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Olympic Highway (National Route 41) (Decommissioned)

Statistics:

• Length: 317 km
• Northern Terminus: Mid Western Highway (NR24) at Cowra
• Southern Terminus: Hume Highway (NH31) at Table Top
• Miscellaneous: Formerly Olympic Way
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along The Route: Table Top, Gerogery, Culcairn, Henty, Yerong Creek, The Rock, Uranquinty, Kapooka, Moorong, Wagga Wagga, Boorooma, Brucedale, Wallacetown, Yathella, Junee, Illabo, Behtungra, Cootamundra, Wallendbeen, Wombat, Young, Bendick Murrell, Crowther, Koorawatha, Wattamondara and Cowra

Route Numbering:

• Former:
• Multiplexes:
• Road Authority Internal Classification: MR78 1
• Decommissioned: 2013

General Information:

National Route 41 is a rural highway in southern New South Wales. It services rural communities and links the Hume Highway with the Mid Western Highway and Sturt Highway.

The route was named Olympic Way, as it was the path that the Olympic Torch took on its journey to Melbourne for the 1956 Summer Olympics. The torch was carried from Cairns to Melbourne. For the 1956 Summer Olympics the Olympic Flame, or torch, was carried along the road from Cowra to Wagga Wagga. For the 2000 Summer Olympics the torch was carried from Wagga Wagga to Cowra en route to Sydney. 2

The Olympic Highway features the Kapooka Bridge which crosses the railway line at Kapooka. It was built in 1880 and features 2 right angle bends at the approaches to the bridge, which have been the scene of several crashes. 3

Multiplexes along the route include:

• NH20 (Sturt Hwy) for 2.5 km between Moorong and Wagga Wagga

History:

• 1880: Construction of the Kapooka Bridge, across the main Sydney-Melbourne railway line. 3
• 1956: Route between Cowra and Wagga selected for carrying of the Olympic Flame for the 1956 Olympic Games. 2
• 2000: Same route between Cowra and Wagga used for carring the Olympic Flame for the 2000 Olympic Games. 2

1 Roads & Traffic Authority, Schedule of Classified Roads and State & Regional Roads, 31 January 2011
2 Olympic Highway, Lambert M. Surhone , Mariam T. Tennoe , Susan F. Henssonow ISBN: 9786135069341
3 Roads & Traffic Authority, Community Update, Realignment of the Olympic Highway at Kapooka, December 2010

Last updated: 16-Feb-2019 17:36

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