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Statistics:

• Length: 595 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: Newcastle West, Hamilton, Lambton, Jesmond, Wallsend, West Wallsend, Seahampton, Buchanan, Kurri Kurri, Loxford, Allandale, Branxton, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Aberdeen, Scone, Parkville, Wingen, Blandford, Murrurundi, Willow Tree, Wallabadah, Tamworth, Nemingha, Kootingal, Bendemeer, Uralla, Kentucky, Armidale, Black Mountain, Guyra, Llangothlin, Ben Lomond, Glencoe, Glen Innes, Dundee, Deepwater, Bolivia, Tenterfield and Jennings.

Route Numbering:

• Current: M15 A15

• Former:

• Multiplexes: A37 B56 B76
• Road Authority Internal Classification: HW9 (QLD border to Branxton), 6011 (Branxton to Seahampton) and MR82 (Seahampton to Newcastle West) 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:

• A37, for 1 km, between Jesmond and Lambton
• B56, for 41 km, between Bendemeer and Tamworth
• B76, for 100 m, at Glen Innes

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.
• 1893: Construction of Fitzgerald Bridge over Hunter River at Aberdeen (now southbound carriageway). 3
• 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
• 1934: Completion of new alignment from the hill beyond Koolbung Muswellbrook and Aberdeen. 4
• 1936: Completion of reconstruction between Singleton and Deadman's Hill. 5 Also reconstruction between] Camberwell Deviation and Grasstree Hill. 6
• 1953: The Blandford Bridge, built to replace an earlier timber bridge that was destroyed by flood. 3
• 1954: Main Road 374, running from Tenterfield to Wallangarra was designated as part of State Highway 9 and named as part of the New England Highway, and the section of the New England Highway from Tenterfield to Mount Lindesay was renumbered as State Highway 24 and renamed the Mount Lindesay Highway. This was due to the construction of a sealed road from Boonah through Cunninghams Gap to Warwick in the early 1950s. The sealed road encouraged much more traffic to travel from Brisbane to Tenterfield via Warwick than via Beaudesert and the unsealed route on to Tenterfield.
• 1973: The DMR established a weighbridge at Kankool. 3
• 1985: Bendemeer bypassed.
• 1986: Duplication of Fitzgerald Bridge over Hunter River at Aberdeen. 7
• 2001: Completion of the Rose Valley deviation at Bendemeer. 8
• 2004: Duplication of Blandford Bridge. 3
• December 2005: Opening of the Devils Pinch realignment project, 30 kilometres north of Armidale. The upgrade replaced or improved about three kilometres of narrow highway, which runs through steep terrain that is subject to landslips. 8
• 2006: Commencement of construction of new railway overpass and highway realignment at Halcombe Hill between Muswellbrook and Aberdeen. 3
• August 2010: Construction starts on a 13 kilometre section of the Hunter Expressway between Seahampton and Kurri Kurri. The work included two grade-separated interchanges - at the Pacific Motorway (M1) at Seahampton and at Buchanan, as well as overbridges at Seahampton Road and Averys Lane. Three high bridges span the steep gullies through the Sugarloaf Range and are located 1.4 to 2.7 kilometres west of the Pacific Motorway. The viaducts have a total length of 787 metres and are up to 47 metres in height above the gully floors. 11
• 2011: Work at the intersection of Newcastle Road, Longworth Avenue and Thomas Street started and included adjusting lanes to provide an additional continuous lane from Newcastle Road to turn left into Thomas Street. The upgrade also involved relocating pedestrian crossings and the installation of traffic lights at the Newcastle Road entry to improve flow for westbound and northbound traffic using the roundabout. 9
• April 2011: Work commenced on the 27 kilometre western section of the Hunter Expressway, and includes four grade-separated interchanges – at Kurri Kurri, Loxford, Allandale and Branxton. It also includes road bridge crossings at McLeod Road at Loxford, Old Maitland Road at Sawyers Gully, Camp Road at Allandale and Tuckers Lane at Greta. 11
• June 2011: Work started on pedestrian safety improvements at the intersection of Griffiths and Turton roads, Lambton. The project involved realigning the westbound left turn slip lane from Griffiths Road into Turton Road and providing a pedestrian crossing. 13 Completion of resurfacing works at Singleton, between Kelso Street and the Council Information Centre. 12
• May 2012: Completion of roundabout removal at the junction of Newcastle Link Road, Cameron Park Drive and Woodford Street. 14
• June 2012: Completion of works at the junction of Newcastle Road, Longworth Avenue and Thomas Street. 9
• August 2012: Work begins on removing roundabouts at the junction of Douglas Street and Lake Road. 9
• July 2012: Completion of signal installations at the junctions of Lake Road and Thomas Street and the Douglas Street and Newcastle Road intersections. Work also included three through lanes being provided in each direction on Thomas Street and at the Douglas Street and Newcastle Road intersection three through lanes were built in the Newcastle direction. Plus adjustment of kerbs and medians to provide dedicated right turn lanes on all major approaches. The existing left turn lane from Thomas Street into Lake Road was also extended as part of the upgrade. 9 Installation of around 60 metres of pedestrian fencing on the western side of the New England Highway from south of William Street to the rail overpass. 10
• April 2013: Traffic signals switched on at the junctions of Newcastle  Link  Road,  Cameron  Park  Drive and  Woodford  Street, and also Newcastle  Link  Road,  Lake  Road  and  Thomas  Street. 15
• November 2019: Work commenced on shared path bridge over Newcastle Road. 16
• July 2013: Completion of safety upgrades on New England Hwy at Whittingham. Work included installation of 1.4 kilometres of median and roadside wire rope safety barrier. 17
• 2014: Opening replacement Fitzgerald Bridge over Hunter River at Aberdeen. 18
• 22 March 2014: Hunter Expressway open to traffic. 19
• July 2017: Completion of safety upgrade at the New England Highway intersection with Newington Lane at Whittingham. Work included widening the highway and providing a right turn lane into Newington Lane. 20
• 20 November 2016: Work starts on rebuilding a 1.6 kilometres of the New England Highway near Milpera Drive at Muswellbrook, improving line marking and installing kerbside barriers. The work also included minor drainage improvements. 21
• July 2019: Completion of the Main North Line rail bridge over the highway, known as Gowrie Gates. The existing rail bridge was replaced with a new bridge which provides increased horizontal clearance. This allowed for widening of the highway to accommodate two travel lanes with wide sealed shoulders and facilities for pedestrians and cyclists, plus access for wide load heavy vehicles. 22
• September 2014: Upgrade works commence about 4km north of Willow Tree at Black Hill. The work included drainage improvements, shoulder widening, work to strengthen the road surface and raising the guard rail along a 1.75-kilometre section of the road just north of the Colly Creek Road intersection near Willow Tree. 23
• June 2016: Work starts on safety upgrades between Campbells Creek and Timor Road at Murrurundi. Work included widening and sealing the road shoulders, installing 790 metres of kerbside safety barrier and improvements to the shape of the curves. 24
• November 2016: Work commences on pavement improvements, line marking and safety barriers upgrades, plus installation of new signs at intersections in the Murrurundi area. 25
• 16 August 2017: Work commences on pavement improvements at Aberdeen. 26
• October 2017: Work commenced on road improvements at Parkville. Work included drainage and stabilisation upgrades, as well as road resurfacing, improvements to line marking, upgrades to safety barriers and installation of new signs at intersections. 27 Work started on pavement and draining improvements, about 4 kilometres east of Tamworth between Caltex depot and Bourkes Bridge. 28
• June 2018: Work commences on Scone Bypass. 29
• 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. 30
• February 2020: Widening and resurfacing of a six-kilometre section of road and drainage improvements at Kentucky. 31
• 3 February 2020: Permanent closure of Whittingham Rest Area adjacent to the New England Hwy (A15) and Golden Hwy (B84) intersection to allow upgrade of the junction. 32
• March 2020: Scone Bypass opened to traffic. 33
• September 2020: Work started on pavement and draining improvements, about 12 kilometres south of Tamworth between Meadows Lane and Kia Ora Lane. 34
• 19 April 2021: Work commenced on partial grade separation works on the junction of New England Hwy (A15) and Golden Hwy (B84) at Whittingham. 35

To view photos of the route, click inside the green boxes below:

1 Roads & Maritime Services, Schedule of Classified Roads and Unclassified Regional Roads, August 2013
2 National Library of Australia
3 Roads & Maritime Services
4 NSW Government, State Archives and Records, F228 - New England Highway. S.H. 9 [State Highway]. View of new road looking east from hill beyond Koolbung bet. [between] Muswellbrook and Aberdeen.
5 NSW Government, State Archives and Records, J32 - S.H. 9 [State Highway 9] - New England Highway. Patrick Plains Shire. Reconstn [Reconstruction] bet. [between] Singleton and Deadman's Hill.
6 NSW Government, State Archives and Records, J59 - S.H. 9 [State Highway 9] - New England Highway. Muswellbrook Shire. Reconstn [Reconstruction] bet. [between] Camberwell Devn [Deviation] and Grasstree Hill. View near Gardiner's Creek.
7 Roads & Traffic Authority, Historic Bridges of the Hunter Valley brochure, ISBN 0 7313 066 1
8 Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
9 NSW Government, Media Release, Duncan Gay MLC Minister for Roads and Ports Deputy Leader of the Government Legislative Council, Work Complete On $50 Million Intersection Upgrades Between F3 And Newcastle, 8 August 2013
10 NSW Government, George Souris, MP State Member For Upper Hunter, Pedestrian Improvements For New England Highway At Muswellbrook, 31 May 2012
11 Roads & Maritime Services, Projects, The Hunter Expressway, Project overview
12 NSW Government, George Souris, MP State Member For Upper Hunter, Resurfacing Completed On The New England Highway At Singleton, 10 June 2011
13 NSW Government, Media Release, Pedestrian Safety Improvements Start On Griffiths Road, 12 June 2011
14 NSW Government, Roads and Maritime Services, Media Release, Trevor Khan MLC, Work Completed During Cameron Park Roundabout Closures, 28 May 2012
15 NSW Government, Roads and Maritime Services, Media Release, Trevor Khan MLC, New Traffic Lights At Newcastle Link Road , 16 April 2013
16 NSW Government, Media Release, Temporary closure of Steel Street at Newcastle Road intersection, Jesmond on Monday 16 November, November 2020
17 NSW Government, Roads & Maritime Services, Media Statement, Major Road Safety Upgrade Completed On The New England Highway At Whittingham, 26 July 2013
18 George Souris MP, State Member For Upper Hunter, New Bridge Saves Five Hours On Trip From Newcastle To Toowoomba For Higher Mass Limit Vehicles, 30 June 2014
19 NSW Government, Roads & Maritime Services, Joint Media Statement, Hunter Expressway opens for business, 21 March 2014
20 NSW Government, Roads & Maritime Services, Media Statement, Safety Improved On The New England Highway At Whittingham, 21 July 2017
21 NSW Government, Michael Johnson, Nationals Member for Upper Hunter, Media Release, Road Improvements Start On New England Highway At Muswellbrook, 16 November 2016
22 NSW Government, Roads & Maritime Services, Project Page, New England Highway upgrade and rail bridge replacement at Gowrie Gates
23 George Souris MP, Media Release, New England Highway Improvement Work Under Way Near Black Hill, 3 September 2004
24 Michael Johnsen MP, Media Release, Safety Improvements Start On New England Highway At Murrurundi, 9 June 2016
25 Roads & Martime Services, Media Releases, Start of work on the New England Highway, Murrurundi from Monday 28 November, November 2016
26 Michael Johnsen MP, Media Release, Improvement Work Starts On New England Highway At Aberdeen, 16 August 2017
27 Michael Johnsen MP, Media Release, New England Highway Upgrades Continue Next Month, 26 September 2017
28 Kevin Anderson MP, Media Release, Shovels Ready For Work On New England Highway, 23 October 2017
29 Roads and Maritime Services, New England Highway bypass of Scone Project Update – start of construction, August 2018
30 Roads and Maritime Services, New England Highway safety upgrade Project update - start of work, November 2018
31 NSW Government, Media Release, Road work on the New England Highway, Kentucky from Monday 24 February, Feburary 2020
32 NSW Government, Roads & Maritime Services, Media Statement, Whittingham rest area permanently closing on Monday 3 February 2020, December 2019
33 Roads & Maritime Services, New England Highway bypass of Scone, Project Update, April 2020
34 NSW Government, Media Release, Safety improvements on the New England Highway south of Tamworth, September 2020
35 NSW Government, Roads & Maritime Services, Media Statement, Start of work on the New England Highway, Whittingham from Monday 19 April, April 2019

Last updated: 15-Oct-2021 22:16

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