Road Photos & Information: Australian Capital Territory

Federal Highway (National Highway 23)

Statistics:

• Length: 7 km
• Northern Terminus: ACT-NSW border at Ginns Gap, near Watson.
• Southern Terminus: Corner of the Federal Hwy (Northbourne Av (NR23)) and Barton Hwy (NH25) at Downer
• Miscellaneous: Continues as Federal Hwy (NH23) from NSW Border at Ginns Gap to the Hume Hwy (NH31) at Wollogorang, near the city of Goulburn.
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities along route: Ginns Gap, Watson and Downer

Route Numbering:

• Current:
• Former:

General Information:

The ACT section of NH23 is quite short, travelling just 7 kilometres from the NSW-ACT Border to the junction with the Barton Highway and Northbourne Avenue at Downer.

The entire route is 4-lane dual carriageway with 2 lanes in each direction for north and southbound traffic. The route features both at grade intersections and also a grade-separated interchange with Alternate National Route 23, Majura Road and also Horse Park Drive, both in the North Canberra locale.

History:

Upgraded from National Route 23 in 1974, with the introduction of the National Highway system, National Highway 23 continues on from the Federal Highway in New South Wales, and was constructed to serve Sydney-Canberra traffic in the 1930's, opening to traffic in July 1931. The construction of the Federal Highway linking Canberra to the New South Wales towns of Collector and Goulburn was completed by unemployed men working for 'relief' money.

Access to Canberra before this was via Gunning (using what is now known as Sutton-Gundaroo Road, Sutton Road and Gundaroo Road) or Tarago.

The section of highway between the border and Stirling Avenue Watson was upgraded to dual carriageways in 1999 and completed in December 2002. Previously the Federal Highway was single carriageway in this area.

NSW Border to Downer (Southbound)			Downer to NSW Border (Northbound)
Preview:	Description:		Preview:	Description:
	ACT Welcome Sign: Crossing from NSW into the ACT, southbound. This sign is a newer version of a similar design built in the 1960s or 70s. This sign was erected sometime between 1999 and 2002 as part of the duplication works. Heading north is a similar sign with New South Wales on it. July 2006. Image © Paul Rands			Old Trailblazer: This photo from 2004 shows an old trailblazer attached to a lamp post, near the intersection of Stirling Avenue at Watson, northbound on Northbourne Avenue. Image © Sam Laybutt (ozroads.com.au)
	Majura Road / Horse Park Drive Interchange: Southbound approaching the interchange for Majura Road (ALT-NR23) and Horse Park Drive, North Canberra. Image © Paul Rands
	Majura Road / Horse Park Drive Interchange: Southbound through the interchange for Majura Road (ALT-NR23) and Horse Park Drive, North Canberra. Note Telstra Tower atop Black Mountain, in the distance. July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: Large RD as you head southbound at Watson, just before the Antill Street roundabout, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Approaching Antill Street: Southbound advance directional sign for the Antill Street roundabout at Watson, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Antill Street Approach: Southbound at Watson, approaching Antill Street, note the white lines across the lanes - they're used to alert drivers to the upcoming roundabout as they come out of an 80 km/h zone. July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Antill Street Roundabout: Southbound signage and exit from the Antill Street roundabout at Watson, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: Large RD as you head southbound at Watson, just after the Antill Street roundabout and before the Stirling Avenue traffic lights, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Stirling Av, Watson: Southbound approaching the signalised junction with Stiring Avenue & the Shell service station at Watson, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Stirling Avenue Intersection: Southbound carriageway of the Federal Highway as it passes across Stirling Avenue's signalised intersection, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: Southbound RD sign after the Stirling Avenue junction at Watson, July 2006. Note the incorrect NR23 shield on the sign. Phillip Avenue is where the signals are in the distance. Image © Paul Rands
	Approaching Barton Hwy: Southbound after Phillip Avenue Watson as you approach the turn off to the Barton Highway (National Highway 25), and also the southern terminus of the Federal Highway. Downer, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign for the Barton Highway intersection, southbound at Downer. July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	End National Highway 23: The southern terminus of the Federal Highway at Downer, the road continues are Northbourne Avenue, National Route 23. Southbound, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of NH23 (as Federal Hwy) in NSW Click here for the continuation of NR23 (as Northbourne Avenue)

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