Road Photos & Information: New South Wales: Motorway Link & Pacific Highway (State Route 111)

Road Photos & Information: New South Wales

Motorway Link & Pacific Highway (State Route 111) - Wallarah to Swansea (Decommissioned)

Statistics:

Length: 67 km
Northern Terminus: Pacific Hwy / New England Hwy (NR1) at Hexham
Southern Terminus: Sydney-Newcastle Fwy (NH1) at Wallarah, near Doyalson
Suburbs, Towns & Localities along route: Wallarah, Blue Haven, Doyalson, Lake Munmorah, Swansea, Blacksmiths, Pelican, Belmont, Gateshead, Charlestown, Adamstown Heights, Merewether, Hamilton, Mayfield, Sandgate and Hexham

Route Numbering:

Formerly:
Road Authority Internal Classification: Main Road 675 (Motorway Link) and State Highway 10 (Pacific Highway)
Decommissioned: 2013

General Information:

SR111 is the former route of National Route 1 through the Hunter region. The section south of Swansea was also briefly part of the National Highway system and signed as NH1. The Motorway Link section of SR111 between Wallarah and Doyalson is super 2 expressway standard with a grade separated interchange with Tooheys Road. The rest is mostly dual carriageway highway or urban arterial road standard (either divided or undivided).

The route passes through mostly suburbia, although there are some nature reserves scattered along the southern section of the route. The route is the main arterial through suburban Newcastle and its southern suburbs, connecting eventually with the NSW Central Coast at Doyalson.

The Pacific Hwy section of SR111 features the Swansea Bridge spanning the entrance to Lake Macquarie. More than 27,000 road vehicles use the bridge each day. The bridge opens about 2000 times each year, and around five to six times per day, allowing up to 4500 boats to pass through. The number of openings is significant when you compare Swansea Bridge to other similar opening bridges in NSW eg the Spit Bridge in Sydney opens eight times each day during the summer, allowing more than 100 boats per day to pass, and the Harwood Bridge north of Grafton opens around 200 times a year. 2

History:

1880s: The original Swansea channel crossing, which was a drawbridge, was built. 2
1909: Swansea drawbridge was replaced with a bridge which incorporated a roadway, later to become the Pacific Highway. 2
1931: In May, after pressure from the Queensland Government, the coastal highway linking Sydney and Brisbane was named Pacific Hwy.
1944: Styx Creek Bridge widened. 2
1948: Proposal of the replacement existing Swansea Bridge with a new one featuring a new opening span, south of Newcastle. 2
1955: The northbound bridge of the Swansea Bridge was opened. 2
1956: Permanent vehicle weighing station established by the DMR at Hexham where the Pacific Highway met the New England Highway (since removed). 3
1983: Sydney-Newcastle Fwy from Somersby to Wallarah Ck opens, which is connected to Motorway Link and both roads signposted as NH1. 4
1987: Sydney-Newcastle Fwy extension from Wallarah Ck to Morisett opens, NH1 is rerouted onto that extension. 4
1989: The duplicated section (southbound carriageway) of the Swansea Bridge was opened. 2

Wallarah to Swansea		Swansea to Wallarah
Preview:	Description:	Preview:	Description:
	Distance Sign: Southern end of SR111 as you exit off the Sydney-Newcastle Fwy onto Motorway Link at Wallarah. May 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Murrays Beach approaching Old Pacific Hwy interchange, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Divided Road Ends: Approaching the end of the split section of SR111 near the Sydney-Newcastle Fwy at Bushells Ridge. May 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Old Pacific Highway: Pacific Hwy (SR111) at the Old Pacific Hwy interchange, Murrays Beach, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Bushells Ridge: End of the overtaking lane and divided road at Bushells Ridge. May 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Wallarah Peninsula Track: Pacific Hwy (NR1) as it passes under Wallarah Peninsula Track at Murrays Beach, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Approaching Tooheys Road Interchange: Heading northeast at Bushells Ridge as you approach the Tooheys Road interchange, which was once the only connection to Motorway Link between the Sydney-Newcastle Fwy (NH1) and Pacific Hwy (SR83) (now Pacific Hwy) junctions, May 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Murrays Beach, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign for the Tooheys Rd interchange at Bushells Ridge, May 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Catherine Hill Bay approaching Flowers Dr and Cams Wharf Rd, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign as you head northeast after the Tooheys Road interchange on Motorway Link. May 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Flowers Drive & Cams Wharf Road: Corner of Pacific Hwy (SR111), Flowers Dr and Cams Wharf Rd at Catherine Hill Bay, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: Motorway Link as you approach the Blue Haven Way junction at Blue Haven, May 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Catherine Hill Bay approaching Nords Wharf Road, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Blue Haven Way: ID sign assembly and northeast view through the Blue Haven Way intersection at Blue Haven, May 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Nords Wharf Road: Corner of Pacific Hwy (SR111) and Nords Wharf Rd at Catherine Hill Bay, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: Motorway Link approaching the signalised junction with Pacific Hwy (SR83) at Doyalson, May 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Awabakal Drive: Corner of Pacific Hwy (SR111) and Awabakal Dr at Catherine Hill Bay, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: Motorway Link approaching the signalised junction with Pacific Hwy (SR83) at Doyalson, May 2007 Image © Paul Rands		Welcome to the Central Coast: Tourism based welcome and distance sign on the boundary of Lake Macquarie City Council and Central Coast Council at Frazer Park, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	End SR83: Pacific Highway as it meets Motorway Link and Pacific Highway at Doyalson. December 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Wybung approaching Blue Wren Dr and Kanangra Dr, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on the intersection with Motorway Link (SR111), Pacifc Hwy (SR111) and Pacific Hwy (former Pacific Hwy (SR83)) at Doyalson . December 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Wybung approaching Blue Wren Dr and Kanangra Dr, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	AD Sign: Advance directional sign approaching Wyee Road and Pacific Hwy (formerly Secnic Road) at Doyalson, May 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Blue Wren Drive & Kanangra Drive: Corner of Pacific Hwy (SR111), Blue Wren Dr and Kanangra Dr at Wybung, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Wyee Road / Pacific Hwy Intersection: Looking northeast through the junction with Wyee Rd and Pacific Hwy at Doyalson. December 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Chain Valley Bay Road: Corner of Pacific Hwy (SR111) and Chain Valley Bay Rd at Lake Munmorah, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	ID Sign: Intersection directional sign facing westbound traffic on at the corner of Pacific Hwy (SR111), Scenic Dr and Wyee Rd at Doyalson, May 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Lake Munmorah: Pacific Hwy (SR111) as it enters the suburb of Lake Munmorah, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	ID Sign: Intersection directional sign facing eastbound traffic on at the corner of Pacific Hwy (SR111), Scenic Dr and Wyee Rd at Doyalson, April 2011. Image © Paul Rands		Tall Timbers Road: Corner of Pacific Hwy (SR111) and Tall Timbers Rd at Lake Munmorah, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign as you travel northeast after the Wyee Road / Pacific Highway intersection at Doyalson. December 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Ruttleys Road: Corner of Pacific Hwy (SR111) and Ruttleys Rd at Doyalson North, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Rutleys Road Intersection: Approaching the intersection with Rutleys Road at Doyalson North. December 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Doyalson: Pacific Hwy (SR111) as it enters the suburb of Doyalson, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Fingerboard: Fingerboard assembly for the Tall Timbers Road intersection, northbound at Doyalson North. May 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Doyalson approaching Scenic Dr and Wyee Rd, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Entering Lake Munmorah: Northbound as the Pacific Hwy enters Lake Munmorah. December 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Scenic Drive & Wyee Road: Corner of Pacific Hwy (SR111), Scenic Dr and Wyee Rd at Doyalson, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: Northbound tourist AD sign for Munmorah State Recreation Area, approaching Elizabath Bay Road intersection at Lake Munmorah, May 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Scenic Drive & Wyee Road: Corner of Pacific Hwy (SR111), Scenic Dr and Wyee Rd at Doyalson, August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Welcome to Lake Macquarie and Newcastle: Tourist based sign welcoming motorists to the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie regions, with distances to some significant centres. Northbound at Crangan Bay, May 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Doyalson approaching Pacific Hwy (SR83) and Motorway Link (SR111), August 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Crangan Bay Area: Northbound as you travel through the Crangan Bay area. December 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Pacific Highway & Motorway Link: Corner of Pacific Hwy (SR83 and SR111) and Motorway Link (SR111) at Doyalson, August 2011. SR111 continues straight at this location. Image © Paul Rands
	Black ID Sign: Black fingerboard (most probably from the 1980s) on the corner of Awakbal Dr at Nords Wharf. December 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Black ID Sign: Black fingerboard on the corner of Nords Wharf Road at Nords Wharf. December 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on the northbound lanes of the Pacific Hwy (SR111) as you approach Cams Wharf Road and Flowers Drive at Cams Wharf. December 2006. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the Pacific Highway (SR111) between Swansea & Charlestown

1 Newcastle Cty Council
2 Roads & Traffic Authority
3 Dept of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1956, p 62
4 Wyong Shire, Celebrating 60 Years publication, 2007

Last updated: 12-Sep-2020 17:22

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