Road Photos & Information: New South Wales: Parry Street, Donald Street, Griffiths Road, Newcastle Road, Thomas Street, Newcastle Link Road, Hunter Expressway & New England Highway (M15 / A15)

Road Photos & Information: New South Wales

M15 A15

Parry Street, Donald Street, Griffiths Road, Newcastle Road, Thomas Street, Newcastle Link Road, Hunter Expressway & New England Highway (M15 / A15) - Tamworth to Armidale

Statistics:

Length: 595 km (Tamworth to Armidale: 105 km)
Northern Terminus: New England Hwy (NH15) at Wallangarra, at the Queensland Border
Southern Terminus: Pacific Hwy (A43) at Newcastle West
Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route: Nemingha, Kootingal, Bendemeer, Uralla, Kentucky and Armidale

Route Numbering:

Current: M15 A15

Former:

Multiplexes: B56
Road Authority Internal Classification: HW9 (QLD border to Branxton) 1

General Information:

M15 / A15 is one the major routes in New South Wales and Queensland. It links the farming regions of NSW to the ports at Newcastle and also to other major roads to Sydney and it's also a link to Brisbane's metropolitan area.

The route consists of single carriageway 2-lane rural highway, through to multi-lane divided sections and motorway standard closer to Newcastle.

Multiplexes along the route include:

B56, for 41 km, between Bendemeer and Tamworth

History:

The New England Highway originally formed part of the Great Northern Road from Sydney via Wiseman's Ferry to the Queensland border (near Mt Lindesay), taking shape as settlement spread northward from the lower Hunter Valley. By 1851 the Great Northern Road had reached the Gap, two miles beyond Murrurundi. In 1858 it was classified as one of three Main Roads in the colony (Great Western and Great Southern) and extended from Morpeth via Maitland, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Scone, Murrurundi and Tamworth, to Armidale, a distance of about 236 miles. Captain Martindale, Chief Railway Commissioner, who was also responsible for roads, stressed the need for bridges as in many cases long circuits had to be made to find a crossing over a stream. In 1860 arrangements were in progress for building 90 culverts and minor bridges and for forming new sections of road, including a new ascent to Murrurundi Gap, which was previously steep with sharp dangerous turns. In 1865 the section of road between Muswellbrook and Murrurundi was metalled and a deviation suggested between Blandford and Murrurundi to skirt the Page River, obviating two bridges, however, such a deviation was never constructed. With the construction of the Northern Railway line from Newcastle, commenced in the 1850s and reaching Murrurundi in 1872, attention was diverted away from roads and sections of the Great Northern Road were in poor condition. Despite the impact of the railway, roads developed steadily and considerable progress was made in the bridging of rivers and creeks. 3

1874: The first bridge over the McDonald River at Bendemeer was constructed.
29 September 1905: A steel and timber truss bridge was opened over the McDonald River in Bendemeer, replaced the 1874 structure.
1930s: Deviation to route over the Liverpool Range, upgrades to the Nundle Road intersection at Nemingha. 2
March 1933: The Great Northern Road was proclaimed the New England Highway. 3
1985: Bendemeer bypassed.
2001: Completion of the Rose Valley deviation at Bendemeer. 4
August 2018: Work commenced on safety improvements between Uralla and Armidale. Work included a widened centre line throughout the entire section, enhanced with audio tactile line marking at a number of locations, two additional overtaking lanes, one northbound and one southbound between Rocky River Road and Arding Road, a designated left hand turning lane for Barley Fields Road, a right hand turning lane for Northeys Road and Kliendienst Road, road widening and drainage improvement directly north east of Uralla, widening of the bridge over Saumarez Creek, construction of two new overtaking lanes, both north of Northeys Road and also south of Northeys Road. 5
February 2020: Widening and resurfacing of a six-kilometre section of road and drainage improvements at Kentucky. 6

Tamworth to Armidale		Armidale to Tamworth
Preview:	Description:	Preview:	Description:
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Nemingha approaching Railway St and Nundle Rd, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands		Intersection Directional Sign: Southbound ID sign on the roundabout with Urallla Rd at Armidale, May 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Kootingal approaching Porcupine Ln and Sandy Rd, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands		Platform Road: Corner of New England Hwy (A15) and Platform Rd at Armidale, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign assembly at the junction with Porcupine Ln and Sandy Rd at Kootingal, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands		Saumarez War Service Road & Arding Road: Corner of New England Hwy (A15) Saumarez War Service Rd and Arding Rd at Saumarez, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Services sign approaching Chelmsford St, Kootingal, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands		Uralla: New England Hwy (A15) as it enters the town of Uralla, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	Moonbi: New England Hwy (A15 / B56) as it enters the town of Moonbi, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands		Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Uralla, approaching Salisbury St (Thunderbolts Way (TD19 / TD21)), April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	George Street: New England Hwy (A15 / B56) at Moonbi at the George St intersection, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Uralla, approaching Hill St, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	Divided Road: New England Hwy (A15 / B56) becomes dual carriageway as it ascends First Moonbi Hill at Moonbi, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Uralla, approaching Salisbury St (Thunderbolts Way (TD19 / TD21)), April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	First Moonbi Hill: New England Hwy (A15 / B56) as it ascends First Moonbi Hill at Moonbi, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands		Salisbury Street: Corner of New England Hwy (A15) and Salisbury St ( Thunderbolts Way (TD19 / TD21)) at Uralla, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	First Moonbi Hill: New England Hwy (A15 / B56) as it ascends First Moonbi Hill at Moonbi, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands		Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Uralla, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Moonbi Lookout Rd and West Caragnoo Rd at Moonbi, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands		Kentucky Road: Corner of New England Hwy (A15) and Kentucky Rd at Kentucky, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	Moonbi Lookout Road & West Caragnoo Road: Corner of New England Hwy (A15 / B56), Moonbi Lookout Rd and West Caragnoo Rd at Moonbi, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands		Memorial Drive: Corner of New England Hwy (A15) and Memorial Dr (former New England Hwy) at Bendemeer, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	Second Moonbi Hill: New England Hwy (A15 / B56) as it ascends Second Moonbi Hill at Moonbi, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands		Oxley Highway: Corner of New England Hwy (A15) and Oxley Hwy (B56 / TD21) at Bendemeer, April 2019. The B56 duplex commences at this location. Image © Paul Rands
	Caroline Street: Corner of New England Hwy (A15 / B56) and Caroline St, Bendemeer, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Bendemeer approaching Havana St, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Bendemeer, approaching Oxley Hwy (B56 / TD21), April 2019. The B56 duplex ends at this location. Image © Paul Rands		Havana St: Corner of New England Hwy (A15 / B56) and Havana St, Bendemeer, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
	Reassurance Directional Sign: RD sign as New England Hwy (A15) leaves Uralla, August 2013. Image © Peter Renshaw		Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Bendemeer, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
			Macdonald River: New England Hwy (A15 / B56) as it crosses Macdonald River via TA Perry Bridge at Bendemeer, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
			Caroline Street: Corner of New England Hwy (A15 / B56) and Caroline St, Bendemeer, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
			Second Moonbi Hill: New England Hwy (A15 / B56) as it descends Second Moonbi Hill at Moonbi, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
			Second Moonbi Hill: New England Hwy (A15 / B56) as it descends Second Moonbi Hill at Moonbi, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
			First Moonbi Hill: New England Hwy (A15 / B56) as it descends First Moonbi Hill at Moonbi, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
			First Moonbi Hill: New England Hwy (A15 / B56) as it descends First Moonbi Hill at Moonbi, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
			First Moonbi Hill: New England Hwy (A15 / B56) as it descends First Moonbi Hill at Moonbi, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Moonbi Lookout Rd and West Caragnoo Rd at Moonbi, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
			First Moonbi Hill: New England Hwy (A15 / B56) as it descends First Moonbi Hill at Moonbi, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
			Moonbi Lookout Road & West Caragnoo Road: Corner of New England Hwy (A15 / B56), Moonbi Lookout Rd and West Caragnoo Rd at Moonbi, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
			Moonbi: New England Hwy (A15 / B56) as it enters the town of Moonbi, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
			George Street: New England Hwy (A15 / B56) at Moonbi at the George St intersection, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
			Services Sign: Services sign approaching Chelmsford St, Kootingal, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
			Chelmsford Street: Corner of New England Hwy (A15 / B56) and Chelmsford St, Kootingal, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Kootingal approaching Porcupine Ln and Sandy Rd, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
			Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign assembly at the junction with Porcupine Ln and Sandy Rd at Kootingal, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
			Chaffeys Lane & Tintinhull Road: Corner of New England Hwy (A15 / B56), Chaffeys Ln and Tintinhull Rd at Tintinhul, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
			Railway Street & Nundle Road: New England Hwy (A15 / B56) at Nemingha at the junction with Railway St and Nundle Rd, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
			Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Nemingha, April 2019. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of A15 between Armidale and Glen Innes Click here for continuation of A15 between Muswellbrook and Tamworth

1 Roads & Maritime Services, Schedule of Classified Roads and Unclassified Regional Roads, August 2013
2 National Library of Australia
3 Roads & Maritime Services
4 Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
5 Roads and Maritime Services, New England Highway safety upgrade Project update - start of work, November 2018
6 NSW Government, Media Release, Road work on the New England Highway, Kentucky from Monday 24 February, Feburary 2020

Last updated: 15-Oct-2021 19:09

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