Paul Rands
	Exeter & Bundanoon Exit Southbound at the Service Centre and Sally's Corner Road interchange at Sutton Forest, December 2009. Click here for a photo of the old sign from April 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Sally's Corner Road: Advance directional sign on the Sally's Corner Rd interchange as the ramp approaches the service centre, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign with Sally's Corner Rd and Service Centre roundabout at Sutton Forest, December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at the Sutton Forest Centre approaching the bridge over the Hume Hwy (NH31), December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Sutton Forest Service Centre: Intersection directional sign within the Sutton Forest Service Centre at the junction with the bridge over Hume Hwy (NH31), December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Sutton Forest Service Centre: Intersection directional sign within the Sutton Forest Service Centre at the junction with the bridge over Hume Hwy (NH31), December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
	Sutton Forest Service Centre: Intersection directional sign within the Sutton Forest Service Centre at the ramp to re-join Hume Hwy (NH31), December 2009. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of NH31 (Hume Hwy) between Sutton Forest and Gouburn Click here for the continuation of NH31 (Hume Hwy) between Mittagong and Wilton

1 Roads and Traffic Authority
2 Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
3 Berrima Business Houses

Last updated: 27-Feb-2017 14:07

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