Expressway - The Australian Highway Site: Road Photos & Information: WA: Decommissioned TW354

Road Photos & Information: Western Australia

Batavia Coast Tourist Way (TW354) (Decommissioned)

Statistics:

Length:: 243 km
Termini:: Northern: George Grey Dr (SR139) and Red Bluff Beach Rd (unnumbered), Kalbarri; Southern: Brand Hwy (NR1) and Midlands Rd (SR116), Yardarino
Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:: Yardarino, Dongara, Bookara, South Greenough, Greenough, Rudds Gully, Wandina, Tarcoola Beach, Mount Tarcoola, Geraldton, Northampton, Howatharra, Isseka, Northampton, Binnu, Ajana and Kalbarri

Route Numbering:

Current: 1
Former: 354
Multiplexed with: 1
Road Authority Internal Classification: ¹: H004 (Yardarino to Geraldton); H007 (Geraldton to Ajana)

General Information:

Tourist Way 354 was a scenic route taking in several historic landmarks and towns on Western Australia's Batavia Coast. Following mostly a major highway route, the TW354 took in rural, bushland, nature reserve areas, including the world renowned Kalbarri National Park and also passed through residential and commercial areas as well, particularly around Dongara, Geraldton and Northampton.

Multiplexes along the route include:

: National Route 1, for 172 km between Yardarino and Ajana.

History:

: 1953: Construction of bridge on Brand Hwy over Greenough River at Greenough, bypassing the convict-built Maley bridge. ³; 1975: The Brand Highway was completed. ⁴; 1976: Brand Highway opened by Premier Charles Court. ⁴; February 1996: Work commences on new bridge over Chapman River at Geraldton. ⁵; 7 March 1997: An 8 km realignment of North West Coastal Highway between Green Street and the Drummond Cove Road and incorporating the new Chapman River Bridge at Geraldton was officially opened by the then Transport Minister Eric Charlton. Work included a new bridge over Chapman River. ⁵; 22 December 2004: Brand Highway and North West Coastal Highway interchange opened to all traffic. This work replaced the roundabout at the intersection of Brand Highway, North West Coastal Highway, Cathedral Avenue, and Portway on the south entrance to the City of Geraldton. ²; 2006: Installation of 53 km of audible edge lines between Dongara and Geraldton and 50 km of shoulder sealing. ⁶; April 2006: Completion of a new passing lane 15 km north of Dongara. ⁶; June 2006: Construction of a passing lane on Brand Highway at Mt Horner, near the Matsen Road intersection, extension of the existing passing lane on Brand Highway at Pells Bridge, intersection channelisation on Brand Highway at Pells Bridge, and improvements to the intersection of McCartney Road and Brand Highway at Greenough. ⁷; 2014: Construction of a new bridge over the Greenough River. The bridge is made of steel and concrete and is around 90 metres long, 10 metres wide, and around three metres higher than the previous 1953 bridge. ⁸; 2 October 2014: The new bridge over Greenough River officially opened to traffic, however, it was opened to vehicles in August 2014. ⁹; 2015: Strengthening works plus new pavement and barriers on the bridge over the railway between Dongara town centre and Midlands Rd at Yardarino. ¹⁰; 23 April 2018: Construction started on a roundabout at the junction of North West Coastal Highway and Hosken St, Bluff Point, in Geraldton. ¹¹; October 2018: Completion of a new roundabout at the corner of North West Coastal Highway and Hosken St, Bluff Point. ¹¹

Yardarino to Kalbarri

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Ajana, April 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the corner of Ajana-Kalbarri Rd (TW354) and the entrance to Kalbarri National Park at Kalbarri, April 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at junction of Ajana-Kalbarri Rd (TW354) and Grey St (TW354 / unnumbered) at Kalbarri, April 2016. TW354 turned left at this location.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign on Red Bluff Rd (TW354) just before it becomes George Grey Dr (SR139) at Kalbarri, April 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Kalbarri to Yardarino

Kalbarri Town Centre:

Grey St (TW354) Kalbarri, near Auger St, April 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Trailblazer:

Trailblazer on Grey St (TW354) approaching Ajana-Kalbarri Rd (TW354) at Kalbarri, April 2016. TW354 turned right at this junction.

Image © Paul Rands

Grey Street & Ajana-Kalbarri Road:

Corner of Grey St (TW354 and unnumbered) and Ajana-Kalbarri Rd (TW354), April 2016. TW354 turned right at this location.

Image © Paul Rands

Grey Street & Ajana-Kalbarri Road:

Corner of Grey St (TW354 and unnumbered) and Ajana-Kalbarri Rd (TW354), April 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Drinking Water Sign:

Sign at Kalbarri indicating availability of water in the Kalbarri National Park, April 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Kalbarri, April 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Mallee Fowl Warning Sign:

Mallee Fowl warning sign between Kalbarri town centre and Kalbarri Airport, April 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign doing the job of an AD sign approaching the entrance to Kalbarri National Park at Kalbarri, April 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Fawcett-Broad Drive:

Corner of Ajana-Kalbarri Rd (TW354) and Fawcett-Broad Dr at Kalbarri, April 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Kalbarri National Park:

Ajana-Kalbarri Rd (TW354) at the entrance to Kalbarri National Park, April 2016.

Kalbarri National Park:

Ajana-Kalbarri Rd (TW354) as it passes through the Kalbarri National Park, April 2016.

Approaching Hawks Head Road:

ID sign acting as an AD sign approaching Hawks Head Rd in the Kalbarri National Park, April 2016.

Hawks Head Road:

Corner of Ajana-Kalbarri Rd (TW354) and Hawks Head Rd, Kalbarri National Park, April 2016.

Ajana:

Ajana-Kalbarri Rd (TW354) as it passes through the Ajana area, April 2016.

North West Coastal Highway & Ajana East Road:

Ajana-Kalbarri Rd (TW354) at the junction with North West Coastal Hwy (NR1) and Ajana East Rd at Ajana, April 2016. The NR1 duplex starts here, and TW354 turned right at this location.

North West Coastal Highway & Ajana East Road:

Ajana-Kalbarri Rd (TW354) at the junction with North West Coastal Hwy (NR1) and Ajana East Rd at Ajana, April 2016. The NR1 duplex starts here, and TW354 turned right at this location.

¹ WA Government, Main Roads Western Australia, Road Information Mapping System.
² WA Government, Main Roads Western Australia.
³ WA Government, Heritage Council of Western Australia.
⁴ WA Government, State Records Office of Western Australia.
⁵ WA Government, Media Statements, Official opening of 8km realignment of NW Coastal Hwy at Geraldton, 7 March 1997.
⁶ WA Government, Media Statements, Two new passing lanes for Perth to Geraldton highway, 31 May 2006.
⁷ WA Government, Media Statements, Highway safety works in the Mid-West to be delivered this year, 6 January 2006.
⁸ WA Government, New $8.1m bridge for Greenough River, 4 February 2014.
⁹ WA Government, Media Releases, New bridge a boost for regional highway safety, 2 October 2014.
¹⁰ WA Government, Media Statements, Bridge improvements set for Brand Highway, 5 February 2015.
¹¹ WA Government, Main Roads Western Australia, Completed Projects, North West Coastal Highway and Hosken Street Intersection, Geraldton, 19 December 2018.