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Statistics:

• Length: 927 km (Port Augusta to Pimba: 171 km)
• Northern Terminus: Northern Territory Border, 157 km northwest of Marla
• Southern Terminus: Eyre Highway, Port Augusta West
• Miscellaneous: Continues as NH87 in Northern Territory
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities along route: Port Augusta West and Pimba

Route Numbering:

• Current: A87

• Former:
• Road Authority Internal Classification: 01000 1

General Information:

The Stuart Highway is named after explorer John McDouall Stuart, the first European to cross Australia from South to North, and it generally follows his route. 2

It is a rural highway, which is very isolated, and acts as part of the main road link between Darwin, Alice Springs and Adelaide.

History:

• 1944: Completion of the Stuart Highway as a dirt track / gravel road as the main road link from SA to Darwin. 3
• 1978: Work to upgrade the Stuart Highway started. The conditions along the series of tracks that led from Port Augusta to the Northern Territory border were so severe that work could only done between April and October each year. Survey work took five years. Conditions for the road gangs were of concern and small towns sprang up which enabled families to live together. Aboriginal advisers were consulted on where the road could cross their lands. During construction of the Stuart Highway, road gangs had semi-permanent camps at Lake Hart, Baker’s Well and Bon Bon. While the road-work moved along the highway, survey work and the search for materials and water for construction was also in progress. 4
• 1981: Stuart Highway realigned 140 km to the west of Pimba and Woomera. 5
• 24 March 1987: Federal Minister for Transport Peter Morris opened the upgraded Stuart Highway. Three plaques were unveiled on a rock to commemorate the completion of the Highway. 3

Port Augusta West to Pimba			Pimba to Port Augusta West
Preview:	Description:		Preview:	Description:
	Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Port Augusta, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands			Distance Sign: Southbound RD sign at Pimba, September 2008. Image © Kate Pilling
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Port Augusta approaching Macintosh Cr, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands			Approaching Eyre Hwy: Southbound AD sign approaching the southern terminus of A87, the Eyre Highway (A1) at Port Augusta West, September 2008. Image © Kate Pilling
	Old Tarcoola Road: Corner of Stuart Hwy (A87) and Old Tarcoola Rd, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands			Intersection Directional Sign Assembly: ID sign facing Stuart Hwy (A87) at its junction with Eyre Hwy (A1) at Port Augusta, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Macintosh Crescent: Corner of Stuart Hwy (A87) and Macintosh Cr at Port Augusta, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: Old faded AD sign approaching Botanic Gardens Lookout, Port Augusta, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Yorkey Crossing Road: Corner of Stuart Hwy (A87) and Yorkey Crossing Rd at Port Augusta West, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Stock Grazing Warning Sign: Unusual stock grazing warning sign, Lincoln Gap, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Animals Warning Sign: Multi-lingual animals warning sign, Lincoln Gap, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Illaroo North Station: Sign crossing the property boundary of Illaroo North Station at Carriewerloo, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Kootaberra Station: Sign crossing the property boundary of Kootaberra Station at Kootaberra, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Flashing Warning Sign: Flashing warning sign, 120 km south of Pimba approaching the Adelaide-Darwin Railway, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Adelaide-Darwin Railway: Stuart Hwy (A87) as it crosses the Adelaide-Darwin Railway, 119 km south of Pimba, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Services sign at Kootaberra approaching Ranges View Rest Area, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Ranges View Rest Area: Stuart Hwy (A87) as it passes the Ranges View Rest Area at Kootaberra, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Distance Sign: Sign at Kootaberra showing distance to next services, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Oakden Hills Station: Sign crossing the property boundary of Oakden Hills Station at Oakden Hills, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Fingerboards: Fingerboards showing distances to homesteads at the junction with Mahonewo Rd at Oakden Hills, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Stuart Highway: Stuart Hwy (A87) as it makes its way north near Oakden Hills Station, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Arcoona Station: Sign crossing the property boundary of Arcoona Station at Oakden Hills, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Services sign approaching the town of Pimba, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Pimba, approaching Olympic Dam Hwy (B97), November 2016. Olympic Dam Hwy follows the old Stuart Highway alignment, which was truncated in 1981. 5 Image © Paul Rands
	Olympic Dam Highway: Corner of Stuart Hwy (A87) and Olympic Dam Hwy (A87) at Pimba, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Reassurance Directional Sign : Distance sign at Pimba, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Services sign showing distance to next public telephone, Pimba, November 2016. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of A87 between Pimba and Coober Pedy

1 Transport SA
2 NT Government Chief Minister's Office
3 Government of South Australia
4 History Trust of South Australia
5 Government of South Australia, Outback Communities Authority, Glendambo

Last updated: 12 Nov 2019 11:04

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