Dawson Highway

Dawson Highway

Queensland
Dawson Highway (green on black)
General information
TypeHighway
Length405 km (252 mi)
Route number(s)
  • State Route 60 (Gladstone – Rolleston)
  • A7 (Rolleston – Springsure)
Former
route number		 National Route 55 (Rolleston – Springsure)
Major junctions
East end Glenlyon Street (State Route 58), Gladstone
 
  • Bruce Highway (Queensland Highway A1)
  • Burnett Highway (State Highway A3)
  • Leichhardt Highway (State Highway A5)
  • Fitzroy Developmental Road (State Route 7)
  • Carnarvon Highway (State Highway A7)
West end Gregory Highway (State Highway A7), Springsure
Location(s)
Major settlementsCalliope, Biloela, Banana, Bauhinia, Moura, Rolleston
Highway system

The Dawson Highway is a state highway in Queensland, Australia.[1] It runs for 405 kilometres (252 mi) between Gladstone and Springsure where it terminates.[2] From Gladstone to Rolleston it is signed as State Route 60, and then A7 onwards to Springsure. It continues west for another 247 kilometres (153 mi) as Dawson Developmental Road to Tambo on the Landsborough Highway. North of Springsure, A7 becomes the Gregory Highway.

Many of the towns along the Dawson Highway are coal-mining establishments.

State-controlled road

Dawson Highway is a state-controlled regional road, a small part of which is rated as "state-strategic". It is defined in four sections, as follows:

  • Number 46A, Gladstone to Biloela.
  • Number 46B, Biloela to Banana.
  • Number 46C, Banana to Rolleston.
  • Number 46D, Rolleston to Springsure, part state-strategic.[3][4]

List of towns along the Dawson Highway

Major intersections

LGALocationkmmiDestinationsNotes
GladstoneGladstone00.0 Glenlyon Street (State Route 58) – north–west – Mount Larcom (to Bruce Highway northbound) /
south–east – Benaraby (to Bruce Highway southbound) /
Bramston Street north–east – Gladstone CBD		Eastern end of Dawson Highway (State Route 60)
Calliope19.011.8 Bruce Highway (Queensland Highway A1) – south – BenarabySouthbound exit to Bruce Highway
19.211.9 Bruce Highway (Queensland Highway A1) – north – Mount LarcomNorthbound exit to Bruce Highway
25.716.0 Gladstone–Monto Road (State Route 69) – south–east – Monto
BananaBiloela12075 Burnett Highway (State Route A3) – south–east – ThangoolEastern concurrency terminus with Burnett Highway
12175 Burnett Highway (State Route A3) – north–west – DululuWestern concurrency terminus with Burnett Highway
Banana165103 Leichhardt Highway (State Route A5) – north – DululuNorthern concurrency terminus with Leichhardt Highway
166103 Leichhardt Highway (State Route A5) – south – TheodoreSouthern concurrency terminus with Leichhardt Highway
Central HighlandsRhydding240150 Fitzroy Developmental Road (State Route 7) – south – TaroomEastern concurrency terminus with Fitzroy Developmental Road
See map of Rhydding[5]
Bauhinia258160 Fitzroy Developmental Road (State Route 7) – north – WoorabindaWestern concurrency terminus with Fitzroy Developmental Road
Rolleston335208 Carnarvon Highway (State Route A7) – south–west – RomaDawson Highway continues north-west as State Route A7
Springsure405252 Gregory Highway (State Route A7) – north – EmeraldWestern end of Dawson Highway
  •       Concurrency terminus
  •       Route transition

Intersecting state-controlled roads

In addition to the Bruce, Burnett, Leichhardt, Carnarvon and Gregory Highways, and the Fitzroy and Dawson Developmental Roads, the following state-controlled roads, from east to west, intersect with the Dawson Highway:

Biloela–Callide Road

Biloela–Callide Road

LocationDawson Highway, Mount Murchison to Callide Dam, Mount Murchison
Length11.8 km (7.3 mi)

Biloela–Callide Road is a state-controlled district road (number 472), rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS).[3][4] It runs from the Dawson Highway in Mount Murchison to the Callide Dam in Mount Murchison, a distance of 11.8 kilometres (7.3 mi). It does not intersect with any other state-controlled roads.[6]

Blackwater–Rolleston Road

Blackwater–Rolleston Road

LocationDawson Highway, Blackwater to Capricorn Highway, Rolleston
Length120 km (75 mi)

Blackwater–Rolleston Road is a state-controlled district road (number 469), rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS).[3][4] It runs from the Dawson Highway in Blackwater to the Capricorn Highway in Rolleston, a distance of 120 kilometres (75 mi). It does not intersect with any other state-controlled roads.[7]

Orion Ten Chain Road

Orion Ten Chain Road

LocationDawson Highway, Orion to Karingal Homestead, Orion
Length19.3 km (12.0 mi)

Orion Ten Chain Road is a state-controlled district road (number 4603), rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS).[3][4] It runs from the Dawson Highway in Orion to Karingal Homestead[8] in Orion, a distance of 19.3 kilometres (12.0 mi). It does not intersect with any other state-controlled roads.[9]

 The road name indicates a width of ten chains (220 yards (200 m)) for the road reserve, meaning that it is part of Australia's travelling stock route network.

Upgrades

Replace bridges

The existing timber bridges on the Dawson Highway were subject to regular closures due to flooding. The $40 million replacement of 5 timber bridges project was completed in April 2018. The timber bridges were replaced with concrete structures to increase freight efficiency and flood immunity along the Dawson Highway. The new bridges were constructed at; Nine Mile Creek, Catfish Creek, Sheep Station Creek, Maxwelton Creek and Doubtful Creek.[10]

Replace bridge near Tambo

A project to replace a timber bridge over the Barcoo River immediately north of Tambo, at a cost of $7 million, was expected to complete in mid-2022.[11]

Replace Roundstone Creek bridge

A project to replace the Roundstone Creek bridge, at a cost of $12 million, was expected to complete in early 2022.[12]

Strengthen bridges and improve pavement

A project to strengthen 5 bridges and to widen and rehabilitate 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) of paving, at a cost of $14.2 million, was expected to complete in June 2022 (the pavement component was completed in January 2021)[13]

Design cycle facilities

A project to design cycle facilities for Glenlyon Street to Harvey Road in Gladstone, at a cost of $2.05 million, was to complete in December 2021.[14]

Roads of Strategic Importance Upgrades

The Roads of Strategic Importance initiative, last updated in March 2022, includes the following projects for the Dawson Highway.

Corridor upgrade

A lead project to upgrade the Townsville to Roma corridor, including sections of the Gregory, Carnarvon and Dawson Highways and surrounding state and council roads, at an estimated cost of $125 million, commenced construction of some work projects in 2020. Planning continues for other projects.[15]

Pavement strengthening and widening

A project to strengthen and widen sections of pavement between Banana and Rolleston at a cost of $6 million was completed in December 2020.[16] This project was targeted for "early works" by the Queensland Government.[17]

Roundstone Creek bridge overflow upgrade

A project to upgrade the Roundstone Creek bridge overflow at a cost of $6 million is due for completion in mid-2022.[18] This project is targeted for "early works" by the Queensland Government.[17]

Biloela heavy vehicle bypass

A project to construct a heavy vehicle bypass of Biloela for the Dawson Highway at a cost of $2.7 million is due for completion in late 2022.[19]

Progressive sealing and new bridge

A project to upgrade and seal sections of the Dawson Developmental Road, and to build a new bridge over the Barcoo River, at a cost of $57 million is expected to finish in mid-2023.[20] This project was targeted for "early works" by the Queensland Government, and has been split into two packages.[17]

Proposals

The Queensland Inland Freight Route is a proposal to upgrade the existing highways from Charters Towers to Mungindi. This would involve significant upgrades to the Dawson Highway between Springsure and Rolleston.

See also

icon Australian Roads portal

References

  1. ^ "Queensland Government - Department of Transport and Main Roads - Maps". Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  2. ^ Hema, Maps (2007). Australia Road and 4WD Atlas (Map). Eight Mile Plains Queensland: Hema Maps. pp. 10–11. ISBN 978-1-86500-456-3.
  3. ^ a b c d e The State Road Network of Queensland (PDF) (Map). Queensland Government ©State of Queensland [CC BY 4.0]. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Fitzroy district map" (PDF). Department of Transport and Main Roads ©State of Queensland [CC BY 4.0]. 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  5. ^ Google (1 August 2017). "Rhydding, Queensland" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  6. ^ Google (27 April 2024). "Biloela to Callide" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  7. ^ Google (27 April 2024). "Blackwater to Rolleston" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Karingal, Queensland, Australia". GeoYP. 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  9. ^ Google (27 April 2024). "Orion to Karingal" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Dawson Highway: timber bridge replacement project". The State of Queensland, Department of Transport and Main Roads. 20 December 2018. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  11. ^ "Dawson Developmental Road (Springsure - Tambo), Barcoo River, replace timber bridge". Queensland Government. 14 February 2022. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Dawson Highway (Banana - Rolleston), Roundstone Creek, replace bridge Dawson Highway (Banana - Rolleston), Roundstone Creek bridge, replace overflow". Queensland Government. 22 November 2021. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Dawson Highway (Gladstone - Biloela), various locations, strengthen bridges and widen and rehabilitate pavement". Queensland Government. 22 November 2021. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  14. ^ "Dawson Highway, Glenlyon Street to Harvey Road, design cycling facilities". Queensland Government. 22 November 2021. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Townsville to Roma Corridor Upgrade". Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. 29 March 2022. Archived from the original on 29 April 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  16. ^ "Dawson Highway (Banana - Rolleston) - Pavement Strengthening and Widening". Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. 30 April 2021. Archived from the original on 29 April 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  17. ^ a b c "ROSI early works package" (PDF). Queensland Government. 29 April 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 December 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Dawson Highway (Banana - Rolleston) - Roundstone Creek Bridge Overflow Upgrade". Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. 30 April 2021. Archived from the original on 29 April 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  19. ^ "Biloela Heavy Vehicle Bypass". Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. 29 March 2022. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  20. ^ "Springsure to Tambo". Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. 29 March 2022. Archived from the original on 29 April 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Road infrastructure in Queensland
National highways
Highways
Major roads
Other roads – South–east
Other roads – Regional
Developmental roads / Outback tracks
Minor roads – South–east (Described in other articles)
Minor roads – Regional (A–K) (Described in other articles)
Minor roads – Regional (L–Z) (Described in other articles)
Proposals