Road Photos & Information: Queensland: Gateway Motorway, Logan Motorway, Ipswich Motorway, Warrego Highway, Landsborough Highway & Barkly Highway (M2/A2)

Road Photos & Information: Queensland

M2 A2

Gateway Motorway, Logan Motorway, Ipswich Motorway, Warrego Highway, Landsborough Highway & Barkly Highway (M2/A2) - Dinmore to Toowoomba

Statistics:

Length: 2029 km (Rochedale to Toowoomba: 95 km)
Western Terminus: Northern Territory / Queensland Border near Camooweal
Eastern Terminus: Pacific Motorway (M1/M3) and Gateway Motorway (M1) at Rochedale
Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along The Route: North Tivoli, North Ipswich, Brassall, Blacksoil, Haigslea, Marburg, Minden, Plainland, Gatton, Grantham, Helidon, Withcott and Redwood

Route Numbering:

Current: M2 A2

Former:
Road Authority Classification: 18A, 18B, 18C, 18D, 18E & 18F (Warrego Highway), U16 (Ipswich Motorway), 210A (Logan Motorway), and N332 (Gateway Motorway) 1

General Information:

M/A2 is the main link from Brisbane to the northern territory. It varies from motorway standard in the Brisbane metropolitan area, to dual carriageway rural highway standard between Brisbane and Toowoomba, and rural highway standard beyond Toowoomba.

History:

1849: Surveyor J.C. Burnett found a better route to the north to replace the road from Brisbane over the Toowoomba Range (via Gormans Gap, south of the city). This new route was to later become Toll Bar Road. 2
1853: A gang of twelve workers cleared and constructed a better road along the route of what would become Toll Bar Road. 2
January 1855: Toll Bar Road opens. A simple gatehouse was erected at the top of the range, near the current intersection of Ipswich and Curtis Streets in Toowoomba. A bar crossing the road and a fence either side stopped traffic and enabled toll collection of approximately two pence. Toll Bar Road consisted of a rough stone pavement on very steep grades. As the road was unsealed and very steep, with grades as much as 14%, it was subject to severe scouring during heavy rains. 2
13 December 1921: Brisbane-Toowoomba Road was declared a Main Road under the Main Roads Act, 1920. 2
24 September 1932: The Main Roads Commission proclaimed the Toll Bar Road a State Highway when it became part of the Lockyer-Darling Downs Highway. 2
1938: A major upgrade of the range road took place. The most significant change was to the uppermost section, with the new route reaching the top of the range further north. 2
December 1939: Work to upgrade the range road completed. 2
29 January 1940: A two-lane bitumen Toowoomba range road was formally opened by the Honourable H.A. Bruce, Minister for Public Works, MLA. The new range road was a vast improvement on the old Toll Bar Road as it provided a 6.1m wide bitumen surfaced pavement over a length of 3.7km and climbed a total height of 350m. The average rate of climb was nearly 9%, although the actual grades varied between 7.5% and 10.5% with the exception of a short flattening in the vicinity of a saddle which had become known as "Essex Evans" due to the fact that the poet George Essex Evans (1863-1909) once resided at this location. 2
1964: The Main Roads Department commenced the duplication of the road at an estimated cost of £185 000. By 1964 the traffic volume had reached 2300 vehicles per day, of which approximately 500 were heavy trucks and semi-trailers. The alignment of the upgrading project was along the existing road from the foot of the range proper to the saddle at Essex Evans. However, an entirely new up-lane from Essex Evans to the top was constructed on the southern side of the existing road. The new up-lane was slightly longer, with improved horizontal and vertical alignment and an increased width of 7.3m. The basic route used by Warrego Highway today, has remained unaltered since 1940. 2
2004: Warrego Highway rennumbered from NH54 to A2 under the Tourism Strategic Routes plan. 3
2006: Laidley-Plainland interchange on the Warrego Highway upgrade completed. 4
May 2008: Completion of upgrade works at the intersection of the Warrego Highway and Claus Road at Haigslea, west of Ipswich. 5
April 2016: Construction begins on Toowoomba Range Second Crossing.
8 September 2019: Toowoomba Range Second Crossing completely open to traffic.

Click here for the former A2 alignment through the Toowoomba area.

Dinmore to Toowoomba		Toowoomba to Dinmore
Preview:	Description:	Preview:	Description:
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Dinmore, approaching River Rd, March 2012. Image © Paul Rands		Welcome To Darren Lockyer Way: Sign indicating the beginning of Darren Lockyer Way, Whitcott, January 2019. Image © Dean Sherry
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Dinmore, approaching River Rd, March 2012. Image © Paul Rands		Withcott Town Centre: Warrego Hwy as it passes through Withcott, October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	River Road: Warrego Hwy (M2) at the interchange with River Rd at Dinmore, March 2012. Image © Paul Rands		Approaching Murphy's Creek Road: AD sign approaching the intersection with Murphy's Creek Road at Withcott, April 2005. Image © Rob Tilley
	River Road: Warrego Hwy (M2) at the interchange with River Rd at Dinmore, March 2012. Image © Paul Rands		Intersection Directional Sign: Typical Queensland fingerboard facing Postmans Ridge Rd (former Warrego Hwy) at Helidon Spa, April 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Start Darren Lockyer Way: Sign indicating beginning of section of Warrego Hwy named after football player Darren Lockyer, at Dinmore, March 2012. Image © Paul Rands		Entering the Gatton Council Area: Council area sign on the Warrego Highway at Helidon, April 2005. Image © Rob Tilley
	Ashburn Road: Warrego Hwy (M2) at the interchange with Ashburn Rd in Bundamba, March 2012. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on the Warrego Hwy at Helidon, approaching the interchange with Turner Street and Gatton-Helidon Road, April 2005. Image © Rob Tilley
	Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Bundamba before the bridge over Bremer River, November 2013. Image © Michael Greenslade		Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign on the Warrego Hwy at Helidon, approaching the interchange with Turner Street and Gatton-Helidon Road, April 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Bremer River: Warrego Hwy (M2) as it crosses Bremer River at Bundamba, March 2012. Image © Paul Rands		Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign on the Warrego Hwy at Helidon, approaching the interchange with Turner Street and Gatton-Helidon Road, April 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign : AD sign approaching Mt Crosby Rd (SR37) at Bundamba, March 2012. Image © Paul Rands		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on the Warrego Hwy at Helidon, at the interchange with Turner Street and Gatton-Helidon Road, April 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign : Supplemental AD sign approaching Mt Crosby Rd (SR37) at Bundamba, March 2012. Image © Paul Rands		Approaching Gatton-Esk Rd & Gatton-Helidon Rd: Advance directional sign approaching the interchange with Gatton-Esk Road and Gatton-Helidon Road at Gatton, April 2005. Image © Rob Tilley
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign : Supplemental AD sign approaching Mt Crosby Rd (SR37) at North Tivoli, March 2012. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign : AD sign on Warrego Hwy (A2) approaching Forest Hill-Fernvale Rd at Crowley Vale, April 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign : AD sign approaching Mt Crosby Rd (SR37) at North Tivoli, March 2012. Image © Paul Rands		Distance Sign: Reassurance directional sign at Glenmore Grove, April 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Mount Crosby Road: Warrego Hwy (M2) at the Mt Crosby Rd (SR37) interchange at North Tivoli, March 2012. Image © Paul Rands		Distance Sign: RD sign at Plainland, April 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Entering Tivoli: Warrego Hwy (M2) as it enters the suburb of Tivoli, and an AD sign for the Francis St interchange, March 2012. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign : AD sign approaching Lowood-Minden Rd and Tallegalla Rd at Minden, April 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign for the Francis St interchange at Tivoli, March 2012. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Queen St Marburg approaching Warrego Hwy (A2), June 2009. Image © Michael Greenslade
	Francis Street: Warrego Hwy (M2) at the Francis St interchange at Tivoli, March 2012. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign : AD sign at Haigslea approaching Haigslea-Malabar Rd and Claus Rd, April 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Pine Mountain Road: Warrego Hwy (M2) at the Pine Mtn Rd (SR38) interchange at Brassall, March 2012. M2 becomes A2 at this location. Image © Paul Rands		Distance Sign: RD sign at Haigslea, April 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Distance Sign: RD sign after the interchange with Pine Mountain Road (SR38) at Brassall, May 2005. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign : AD sign at Haigslea approaching Haigslea-Amberley Rd, April 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Walloon approaching Haigslea-Amberley Rd (SR93) interchange, Feburary 2017. Image © Michael Greenslade		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Warrego Hwy (A2) approaching Wulkuraka Connection Rd at Karrabin, April 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Minden approaching Tallegalla Rd and Lowood-Minden Rd, June 2009. Image © Michael Greenslade		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Warrego Hwy (A2) approaching Wulkuraka Connection Rd at Karrabin, April 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Gatton approaching Eastern Dr (SR80), April 2004. Image © Michael Greenslade		Advance Directional Sign : AD sign on Warrego Hwy (A2) approaching Brisbane Valley Hwy (NR17) at Blacksoil, April 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign approaching Toowoomba Connection Rd (A21) and Paynters Loop Rd at Helidon, January 2019. Image © Dean Sherry		Brisbane Valley Highway: AD sign acting as an ID sign at the Brisbane Valley Hwy (NR17) junction at Blacksoil, April 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Toowoomba Connection Rd (A21) and Paynters Loop Rd at Helidon, January 2019. A2 through Toowoomba CBD becomes A21 once the Toowoomba Bypass opens in September 2019. Image © Dean Sherry		Advance Directional Sign : AD sign approaching Eleaza Dr at Blacksoil, April 2011. Image © Rob Tilley
			Eleaza Drive: Corner of Warrego Hwy (A2) and Eleaza Dr at Blacksoil, November 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
			Distance Sign: RD sign on Warrego Hwy (A2) at Blacksoil, November 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
			Advance Directional Sign : AD sign on Warrego Hwy (A2) approaching Pine Mountain Rd (SR38) at Muirlea, November 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
			Pine Mountain Road : Warrego Hwy (A2) at the Pine Mtn Rd interchange, November 2009. Warrego Hwy becomes M2 at this interchange. Image © Rob Tilley
			Distance Sign: RD sign at Muirlea after the Pine Mtn Rd (SR38) interchange, November 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
			Advance Directional Sign : AD sign on Warrego Hwy (M2) approaching Kholo Rd at Muirlea, November 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
			Advance Directional Sign : AD sign on Warrego Hwy (M2) approaching Kholo Rd at Muirlea, November 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
			Kholo Road Interchange : Warrego Hwy (M2) at the Kholo Rd interchange in Muirlea, November 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
			Advance Directional Sign : AD sign at Tivoli approaching the Mt Crosby Rd (SR37) interchange, November 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
			Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Tivoli approaching Mt Crosby Rd (SR37), November 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
			Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Tivoli approaching Mt Crosby Rd (SR37), which is duplexed with the Cobb & Co Tourist Drive, November 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
			Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Tivoli approaching Mt Crosby Rd (SR37), which is duplexed with the Cobb & Co Tourist Drive, November 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
			Mt Crosby Road Interchange: Warrego Hwy (M2) at the Mt Crosby Rd (SR37) interchange at Tivoli, November 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
			Distance Sign: RD sign at Karalee, November 2009. Image © Rob Tilley
Click here for the continuation of A2 between Toowoomba and Chinchilla Click here for the continuation of M2 between Dinmore and Rochedale

1 The State Road Network Map, 30 June 2008
2 Queensland Roads, Edition No 5, (Toowoomba Range Tunnels Report), March 2008
3 QMR, Strategic Tourism Routes Revision 12
4 Ministerial Media Statements, Federal Government own worst enemy on roads: Lucas, 25 July 2006
5 Ministerial Media Statements, Haigslea intersection easier to negotiate, 22 May 2008

Last updated: 21-Oct-2021 14:00

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