Road Photos & Information: South Australia
Sturt Highway, Gawler Bypass and Main North Road (National Highway 20) (Decommissioned)
Statistics:
- Length:
- 267 km
- Termini:
- Eastern: SA-VIC Border
- Western: Main North Road (A1) and Grand Junction Road (A16), Gepps Cross
- Miscellaneous:
- Continues as A20 in Victoria
- Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:
- Yamba, Paringa, Renmark, Barmera, Waikerie, Truro, Nuriootpa, Gawler, Elizabeth and Gepps Cross
Route Numbering:
- Current: A20 B201
- Former: 20 20
- Road Authority Internal Classification: 1
- 07200
General Information:
A20 is a major route connecting South Australia with Victoria and New South Wales.
The highway itself varies from 2-lane rural highway in the less populated areas to multi-laned main road in some of the larger towns, to freeway standard and 6-lane arterial road standard in Adelaide.
The route receives Auslink funding from the Federal Government, recognising its importance as a major Australian highway for freight and travel.
The Sturt Highway is named after Charles Sturt, who explored south western New South Wales, the Murrumbidgee and Murray Rivers and also parts of central Australia in the 1800s.
History:
- 1869: A private punt was established at Blanchetown to cross the River Murray. 2
- 1879: The private punt at Blanchetown replaced by a government operated service. 2
- 1888: First bridge at Renmark built over River Murray constructed in timber by the Chaffey Brothers, to connect their new irrigation settlement with Adelaide. 2
- 1922: The punt at Blanchetown relocated due to the opening of Lock 1. Operation of a ferry commenced at Kingston-On-Murray over the River Murray. 2
- 1927: Opening of Paringa Bridge over the River Murray at Renmark, when the railway line was extended from Paringa to Renmark. The bridge carried both road and rail traffic. 2
- 1933: The Chaffey Brothers' timber bridge at Renmark was replaced by a timber and steel bridge. 2
- December 1954: Second ferry installed at Blanchetown due to increased traffic. 2
- January 1959: Construction on a new bridge (called the Distillery Bridge) began at Renmark. It was made of pre-stressed concrete, a first for South Australia. 2
- January 1960: Completion of Distillery Bridge at Renmark. 2
- 1963: Opening of Gawler Bypass as super-2 road with at-grade junctions. 3
- 24 April 1964: Opening of bridge over River Murray at Blanchetown. 2
- 1969: Work begins on bridge over River Murray at Kingston-on-Murray to replace a ferry. 2
- 1974: National Route 20 replaced by National Highway 20, with the introduction of the National Highway system.
- 1976: Northern Barossa Deviation opens.
- 1980s: Nuriootpa & Greenock bypassed. Extension and duplication of Gawler Bypass. 3
- 1995: Monash Deviation opened, bypassing the towns of Berri and Glossop.
- 1998: Changed to National Highway A20 with the implementation of the alphanumeric route numbering system in SA, also completion of the Mickens Bridge to Truro realignment (an 8 km alignment and bridge, north of the old carriageway). 4
Gepps Cross (Adelaide) to VIC Border
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Truro, December 2003.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Black Advance Directional Sign:
Black AD sign on Old Blanchetown Rd at Waikerie approaching Sturt Hwy (NH20) and Vasey Rd, December 2003.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign facing Zante Rd at Berri, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign assembly near Vaughan Tce, Berri, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Old Intersection Directional Signs:
Old NR20 signs facing Sheill Road in Berri. November 2016. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Old Intersection Directional Signs:
Old NR20 signs facing Hoskin Road in Berri. November 2016. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Handpainted Trailblazer:
Handpainted NR20 trailblazer on the corner of Renmark Av & Eighteenth St at Renmark, approaching Sturt Hwy, December 2003.
Image © Michael Greenslade
VIC Border to Gepps Cross (Adelaide)
NEW Former Alignment:
Abandoned Sturt Highway alignment at Berri, northeast of Jellett Rd, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Directional Sign:
Sign acting as a reassurance in the town of Berri. November 2016. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
2 SA Government, SA Memory, The river as a highway: Crossing the Murray.
3 Australian Government, Peter Morris, Australian Minister for Transport, Press Release, $18 Million Gawler Bypass Gets Go Ahead, 9 May 1984.
4 Australian Government, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.