Road Photos & Information: New South Wales
Castlereagh Highway (B55)
Statistics:
- Length:
- 651 km
- Termini:
- Northern: NSW-QLD Border, Angledool
- Southern: Great Western Hwy (A32), Marrangaroo
- Miscellaneous:
- Continues as A55 in Queensland
- Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:
- Marrangaroo, Lidsdale, Cullen Bullen, Ben Bullen, Capertee, Running Stream, Ilford, Mudgee, Gulgong, Birriwa, Craboon, Dunedoo, Mendooran, Gilgandra, Curban, Armatree, Gulargambone, Combara, Coonamble, Wingadee, Walgett, Lightning Ridge and Angledool
Route Numbering:
- Current: B55
- Multiplexed with: A39 B76 B84
- Former: 55 86
- Road Authority Internal Classification: 1
- HW18 (Marrangaroo to Craboon, and Dunedoo to QLD Border
- HW27 (Craboon to Dunedoo)
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 highway is named after the Castlereagh River, which runs parallel with the highway.
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 3000 axle pairs. 2
- A39 (Newell Hwy), for 1.2 km, at Gilgandra
- B76 (Kamilaroi Hwy), for 14 km, at Walgett
- B84 (Golden Hwy), for 10 km, between Craboon and Dunedoo
History:
- 1969: Work begins to finish the bitumous sealing of the highway. 3
- 2003: Widening of the Castlereagh Highway near Gulgong and widening of the Castlereagh Highway near Mendooran. 4
- 2004: The Castlereagh Highway between Lidsdale and the Coxs River (north of Lidsdale town centre) upgraded. Work on the project included a deviation around Lidsdale village. 4
- 2007: Castlereagh Highway reconstruction at Black Bull Hill, north of Mudgee. 4
- 2008: Upgrading of the roundabout at the intersection of Church and Horatio Streets (Castlereagh Highway) in Mudgee and installation of a new roundabout at the intersection of Market and Douro Streets (Castlereagh Highway). Also upgrades made to Castlereagh Highway at Ilford (Tabrabucca). 5
- 2011: Realignment of Castlereagh Highway at Cudgegong.
- 2013: NR55 and SR86 route numbers replaced by B55.
Marrangaroo to QLD Border
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the corner Castlereagh Hwy (B55) and Newell Hwy (A39) at Gilgandra, January 2014. The A39 duplex begins here and B55 turns left at this location.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Gilgandra approaching Oxley Hwy, January 2014.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Castlereagh Hwy (B55) at Coonamble approaching King St, November 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Kamilaroi Hwy (B76) approaching Castlereagh Hwy (B55) and Wee Waa St at Walgett, July 2009. The B76 duplex starts at this junction and turns left.
Image © Richard Wardle
Distance Sign:
RD sign on the B76 / B55 duplex at Walgett, August 2014. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from October 2010.
Image © Ed Huang
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Castlereagh Hwy (B55) approaching Bill O'Brien Way at Lightning Ridge, July 2009.
Image © Richard Wardle
Distance Sign:
RD sign as the Castlereagh Hwy (B55) leaves Lightning Ridge, October 2005.
Image © Paul Rands
QLD Border to Marrangaroo
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Bill O'Brien Way approaching Castlereagh Hwy (B55) at Lightning Ridge, October 2005.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID signs facing Bill O'Brien Way at Lightning Ridge, October 2005.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign as the Castlereagh Hwy (B55) leaves Lightning Ridge, July 2009.
Image © Richard Wardle
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign facing King St in Coonamble, November 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Castlereagh Hwy (B55) approaching the Newell Hwy (A39) and the unnumbered section of Oxley Hwy at Gilgandra. August 2014. The A39 duplex begins at this junction.
Image © Ed Huang
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Gilgandra on the A39 / B55 duplex at Gilgandra, January 2014. The A39 duplex ends at this junction.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Gilgandra, January 2014.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign near Ilford, December 2016.
Image © Spenser Tan
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Ilford approaching Sofala Rd (TD4), December 2016.
Image © Spenser Tan
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Ian Holt Dr at Lidsdale, April 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign at Dunedoo, April 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
2 NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, The Roadmakers, A History of Main Roads in New South Wales, ISBN 0 7240 0439 4.
3 NSW Government, Department of Planning, taken from the Sinclair Knight Merz report on the Moolarben Coal Project.
4 NSW Government, Roads and Traffic Authority.
5 Mid Western Regional Council.