Road Photos & Information: New South Wales: Russell Street, Castlereagh Road, Jane Street, Belmore Street, North Street, Great Western Highway & Parramatta Road (State Route 44) - Mt Druitt to Wentworthville (Decommissioned)

Road Photos & Information: New South Wales

Russell Street, Castlereagh Road, Jane Street, Belmore Street, North Street, Great Western Highway & Parramatta Road (State Route 44) - Mt Druitt to Wentworthville (Decommissioned)

Statistics:

Length: 45 km (Mt Druitt to Wentworthvile: 15 km)
Western Terminus: Western Motorway (Metroad 4) and Leonay Parade at Emu Plains
Eastern Terminus: Western Motorway & Parramatta Road (Metroad 4) at Strathfield
Miscellaneous: Great Western Highway is truncated at Emu Plains from Russell Street, but continues as National Route 32 from Lapstone at the end of the Western Motorway (Metroad 4). Parramatta Road continues as Metroad 4 from North Strathfield
Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along The Route:Mt Druitt, Minchinbury, Rooty Hill, Huntingwood, Arndell Park, Blacktown, Prospect, Greystaynes, Girraween and Pendle Hill

Route Numbering:

Current:
Former:
Road Authority Internal Classification: HW5 1
Decommissioned: 2013

General Information:

State Route 44 is an east-west route that forms a major arterial route in Sydney's western suburbs. It's a mostly multi-laned road, much of which is divided. It's Australia's oldest road.

Since the completion of Western Mwy (Metroad 4) the importance of the route has changed, however it's still one of the city's busier routes.

History:

June 1858: The Main Roads Management Act appoints Captain BH Martindale as the person responsible for the management of 3 main roads in the colony including the Great Western Road, from Sydney via Parramatta, Penrith, Hartley and Bathurst to Wellington. 2
7 June 1926: A board meeting resolved to set aside funding from the Commonwealth's road funding scheme for road development to be used on some of NSW 'great trunk routes', which included the Great Western Road. 2
1938: Installation of warning signs, roadmarkings and guide posts along a 60 mile stretch between Parramatta and Mt Victoria. These were implemented for testing, for a possible statewide rollout. 2
1939: After successful testing of warning signs, roadmarkings and guide posts, the system was implemented statewide. Also the full completion of pavement along the Great Western Road. 2
1960s: Great Western Hwy re-routed to its present location at Prospect. 2
1980s: Great Western Hwy widened from 4 lanes to 6 lanes between Blacktown and Prospect.
1990s: Great Western Hwy truncated at Russell St in Emu Plains when the Western Mwy (Metroad 4) was extended up into the Blue Mountains.

Mt Druitt to Wentworthville		Wentworthville to Mt Druitt
Preview:	Description:	Preview:	Description:
	Distance Sign: Eastbound through Mount Druitt, near Simpson Hill Road, December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Prospect approaching Ponds Rd, which acts as the off ramp to Prospect Hwy, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Mount Druitt Road: Signage dating back to the 1970s prior to the building of the Mt Druit Westfield (formerly Mt Druitt Market Town and Mt Druitt Shopping Square), indicating shops at what is now known locally as Old Mt Druitt. Shops still exist in the old heart of Mt Druitt, however. December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Prospect Highway Interchange: Intersection directional sign at the Prospect Hwy interchange. Ponds Rd acts as the off ramp to Prospect Hwy, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	AD Sign: Eastbound at Mt Druitt as you approach the signalised intersection of Carlisle Avenue, December 2005 Image © Paul Rands		Distance Sign: RD sign at the Prospect Hwy interchange in Prospect, August 2010. Click here for a photo from 1969 of this area, scanned from the DMR book "The Roadmakers". Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign at Minchinbury as you pass the Coates Street intersection, December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Flushcombe Road: Great Western Hwy (SR44) at the junction with Flushcombe Rd in Prospect, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Eastbound at Minchinbury Looking east near the Mobil Service Station. The westbound carriageway was the original road before it was duplicated in the 1960s. December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Blacktown approaching Reservoir Rd, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Eastbound at Rooty Hill: Looking east as you pass the Pinegrove Cemetary. Rooty Hill is derived from an Indian word 'Ruti'. December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Blacktown approaching Reservoir Rd, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	AD Sign: Advance directional sign for Wallgrove Road (former SR61) at Rooty Hill, December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Reservoir Road: Corner of Great Western Hwy (SR44) and Reservoir Rd at Blacktown, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	AD signage for the Westlink M7: Eastbound at Rooty Hill at the Wallgrove Road Intersection. December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Distance Sign: RD sign at Huntingwood, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Westlink M7 Interchange: Interchange with the M7 at Eastern Creek. Note the redundant SR61 / Phillip Parkway sign, it should have been removed when the M7 opened. Image taken December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Huntingwood approaching Brabham Dr and Doonside Rd, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Eastbound at Eastern Creek: Looking east past the old OTC land and near the crossing over Eastern Creek. Note the old 1950s street lights, December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Intersection Directional Sign: AD sign at Huntingwood at the junction with Brabham Dr and Doonside Rd, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Eastbound at Arndell Park: Looking east as you pass the Sharp warehouse and Walters Road. December 2005. Note the kink in the median strip, that was where the old F4 Freeway used to terminate at a signalised intersection. Image © Paul Rands		Intersection Directional Sign: AD sign at Huntingwood at the junction with Brabham Dr and Doonside Rd, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	AD signage for Reservoir Road: Eastbound through Blacktown, December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Intersection Directional Sign: AD sign at Eastern Creek at the junction with Brabham Dr and Doonside Rd, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Reservoir Road Intersection: Blacktown, December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Intersection Directional Sign: AD sign at Eastern Creek at the junction with Brabham Dr and Doonside Rd, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Flushcombe Road Intersection: Eastbound at Prospect at the Flushcombe Road junction, December 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Distance Sign: RD sign at Eastern Creek after the junction with Brabham Dr and Doonside Rd, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	AD Sign: Advance Directional Signage for Prospect Highway at Prospect, December 2005. This section of highway was upgraded to 6 lanes in the mid 1980s to cope with increasing volumes of traffic after the terminus of the F4 Freeway. Image © Paul Rands		Eastern Creek: Great Western Hwy (SR44) as it crosses the creek the town is named after, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Prospect Highway Interchange: Eastbound at Prospect, December 2005. Click here for a photo from 1969 of this area, scanned from the DMR book "The Roadmakers". Image © Paul Rands		Variable Message Sign: VMS at Eastern Creek near the Westlink (M7) interchange, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: Southbound AD sign on Prospect Hwy at Prospect approaching the Great Western Hwy (SR44) and Ponds Rd, September 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign approaching Westlink (M7) and Wallgrove Rd at Eastern Ck, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Great Western highway: Prospect Hwy at the Great Western Hwy (SR44) interchange at Prospect, September 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Westlink Interchange: Great Western Hwy (SR44) at the Westlink (M7) interchange at Eastern Ck, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Ponds Road: Prospect Hwy at the Ponds Rd intersection at Prospect. Ponds Rd acts as an on ramp to the westbound lanes of Great Western Hwy (SR44), September 2007. Image © Paul Rands		Westlink Interchange: Great Western Hwy (SR44) at the Westlink (M7) interchange at Eastern Ck, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
	Black Advance Directional Sign: Black AD sign on Blacktown Rd at Prospect showing both NR32 and SR44, near the Metella Rd roundabout, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands		Wallgrove Road & Rooty Hill Road South: Intersection directional sign at the junction with Wallgrove Rd and Rooty Hill Rd Sth at Eastern Ck, August 2010. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of State Route 44 between Wentworthville and Strathfield Click here for the continuation of State Route 44 between Emu Plains and Mt Druitt

1 Roads and Traffic Authority, Schedule of Classified Roads (and unclassified Regional Roads), 25 February 2008
2 Department of Main Roads. The Roadmakers, A History of Main Roads in New South Wales, ISBN 0 7240 0439 4

Last updated: 17-Dec-2019 0:55

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