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Pacific Highway, New England Highway, John Renshaw Drive, Southern Freeway, Mount Ousley Road & Princes Highway (National Route 1) (Decommissioned) - Former Alignment: Clybucca to Port Macquarie

Statistics:

• Length: 1149 km (Clybucca to Port Macquarie: 61 km)
  • Northern section: 668 km
• Northern Terminus:
  • Northern section: Gold Coast Highway (SR2) and Tugun Bypass (M1) at Tweed Heads West
• Southern Terminus:
  • Northern section: John Renshaw Drive (NH1) and New England Highway (NH15) at Beresfield
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along The Route:
  • Northern section: Seven Oaks, Fredrickton, Kempsey, Kundabung, Cooperabung, Telegraph Point, Blackmans Point, Fernbank Creek and Thrumster

Route Numbering:

• Former:
• Road Authority Internal Classification: SH10 (Tweed Heads West to Hexham) 1
• Decommissioned: 2013

General Information:

National Route 1 forms part of the main coastal route between Victoria and Queensland. The route features a mix of rural highway, arterial and freeway design standards. The route forms part of what is collectively known as Highway 1. It is Australia's coastal highway joining all mainland's state capitals and coastal towns circumnavigating the entire Australian continent. It is also the longest numbered highway in the world, covering more than 14 500 km.

In New South Wales, National Route 1 was truncated by National Highway 1 between Beresfield and Wahroonga, by Metroad 1 between Wahroonga and Waterfall and by M1 at Tweed Heads West.

Northern Section:

The northern section of National Route 1 took in a small section of New England Highway and the rest was made up by the Pacific Highway. The route varies from dual carriageway arterial and highway standard, to motorway standard and the rest is generally undivided rural highway conditions. The Pacific Highway is very well trafficked, and as a result notorious for a large amount of road trauma within the state. These crashes have resulted in more than 50% of the route being divided since the late 1980s.

• Pacific Highway:

The Pacific Highway section of NR1 runs between Brunswick Heads and Hexham, and also between Wahroonga and the Gore Hill Freeway at Artarmon. The northern section between Brunswick Heads and Hexham is a mix of dual carriageway, rural highway and urban arterial roadway. The southern section between Wahroonga and Artarmon is urban arterial standard and passes through one of Sydney's more affluent areas.

The highway traces its origins back to an early settler, George Peat, who owned the land between the Hawkesbury River and Mooney Mooney Creek. To provide access to his property, Peat began a ferry service across the Hawkesbury River in 1844 and surveyed, then constructed a road between Hornsby and Kariong in 1854. After his death in 1870, the ferry service was abandoned and the road fell into disrepair, finally closing to all traffic in 1899, following the completion of the Sydney-Newcastle railway.

Demand for a route between Sydney and Newcastle dates back to the early 20th century. When the only access was via the sea or via a long route through the town of Wiseman's Ferry. In the 1920s, the then Main Roads Board undertook a series of surveys to form an easier and more reliable route north from Sydney. In 1928 construction began on upgrading the old road and converting it to a modern standard, plus creating  a new route north, utilising some of the abandoned Peat's Ferry Rd, while improving the horizontal and vertical alignments. In May 1930 the ferry service across the Hawkesbury River was re-established to service the new road until such times that a bridge became necessary. June 1930 marked the completion of the concrete surfacing.

During the time of the Hornsby to Gosford contruction, improvements were made to roads between Gosford to Newcastle as part of the link. On May 17 in 1929, the route was named as the Great Northern Highway. The work from Hornsby to Gosford cost almost £1 million, however it was money well spent, reducing the trip from Sydney to Newcastle from 9 hours to 4 ½ hours.

History:

Pacific Highway:

• 1932: Between Port Macquarie and Blackman's Point, flood protection measures were put in place. 2
• 1933: Improvements to alignment and visibilty carried out on a 6 mile section of Pacific Highway near Port Macquarie. 2
• 1934: Completion of a concrete bridge, 25 feet long, was constructed at 3¾ miles (6 km) north of Port Macquarie over Fernbank Creek, on what is now Hastings River Drive. Construction of a 3-span timber beam bridge, 105 feet long, was constructed at Christmas Creek at Fredrickton to replace a worn-out structure. 3
• 1936: A single span reinforced concrete frame bridge 50 feet long constructed over Stony Creek on the Pacific Highway near Telegraph Point. 4  Timber suspension bridge opened to traffic over the Hastings River near Port Macquarie.
• 1938: Upgrade begins on highway for 3 miles at Telegraph Point 5
• 1939: By this time, two thirds of the Pacific Highway was bitumen paved. 6
• 1949: Reconstruction of the Kempsey Bridge over the Macleay River - work included four steel truss spans of 151 feet 6 inches with eight 40-feet beam approach spans. The total length is 917 feet. 7
• 1953: Construction of a deviation between two new bridges under construction at Stumpy and Scrubby Creeks at South Kempsey. Widening and resurfacing of Pacific Hwy between Stewarts River and Stoney Creek Bridge, totalling 3.25 miles. Start of work on bridge over Macleay River at Kempsey. 8 The new bridge replaced a timber one that comprised of four 154 feet timber truss spans and nine timber beam spans, and was 921 feet in length. 9
• 1956: 543 miles out of 574 miles of Pacific now with a bitumen surface. 10
• 1958: The bitumen surfacing of the Pacific Highway (576 miles in length) was completed. 11
• 1960: A twelve-span bridge over the Macleay River at Kempsey was completed. The bridge is 917 feet long and is comprised of four steel truss spans supported on reinforced concrete cylinder piers and eight reinforced concrete girder spans supported on reinforced concrete piles. The bridge replaced an old thirteen-span timber beam and truss bridge. 12
• 1961: Construction started on the Blackmans Point deviation, near Port Macquarie, the new road included a bridge over Hastings River and 6 miles of new alignment. The work also eliminated a vehicular ferry. 13
• 1967: Work started on the channelisation of the intersection of the highway with the Kempsey-Armidale Road and on the construction of a median strip along Smith Street (Pacific Highway) between Forth and Belgrave Streets, Kempsey. 14
• 1969: Work was started on traffic islands at the intersection of the highway with Belgrave Street, Kempsey. 15
• 1970: Completion of traffic islands at the intersection with Belgrave Street, Kempsey. 16
• 1971: Completion of reconstruction, with provision of medians and traffic islands, at the intersection with Belgrave Street Kempsey. 17
• 1972: A roadside weighing site was built on Pacific Highway at Telegraph Point, which provided heavy duty all-weather facilities for the weighing of heavy vehicles on portable weighing devices. 18
• 1973: Work commenced on the construction of a deviation, being the approaches to a new bridge over Wilson River and the North Coast Railway at Telegraph Point. 19
• 17 April 1973: Bridge over the Wilson River at Telegraph Point, new bridge and deviation on the Pacific Highway were opened by the Deputy Premier and Minister for Highways, Sir Charles Cutler. 20
• 1974: Work was completed on the construction of a deviation between Blackmans Point and Telegraph Point, in approach to a new bridge over the Wilson River, and on a further section from Barries Creek to Smiths Creek, at Kundabung. Preliminary work commenced on upgrades through the Cooperabung Range. 20
• 17 April 1974: A thirteen span prestressed concrete bridge over the Wilson River at Telegraph Point, was opened to traffic. The structure is 560 metres long, provides two traffic lanes and one footway. It replaced a timber bridge 123 metres long with a steel lift-span and eliminated a railway level crossing. 20
• 1975: Preliminary work commenced in preparation for reconstruction of the Pacific Highway in cement concrete at Clybucca Flat. 21
• 1976: Partial opening of the deviation over the Cooperabung Mountain near Telegraph Point. Reconstruction was commenced between Bellimbopinni and Clybucca with continuous reinforced concrete pavement. The concrete pavement was completed at Clybucca. 22
• December 1990: Opening of Stage 1 of the Herons Creek Deviation to traffic. Stage 1 runs from Ryans Road to the Oxley Highway. 23
• November 1993: Opening of Stage 2 of the Herons Creek Deviation to traffic. Stage 2 runs from Stills Road to Houston Mitchell Drive. 23
• 3 July 1998: Duplication of Herons Creek Deviation opens to traffic. 23
• June 2010: Work starts on the Kempsey Bypass. The route is 14.5 kilometres in length, and extends from the existing dual carriageway south of Kempsey to the existing dual carriageway at Eungai Rail. The bridge over the Macleay River and floodplain will be 3.2 kilometres long, making it the longest bridge in Australia. 24

This page concentrates on photos of the former alignment of Pacific Highway between Clybucca and Port Macquarie.

Preview:	Description:
	Entering Fredrickton : Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it enters Fredrickton, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Fredrickton Town Centre : Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it passes through Fredrickton, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Collombatti Road : Corner of Pacific Hwy (NR1) and Collombatti Rd at Fredrickton, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley
	Reassurance Directional Sign : Distance sign at Fredrickton, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Kempsey, approaching Second Ln, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley
	Second Lane: Pacific Hwy (NR1) at the junciton with Second Ln, Kempsey, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley
	Entering Kempsey : Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it enters Kempsey, November 2010. Click here for a photo by Paul Rands of this location from March 2006. Image © Rob Tilley
	Kempsey Town Centre : Pacific Hwy (NR1) in the Kempsey town centre, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign : AD sign approaching Stuart St, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign as Pacific Hwy (NR1) Belgrave St, Kempsey, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Macleay River : Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it passes over Macleay River at Kempsey, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Macleay River : Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it passes over Macleay River at Kempsey, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley
	Rudder Street : Pacific Hwy (NR1) at the junction with Rudder St in East Kempsey, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Pacific Hwy (NR1) approaching Angus Neil Dr (TD12) at South Kempsey, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: Pacific Hwy (NR1) approaching Angus Neil Dr (TD12) at South Kempseyy, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley
	Angus Neil Drive : Pacific Hwy (NR1) at the junction with Angus Neil Dr at South Kempsey, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley
	Distance Sign: Reassurance directional sign at South Kempsey, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley
	Distance Sign: Rest area reassurance directional sign at South Kempsey, November 2010. Image © Rob Tilley
	Start Divided Road : The beginning of divided highway at South Kempsey, March 2006. Image © Paul Rands

1 Roads and Traffic Authority, Schedule of Classified Roads and State & Regional Roads, 31 January 2011
2 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1932-33
3 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1933-34
4 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1936-37
5 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1937-38
6 RTA Thematic History, 2nd Edition, 2006
7 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1948-49
8 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1953-54
9 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1956-57
10 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1955-56
11 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1957-58
12 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1959-60
13 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1960-61
14 Roads and Maritime Services, Project Fact Sheet, Bangalow Bypass
15 Roads and Maritime Services, Projects, Pacific Highway Upgrade, Coffs Harbour to Ballina, Completed Projects, Gap Road
16 Roads and Maritime Services, Project Fact Sheet, Brunswick Heads Bypass (Stage 1)
17 Roads and Maritime Services, Project Fact Sheet, Ewingsdale to Tyagarah
18 Roads and Maritime Services, Projects, Pacific Highway Upgrade, Port Macquarie to Coffs Harbour, Completed Projects, Eungai Deviation
19 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1972-73
20 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1973-74
21 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1974-75
22 Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1976-77
23 Roads and Maritime Services, Projects, Pacific Highway Upgrade, Hexham to Port Macquarie, Completed Projects, Herons Creek Deviation Duplication
24 Roads and Maritime Services, Pacific Highway upgrade Monthly achievement report, May 2012

Last updated: 03-Nov-2017 12:41

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