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Castlereagh Highway (State Route 86) - Dunedoo to Gilgandra (Decommissioned)

Statistics:

• Length: 288 km
• Northern Terminus: Newell Hwy (NH39 / NR34) at Gilgandra
• Southern Terminus: Great Western Hwy (NR32) at Marrangaroo, northwest of Lithgow
• Miscellaneous: Continues as Castlereagh Hwy (NR55) from Gilgrandra, and eventually as Castlereagh Hwy (A55) in Queensland at Hebel
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities along route: Gilgandra, Mendooran, Dunedoo, Craboon, Birriwa, Gulgong, Mudgee, Ilford, Running Stream, Capertee, Ben Bullen, Cullen Bullen, Lidsdale & Marrangaroo

Route Numbering:

• Former:
• Decommissioned: 2013
• Road Authority Internal Classification: State Highway No. 18 1

General Information:

Castlereagh Highway is a significant highway link in the New South Wales road network, linking towns west of the Great Dividing Range (such as Lithgow) to the central west of the state and eventually to Queensland. The State Route 86 segment, passes through rural and populated areas, linking Lithgow with the agricultural centre of Gilgandra, north of Dubbo (via NR34 / NH39).

The route features a 10 km duplex with State Route 84 (Golden Highway) from Craboon to Dunedoo.

The Castlereagh Highway is predominantly a 2-lane road, with sealed shoulders and occasional auxiliary lanes provided for overtaking. The speed limit is generally 100km/h, with lower speed limits in place in built up areas. Between Mudgee and Gulgong, the 2002 Annual Average Daily Traffic volume (AADT) was around 3,000 axle pairs. 2

History:

• 2003: Widening of the Castlereagh Highway near Mendooran. 1

Preview:	Description:
	Distance Sign : Reassurance Directional Sign at Gilgandra, April 2014. Click here for a photo by Jamie Scuglia of this location from October 2004. Image © Paul Rands
	Bearbung Road : ID sign assembly at the junction with Bearbung Rd at Breelong, April 2014. Image © Paul Rands
	Apple Tree Flat Road : ID sign assembly at the junction with Apple Tree Flat Rd at Mendooran, April 2014. Image © Paul Rands
	Castlereagh River: Castlereagh Hwy (SR86) as it crosses Castlereagh River at Mendooran via Boyben Bridge, April 2014. Image © Paul Rands
	Approaching Forest Road & Denmire Road : Castlereagh Hwy (SR86) approaching Forest Rd and Denmire Rd at Mendooran, April 2014. SR86 turns left at this junction. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign : AD sign at Mendooran approaching Forest Rd and Denmire Rd, April 2014. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign : ID sign assembly at the junction with Forest Rd and Denmire Rd in Mendooran, April 2014. Image © Paul Rands
	Entering Mendooran : Castlereagh Hwy (SR86) as it enters the town of Mendooran, April 2014. Image © Paul Rands
	Manusu Bridge : Castlereagh Hwy (SR86) as it crosses Merrygoen Ck at Mendooran via Manusu Bridge, April 2014. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign : ID sign with missing route number at the junction with Bandulla St and Yalcorgan St in Mendooran, April 2014. SR86 turns right at this junction. Image © Paul Rands
	Reassurance Directional Sign : Distance sign at Mendooran, April 2014. Image © Paul Rands
	Merrygoen Road : Corner of Castlereagh Hwy (SR86) and Merrygoen Rd in Mendooran, April 2014. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of Castlereagh Highway as National Route 55 Click here for the continuation of Castlereagh Highway as State Route 86 between Mudgee and Dunedoo

1 Roads & Traffic Authority
2 NSW Department of Planning, taken from the Sinclair Knight Merz report on the Moolarben Coal Project
3 Mid Western Regional Council

Last updated: 16-Jul-2019 1:45

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