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Castlereagh Highway (State Route 86) (Decommissioned)

Statistics:

• Length: 288 km
• Northern Terminus: Newell Hwy (NH39 / NR34) at Gilgandra
• Southern Terminus: Great Western Hwy (NR32) at Marrangaroo, northwest of Lithgow
• Miscellaneous: Continues as Castlereagh Hwy (NR55) from Gilgrandra, and eventually as Castlereagh Hwy (A55) in Queensland at Hebel
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities along route: Gilgandra, Mendooran, Dunedoo, Craboon, Birriwa, Gulgong, Mudgee, Ilford, Running Stream, Capertee, Ben Bullen, Cullen Bullen, Lidsdale & Marrangaroo

Route Numbering:

• Former:
• Multiplexes:
• Decommissioned: 2013
• Road Authority Internal Classification: State Highway No. 18 (except Golden Highway duplex, State Highway No. 27) 1

General Information:

Castlereagh Highway is a significant highway link in the New South Wales road network, linking towns west of the Great Dividing Range (such as Lithgow) to the central west of the state and eventually to Queensland. The State Route 86 segment, passes through rural and populated areas, linking Lithgow with the agricultural centre of Gilgandra, north of Dubbo (via NR34 / NH39).

The route features a 10 km duplex with State Route 84 (Golden Highway) from Craboon to Dunedoo.

The Castlereagh Highway is predominantly a 2-lane road, with sealed shoulders and occasional auxiliary lanes provided for overtaking. The speed limit is generally 100km/h, with lower speed limits in place in built up areas. Between Mudgee and Gulgong, the 2002 Annual Average Daily Traffic volume (AADT) was around 3,000 axle pairs. 2

History:

• 2003: Widening of the Castlereagh Highway near Gulgong and widening of the Castlereagh Highway near Mendooran. 1
• 2004: The Castlereagh Highway between Lidsdale and the Coxs River (north of Lidsdale town centre) upgraded. Work on the project included a deviation around Lidsdale village. 1
• 2007: Castlereagh Highway reconstruction at Black Bull Hill, north of Mudgee. 1
• 2008: Upgrading of the roundabout at the intersection of Church and Horatio Streets (Castlereagh Highway) in Mudgee and installation of a new roundabout at the intersection of Market and Douro Streets (Castlereagh Highway). Also upgrades made to Castlereagh Highway at Ilford (Tabrabucca). 3
• 2011: Realignment of Castlereagh Highway at Cudgegong.

1 Roads & Traffic Authority
2 NSW Department of Planning, taken from the Sinclair Knight Merz report on the Moolarben Coal Project
3 Mid Western Regional Council

Last updated: 27-Oct-2018 23:34

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