Road Photos & Information: New South Wales: Federal Highway (National Highway 23)

Road Photos & Information: New South Wales

Federal Highway (National Highway 23)

Statistics:

Length: 65 km
Northern Terminus: Hume Highway (NH31) interchange at Wollogorang
Southern Terminus: ACT Border at Ginns Gap
Miscellaneous: Continues as Federal Highway (NH23) into the ACT
Suburbs, Towns & Localities along route: Wollogorang, Collector, Bywong, Sutton and Ginns Gap

Route Numbering:

Current:
Former:
RTA Internal Classification: State Highway No. 3. *

General Information:

The Federal Highway is one of two major connectors from Canberra to the Hume Highway, which links Sydney with Melbourne. The entire length of the Federal Highway is dual carriageway. The route forms the Remembrance Driveway which honours war veterans, click here for the Remembrance Driveway web site. **

More than 12,000 vehicles use the Federal Highway each day, of which over 15 per cent are commercial vehicles.

History:

1929: Work commenced on a major project to provide a suitable new road to Canberra from the Hume Highway south of Goulburn. The Federal Government provided considerable funding for this road, which became the Federal Highway. *
January 1935 to March 1937: Major scheme of improvement of Federal Highway. With the completion of this work, a bitumous surface was available on the full length of the Federal Highway and the Hume Highway between Sydney & Canberra. *
1954: The route was signposted as National Route 23. *
1965: Rest areas introduced along the Federal Highway. **
1974: Route was proclaimed a National Highway. *
1988: Collector Bypassed. ***
1990s: Additional rest areas provided along Federal Highway as part of the Remembrace Driveway program. **
1996: 24 kilometre upgrade to dual carriageway begins in the Lake George area. **
August 1999: Northbound carriageway of the Federal Highway at Lake George opened. **
2002: Completion of the $130 million conversion to dual carriageway near Lake George. **

Click here for photos of the former alignment through Collector.

Hume Highway to ACT Border (Southbound)		ACT Border to Hume Highway (Northbound)
Preview:	Description:	Preview:	Description:
	ID Signs: Southbound directional sign on the Hume Highway approaching the Federal Highway at Yarra, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Northbound view of Federal Hwy: Looking in a northerly direction towards the approach of Nerrin Nerrin Creek and Lake George at Bywong, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Federal Highway Interchange: Southbound as you enter the Federal Highway interchange on the Hume Highway at Yarra, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands		AD Sign Northbound advance directional sign, 1 km from the Hume Hwy interchange at Wollogorang, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	ID Sign: Southbound directional sign on the interchange with the Hume Highway at Wollogorang, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching the interchange with the Hume Highway, northbound at Wollogorang, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: The first RD sign on NH23, as you head south from the Hume Highway interchange at Wollogorang, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands		ID Sign: Northbound ID sign for the interchange at the Hume Highway (northern terminus of the Federal Highway) at Wollogorang, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Southbound Carriageway: Looking south on the southbound carriageway at Wollogorang. This was the original alignment of the Federal Highway before its duplication in the 1980s. In some sections in this area the separation between the carriageways is over 300 metres wide, as the northbound carriageway (right of shot) is on a better alignment. The road also has houses and paddocks down the middle, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Approaching Thornford Road: Southbound at Wollogorang, approaching the at-grade intersection with Thornford Road, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Crossing the Great Dividing Range: Sign indicating the top of the Great Dividing Range at Wollogorang, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Wollogorang Creek: Southbound as the Federal Hwy crosses Wollogorang Creek, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Edmonson VC Rest Area: As part of the Remembrance Driveway program, the rest areas along the Federal Hwy are named after Victoria Cross awards, such as this one at Collector, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental AD Sign: Signage showing the bypassed town of Collector, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Typical services sign, southbound at Collector, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: Southbound AD approaching the junction with Church Street at Collector, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: Southbound ID sign at the junction with Church Street at Collector, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Currawang Road Intersection: Southbound at the junction Currawang Road, Collector, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: Southbound AD approaching the turn off to Murray St (old Federal Highway) and also Collector Creek (Flood Plain 1) at Collector, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign approaching Murray St at Collector, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: Southbound RD sign just after the intersection with Murray Street at Collector, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Entering the Lake George Area: Southbound past Lake George, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Tourist Sign: AD sign for The Vineyards (former Federal Highway) Lake George, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Hadlow Drive Junction: Southbound intersection with The Vineyards, Lake George, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Rest Area AD Sign: Advance directional sign for the Badcoe Victoria Cross Rest Area alongside Lake George, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Badcoe VC Rest Area Junction: Southbound at the Badcoe Victoria Cross Rest Area alongside Lake George, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Wheatley VC Rest Area Junction: Southbound at the Wheatley Victoria Cross Rest Area alongside Lake George, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Lookout Services Sign: Sign for services available at the upcoming lookout and rest area on the southwest side of Lake George, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: Services AD Sign approaching the lookout over Lake George and a nearby rest area, Bywong, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Crossing Nerrin Nerrin Creek: Southbound at the Lake George Lookout and the turn off to the rest area and Hadlow Drive (former Federal Highway) at Bywong, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Brooks Creek: Crossing Brooks Creek on the southbound carriageway at Bywong, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Approaching Shingle Hill Way: Southbound at Bywong as you approach Shingle Hill Way and the Newton VC rest area, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental AD Sign: Southbound supplemental advance directional sign for Bungendore Road at Bywong, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Bungendore Road Junction: Southbound through the Bungendore Road (TD8) intersection at Bywong, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Yass River: Crossing the Yass River on the southbound carriageway at Bywong, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Approaching Mac's Reef Road: Advance directional sign for Mac's Reef Road on the southbound carriageway at Sutton, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Mac's Reef Road Intersection: Intersection directional sign on the corner of Mac's Reef Road at Sutton, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign as you approach the interchange with Sutton Road at Sutton, July 2006. Note the incorrect NR23 sheild, should be a green and gold NH23 shield. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplementary AD Sign: Sign indicating other destinations available from the Sutton Road interchange, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Sutton Road Exit: Southbound at the Sutton Road interchange at Sutton, July 2006. Note the incorrect font used on the sign. Image © Paul Rands
	Sutton Road Interchange: View of the Sutton Road exit, Sutton Road overpass and the southbound carriageway of Federal Highway (NH23), July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Sutton Road Interchange: Approaching the Sutton Road bridge and onramp to the Federal Highway at Sutton, southbound, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: Southbound RD sign after the Sutton Road interchange, with the old highway on the left and both carriageways of the current alignment, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Exit to Federal Highway Service Road and Bidges Road: Southbound past the exit to the old Federal Highway alignment, which now acts as a service road for local roads and properites in Sutton, July 2006. The ramp also connects with Bidges Road Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Sign at Sutton indicating services available at the Eagle Hawk Hill Interchange, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Eagle Hawk Hill Interchange: Southbound through the Eagle Hawk Hill interchange at Eagle Hawk Hill, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: ACT design southbound AD sign for the Majura Road (ALT NR-23 / OD1) / Horse Park Drive interchange over the NSW-ACT border. Southbound at Sutton / Ginn's Gap, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
	ACT Truck Bypass Sign: Just metres from the NSW-ACT border, southbound at Sutton / Ginns Gap, July 2006. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of National Highway 23 in the Australian Capital Territory

* Information taken from the publication, The Roadmakers, published by the Department of Main Roads
** Information courtesy of Roads and Traffic Authority
*** Information courtesy of Canberra & District Historical Society

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