Road Photos & Information: New South Wales: Great Western Highway, Mitchell Highway & Barrier Highway (National Route 32) - South Australia Border to Nyngan (Decommissioned)

Road Photos & Information: New South Wales

Great Western Highway, Mitchell Highway & Barrier Highway (National Route 32) - South Australia Border to Nyngan (Decommissioned)

Statistics:

Length: 1146 km (SA Border to Nyngan: 636 km)
Western Terminus: NSW-SA Border at Cockburn
Eastern Terminus: Western Fwy (Metroad 4) and Governors Dr at Glenbrook
Miscellaneous: Continues as A32 (Barrier Hwy) in South Australia
Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along The Route: Nyngan, Cobar, Wilcannia, Broken Hill and Cockburn

Route Numbering:

Former:
Road Authority Internal Classification: HW8 (Nyngan to South Australia) 1
Decommissioned: 2013

General Information:

National Route 32 is the main route linking the New South Wales state capital, Sydney, with the west of the state. The road varies from arterial road conditions, rural expressway and rural highway.

Barrier Highway:

The Barrier Highway is a highway in New South Wales and South Australia.

The Barrier Highway starts at Nyngan where it joins the Mitchell Highway. It heads west to Cobar. It then continues to Wilcannia, then further west it passes through Broken Hill and enters South Australia, turning southwest towards Adelaide. It joins Main North Road at Giles Corner between Riverton and Tarlee. Route A32 continues on Main North Road to Gawler where it joins the Sturt Highway (A20). The area traversed by the Barrier Highway is remote and very sparsely settled.

History:

1953: Reconstruction program commences of the Barrier Hwy. 2
1970s: Bitumous sealing of the Barrier Highway completed. 2

SA Border to Nyngan		Nyngan to SA Border
Preview:	Description:	Preview:	Description:
	State Welcome Sign: NSW border signage at Cockburn, March 2007. Click here for a photo of this location by Michael Greenslade from December 2003. Image © Mitchell Oliver		Yarrandale Road: Corner of Barrier Hwy (NR32) and Yarrandale Rd at Hermidale, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	NSW Load Limits Sign: Load limits sign as you cross the NSW-SA border at Cockburn, March 2007. Image © Mitchell Oliver		Yoongee Street: Corner of Barrier Hwy (NR32) and Yoongee St at Hermidale, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign eastbound at Cockburn, March 2007. Click here for a photo of this location by Michael Greenslade from December 2003, featuring a black sign. Image © Mitchell Oliver		Distance Sign: Reassurance directional sign at Hermidale, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Entering Broken Hill: Barrier Hwy (NR32) as it enters the town of Broken Hill, December 2003. Image © Michael Greenslade		Walwa Street: Corner of Barrier Hwy (NR32) and Walwa St at Hermidale, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: Reassurance directional sign as Barrier Hwy (NR32) leaves Broken Hill, March 2006. Image © Richard Wardle		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Canbelego approaching Rosevale Road, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Black Kilometre Plate: Black kilometre plate at Broken Hill, December 2003. Image © Michael Greenslade		Rosedale Road: Corner of Barrier Hwy (NR32) and Rosedale Rd, Canbelego, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Entering Wilcannia: Barrier Hwy (NR32) as it enters the town of Wilcanna, December 2003. Image © Michael Greenslade		Booroomugga Road: Corner of Barrier Hwy (NR32) and Booroomugga Rd, Canbelego, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Reid St, Wilcannia, December 2003. Image © Michael Greenslade		Entering Cobar: Barrier Hwy (NR32) as it enters the town of Cobar, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Wilcannia, December 2003. Image © Michael Greenslade		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Kidman Way (SR87) at Cobar, August 2011. The SR87 duplex starts at this intersection. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Wilcannia approaching Cobb Hwy, December 2003. Image © Michael Greenslade		Welcome Sign: Large welcome sign at the corner of Barrier Hwy (NR32) and Kidman Way (SR87) at Cobar, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Wilcannia, December 2003. Image © Michael Greenslade		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Cobar approaching Kidman Way (SR87) and Lewis St, December 2003. Image © Michael Greenslade
	Services Sign: Services sign approaching Emmadale Roadhouse, December 2003. Image © Michael Greenslade		Cobar: Barrier Hwy (NR32) as it passes through the town of Cobar, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Cobar: Barrier Hwy (NR32) as it passes through the town of Cobar, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands		Black Reassurance Directional Sign: Black distance sign at Cobar, December 2003. Image © Michael Greenslade
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Frederick St and Barton St in Cobar, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Noona approaching Belarabon Rd & Tilpa Rd, December 2003. Image © Michael Greenslade
	Cobar: Barrier Hwy (NR32) (Marshall St) as it passes through the town of Cobar, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands		Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Noona, December 2003. Image © Michael Greenslade
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Kidman Way (SR87) at Cobar, August 2011. The SR87 duplex starts at this intersection. Image © Paul Rands		Services Sign: Services sign approaching Emmadale Roadhouse, December 2003. Image © Michael Greenslade
	Kidman Way: Corner of Barrier Hwy (NR32) and Kidman Way (SR87) in Cobar, August 2011. The SR87 duplex starts at this intersection. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Wilcannia approaching Reid St & Woore St, December 2003. Image © Michael Greenslade
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Kidman Way (SR87) at Cobar, August 2011. The SR87 duplex ends at this intersection. Image © Paul Rands		Woore Street: Corner of Barrier Hwy (NR32) and Woore St, Wilcannia, December 2003. Image © Michael Greenslade
	Booroomugga Road: Corner of Barrier Hwy (NR32) and Booroomugga Rd, Canbelego, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Wilcannia approaching Opal Miners Way, December 2003. Image © Michael Greenslade
	Entering Hermidale: Barrier Hwy (NR32) as it enters the town of Hermidale, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands		Timezone Sign: Sign east of Broken Hill indicating a change in time zone, March 2006. Because Broken Hill primarily does business with South Australia, the town operates on South Australian time. Image © Richard Wardle
	Distance Sign: Reassurance directional sign at Hermidale, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands		Kilometre Plate: Kilometre plate at Broken Hill, December 2003. Image © Michael Greenslade
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign assembly facing the Florida Rest Area at Canbelego, March 2006. Image © Richard Wardle		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Barrier Hwy (NR32) at Broken Hill approaching Argent St and Silver City Hwy (NR79). NR32 turns right at this junction. Click here for a photo of this location by Michael Greenslade from December 2003. Image © Peter Renshaw
			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Barrier Hwy (NR32) at Broken Hill approaching Iodide St and Silver City Hwy (NR79). NR32 turns left at this junction. Click here for a photo of this location by Michael Greenslade from December 2003. Image © Peter Renshaw
			Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at Broken Hill at the junction with Iodide St and Silver City Hwy (NR79). NR32 turns left at this junction. Image © Peter Renshaw
			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Broken Hill approaching Galena St & Brookfield Av, Broken Hilll, December 2003. Image © Michael Greenslade
			Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign facing Gypsum St, Broken Hill, December 2003. Image © Michael Greenslade
			Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Broken Hill, December 2003. Image © Michael Greenslade
			Entering Cockburn: Barrier Hwy (NR32) as it enters the town of Cockburn, December 2003. Image © Michael Greenslade
			Cockburn: Barrier Hwy (NR32) as it passes through the town of Cockburn, December 2003. Image © Michael Greenslade
			NSW-SA Border: Old wooden border crossing sign at Cockburn, March 2007. Image © Mitchell Oliver
Click here for the continuation of NR32 between Nyngan and Dubbo Click here for the continuation of Barrier Highway as A32 within South Australia

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: 10-Sep-2020 0:37

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