Length:

16 km

Termini:

Northern: Horse Park Drive & Federal Highway (NH23) interchange, Watson

Southern: Canberra Av (NR23 / NR52), Monaro Hwy (NR23), Ipswich St interchange, Fyshwick

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Fyshwick, Pialligo and Majura

Current: M23 A23

Former: 23

General Information:

The route connected National Highway 23 to the Monaro Highway (NR23), and acted as an eastern by-pass of suburban Canberra, passing through farmlands and past Canberra Airport. It was a mix of single carriageway, dual carriageway arterial standard and also expressway standard roadway.

1984: Construction of the route began when Silvia Curley Bridge opened over the Molonglo River. ¹

1989: The Monaro Hwy was extended from suburb of Hume to Canberra Av in Fyshwick. ¹

1991: The Monaro Highway was extended over Canberra Av to Newcastle St at Fyshwick. For this, northbound traffic was routed onto Dairy Road, which was altered to become one way, while southbound traffic used a new freeway style carriageway between the Molonglo River and Newcastle Street. ¹

May 2015: ALT-NR23 replaced by M23 and B23 following the opening of Majura Parkway, which included some reconstructed sections of Majura Road. ²

Fyshwick to Watson

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Monaro Hwy (ALT-NR23) at Fyshwick approaching Newcastle St, December 2009. This bridge has since been duplicated.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Fyshwick approaching Morshead Dr, December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Fyshwick approaching Morshead Dr (ALT-NR23), December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Morshead Drive:

Monaro Hwy (ALT-NR23) at the Morshead Dr interchange at Fyshwick, December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Fyshwick approaching Pialligo Av (TD3), December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Campbell approaching Pialligo Av (TD3), December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Trailblazer:

Tourist Drive 3 trailblazer on Morshead Dr at Campbell, December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Campbell near Hopkins Dr, approaching Fairbain Av (TD3), December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Trailblazer:

Tourist Drive 3 and Overdimensional Route 1 trailblazer on Morshead Dr at Campbell approaching Fairbairn Av (TD3), December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Fairbairn Avenue:

Corner of Morshead Dr (ALT-NR23 / TD3) and Fairbairn Av (ALT-NR23 and TD3) at Campbell, December 2009. TD3 turns left here and ALT-NR23 continues right at this junction. Note the missing chevron on the sign.

Image © Paul Rands

Lane Allocation Sign:

Lane allocation sign on Fairbairn Av (ALT-NR23 / TD3) approaching Majura Rd (ALT-NR23), December 2014.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign located eastbound on the corner Fairbairn Avenue and Majura at Pialligo, just outside the perimeter of Canberra Airport. December 2014. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2009. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from July 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign:

Northbound RD sign located on Majura Road at Pialligo, outside Canberra Airport. December 2014. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from July 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

Northbound AD sign approaching Mustang Av and Spitfire Av near Canberra Airport on Majura Road. December 2009. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from July 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Majura Rd (ALT-NR23) approaching Mustang Av at Majura, December 2014.

Image © Paul Rands

School Bus Sign:

Signage indicating that Majura Road is a school bus route for the handful of farms located along its route. Northbound, July 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Trailblazer:

ALT-NR23 trailblazer on Majura Rd approaching Avonley Rd at Majura, December 2009. Note the incorrect right arrow.

Image © Paul Rands

Majura Road:

Northbound on Majura Rd at Majura, December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Approaching Tambreet Street:

Majura Rd (ALT-NR23) approaching the roundabout with Tambreet St at Majura, December 2014.

Image © Paul Rands

Tambreet Street:

Majura Rd (ALT-NR23) at the roundabout with Tambreet St at Majura, December 2014.

Image © Paul Rands

Training Area Junction:

Majura Rd (ALT-NR23) at the entrance to the Majura Military Training Area, December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the entrance to Mt Majura Vineyard, December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Watson approaching Federal Hwy (NH23) and Horse Park Dr, December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Federal Highway Interchange:

Westbound in North Canberra at the interchange with National Highway 23. July 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Federal Highway & Horse Park Drive:

Majura Rd (ALT-NR23) at the interchange with Federal Hwy (NH23) and Horse Park Dr at Watson, December 2009. ALT-NR23 ends at this junction.

Image © Paul Rands

Directional Sign:

Advance directional sign acting as an intersection directional sign at the Federal Highway interchange, North Canberra. Note the lack of route sheilds. July 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Watson to Fyshwick

Advance Directional Sign:

Rest area AD sign near Watson at the Federal Hwy / Majura Rd interchange. December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the exit to the Hughie Edwards Rest Area near Watson. December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching the Majura Rd / Horse Park Dr junction near Watson. December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Majura Rd / Horse Park Dr junction:

Corner of Majura Road and Horse Park Road near Watson. This junction forms part of the Federal Highway interchange. December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign:

RD sign at Majura after the Federal Hwy / Horse Park Rd interchange. December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

School Bus Sign:

Signage indicating that Majura Road is a school bus route for the handful of farms located along its route. December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Mt Majura Vineyard Junction:

The turn off on Majura Road for Mt Majura Vineyard. December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Military Training Area Junction:

Majura Road at the intersection with the military training area. December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Approaching Tambreet Street:

Majura Rd (ALT-NR23) approaching the roundabout with Tambreet St at Majura, December 2014.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD at Pialligo, approaching Mustang Av and Spitfire Av. December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Majura Rd in Pialligo approaching the intersection with Fairbairn Av. December 2014. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Fairbairn Avenue Intersection:

Corner of Majura Rd and Fairbairn Av at Pialligo. December 2009. ALT-NR23 turns right here.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Fairbairn Avenue approaching Morshead Drive at Pialligo. December 2009. ALT-NR23 turns left onto Morshead Drive.

Image © Paul Rands

No Right Turn Sign:

Sign on Morshead Rd approaching Pialligo Av, prohibiting right turns at the traffic signals. December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

AD Sign:

Advance directional sign at Pialligo approaching Pialligo Av. There's no right turn at the signals onto the continuation of Morshead Rd. December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Pialligo Avenue / Morshead Drive / Monaro Highway Junction:

Morshead Dr approaching Monaro Hwy. ALT-NR23 goes straight ahead at this junction. December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Molonglo River:

Silvia Curley Bridge over the Molonglo River at Pialligo. December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Monaro Hwy at Fyshwick approaching Newcastle Street. December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Newcastle Street Interchange:

Monaro Hwy at the Newcastle St interchange in Fyshwick. December 2009.

Image © Paul Rands