Home | Links | Search | Updates | FAQ | About | Contact Roads | Signals | Roadsigns | Towns & Cities | International | Publications | Sign Drawings

Snowy Mountains Highway (National Route 18) (Decommissioned)

Statistics:

• Length: 332 km
• Eastern Terminus: Princes Hwy (NR1) at Stony Creek, north of Bega
• Southern Terminus: Hume Hwy (NH31) at Mundarlo, northwest of Adelong
• Miscellaneous: Route is co-signed with Monaro Hwy (NR23) between Steeple Flat near Nimmitabel and Cooma
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along The Route: Bega, Bemboka, Nimmitabel, Cooma, Adaminaby, Tumut and Adelong

Route Numbering:

• Former:  
• Multiplexes: 
• Road Authority Internal Classification: HW4 (Stony Creek near Bega to Nimmitabel and Cooma to Mundarlo near Adelong) & HW19 (Cooma to Steeple Flat) 1
• Decommissioned:  2013

General Information:

Snowy Mountains Highway is a route that connects the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales with the far south coast via the Great Dividing Range and Snowy Mountains. It's mostly a 2-lane undivided rural highway, passing through farmland, residential and commercial regions. Large tracts of the route pass through national parks and traverse very hilly and steep terrain.

The route links the Princes Hwy (NR1), Monaro Hwy (NR23) and Hume Hwy (NH31). The highest town along the highway is Kiandra, at a height of 1400 metres. 2

Multiplexes along the route include:

• National Route 23, between Steeple Flat near Nimmitabel and Cooma, for 43 km
• Tourist Drive 6, between Mundarlo and Adelong for 27 km

History:

• 1903: Original timber beam bridges over Adelong Creek and Adelong Flood Channels built. 3
• 1936: Work commences on the bridge over Bemboka River at Morans Crossing. 4
• 1960: Current alignment of Snowy Mountains Highway in the Stony Creek area near Bega opened to traffic. 5
• 1980s: A deviation of the route in the Nunnock River area at the base of Brown Mountain. 6
• 2003: Replacement of the bridges over Slacks Creek, 10 km west of Cooma and Butlers Creek, 18 km west of Bega. 7
• February 2010: Work commences on a new 62 metre long concrete bridge over Adelong Creek and Adelong Flood Channel. The original structures were demolished as part of the project. 3
• 17 December 2010: Replacement bridge over Adelong Creek and Adelong Flood Channel opens to traffic. 3
• 17 February 2011: Official opening and naming ceremony of the replacement bridge over Adelong Creek and Adelong Flood Channel. 3

Click here for the former alignment between Bega and Tathra

1 Roads and Traffic Authority, Schedule of Classified Roads (and unclassified Regional Roads), 20 February 2009
2 Department of Main Roads, Main Roads of New South Wales, undated brochure
3 Roads and Traffic Authority, Construction & Maintenance, Regional Projects, South West, Replacement of Adelong Creek bridges
4 State Library of NSW, Manuscripts, Oral History & Pictures, Bridge construction over Bemboka River at Morans Crossing
5 Department of Main Roads, The Roadmakers, A History of Main Roads in New South Wales, ISBN 0 7240 0439 4, page 218
6 Sam Laybut (OzRoads)
7 Roads & Traffic Authority, Road activity update - Southern NSW, May 2003

Last updated: 16-Nov-2013 18:34

This site © Paul Rands. All rights reserved. Some portions © (copyright) by their respective and credited owners. Permission must be obtained before using any images from this site. For details, please email by clicking here.