Length:

59 km (Sutton Forest to Robertson: 33 km)

Termini:

Eastern: Princes Mwy (M1), Albion Park

Western: Hume Hwy (M31) and Canyonleigh Rd (Hoddles Cross Roads), Sutton Forest

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Albion Park Rail, Albion Park, Tullimbar, Tongarra, Macquarie Pass, Mount Murray, Robertson, Burrawang, Moss Vale and Sutton Forest

Current: A48

Multiplexed with: 14 15

Former: 48

Road Authority Internal Classification: ¹

HW25

General Information:

The Illawarra Highway is a key link in the state's road network, connecting the Illawarra with the Southern Highlands, the Hume Highway and via the Hume Highway: Melbourne and southwestern New South Wales.

Consisting mostly of single carriageway undivided road, the route traverses Macquarie Pass, which is a narrow and windy section of road built to climb the Illawarra Escarpment. The route primarily services small rural and semi-rural communities.

Tourist Drive 14, for 14 km, between Moss Vale and Sutton Forest.

Tourist Drive 15, for 22 km, between Robertson and and Moss Vale.

May 2018: At Robertson and Burrawang, shoulders widened and guard rail installed, plus 2 vehicle activated signs installed at this location, the road shoulders were widened and a widened painted median installed. ² Repairs carried out to the bridge, guard rails and embankments at the Hume Hwy (Hoddles Crossroads) interchange. ³

Sutton Forest to Robertson

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Canyonleigh Rd at Sutton Forest, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the Hume Hwy (M31) and Canyonleigh Rd interchange (Hoddles Crossroads) at Sutton Forest, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Start Tourist Drive 14:

Trailblazer marking the start of TD14 that duplexes the route between Moss Vale and Sutton Forest, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Sutton Forest, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Exeter Rd in Sutton Forest, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Sutton Forest, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign with topknot approaching Waite St (TD17) in Moss Vale town centre, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching the unnumbered section of Argyle St and also Suttor Rd, October 2016. A48 turns right at this junction. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the roundabout with the unnumbered section of Argyle St and also Suttor Rd, October 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the roundabout with the unnumbered section of Argyle St and also Suttor Rd, November 2013. SR79 has been decommissioned and shown here in error, and A48 turns right at this junction.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign:

RD sign at Moss Vale, November 2013. SR79 has been decommissioned and shown here in error.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Moss Vale approaching Nowra Rd (TD15), November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign:

RD sign at Moss Vale, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Avoca approaching Sheepwash Rd (B73), November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Sheepwash Road:

Corner of Illawarra Hwy (A48) and Sheepwash Rd (B73) at Avoca, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

RD Sign:

Distance sign at Avoca, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

UPDATED Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Burrawang approaching Church St, May 2017. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

UPDATED Church Street:

Illawarra Hwy (A48) junction Church St in Burrawang, May 2017. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Church Street:

Illawarra Hwy (A48) junction Church St in Burrawang, December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

UPDATED Distance Sign:

Reassurance directional sign at Burrawang, May 2017. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

UPDATED McGraths Road:

Corner of Illawarra Hwy (A48) and McGraths Rd at Burrawang, November 2013. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign:

Reassurance directional sign at Burrawang, November 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Robertson to Sutton Forest

Distance Sign:

Reassurance directional sign at Burrawang, December 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign on Illawarra Hwy (A48) at Burrawang, December 2013. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Avoca approaching Sheepwash Rd (B73), December 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the corner of Illawarra Hwy (A48) and Sheepwash Rd (B73) at Avoca, December 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign:

RD sign at Avoca after Sheepwash Rd (B73), December 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign:

RD sign after Nowra Rd at Moss Vale, December 2013. Note the remnant state route shield.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Moss Vale approaching Suttor Rd and Argyle St, December 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Suttor Road and Argyle Street:

Illawarra Hwy (A49) at the roundabout with Suttor Rd and Argyle St in Moss Vale, December 2013. A48 turns left at this junction. Note the remnant state route shield.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign:

RD sign after the Suttor Rd and Argyle St roundabout in Moss Vale, December 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Waite St (TD17) at Moss Vale, December 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign:

RD sign near Paynes Creek at Sutton Forest, December 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching the Hume Hwy (M31) and Canyonleigh Rd interchange (Hoddles Crossroads) at Sutton Forest, August 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Hoddles Crossroads:

Illawarra Hwy (A48) at its western terminus, Hoddles Crossroads, the interchange with Hume Hwy (M31) and Canyonleigh Rd at Sutton Forest, August 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the Hume Hwy (M31) and Canyonleigh Rd interchange (Hoddles Crossroads) at Sutton Forest, August 2013.

Image © Paul Rands