Length:

60 km

Termini:

Northern: Church St (unnumbered) and Stockton St (unnumbered), Nelson Bay

Southern: Pacific Hwy (A43), Adamstown Heights

Miscellaneous:

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Adamstown Heights, Kotara, Waratah, Mayfield, Kooragang, Fern Bay, Fullerton Cove, Williamtown, Salt Ash, Bobs Farm and Nelson Bay

Current: B63

Multiplexed with: A43

Former: 121 122 124

Road Authority Internal Classification: ¹

MR108 (Mayfield to Nelson Bay)

MR316 (Mayfield)

MR326 (Adamstown Heights to Mayfield)

General Information:

B63 serves several purposes through the Newcastle area. Firstly as an inner-western bypass of the CBD of Newcastle, and to connect the holiday town of Nelson Bay with the Pacific Highway and Newcastle CBD. The route also provides connection to Newcastle Airport, Williamtown RAAF base, and the industrial suburb of Kooragang. It consists or both arterial road and rural highway qualities and passes through both industrial, farming and tourist areas.

The Nelson Bay Road section connects the Tomaree and Tilligerry Peninsulas to Newcastle and eventually Sydney. The long and narrow width of the peninsulas means that access to and from them is restricted to this one road.

A43 (Industrial Dr), for 1 km, Mayfield

1965: A seven span, steel truss bridge was built over the south channel of the Hunter River and named Tourle Street Bridge ²

1 November 1971: Stockton Bridge opened to traffic. The bridge, one of the longest in NSW, replaced the vehicular ferries which had taken traffic across the harbour since the 1860s. ^{2 3}

21 December 1972: Fullarton Cove Deviation - opened to traffic. ⁴

26 March 1998: Gan Gan Road to Frost Road Reconstruction - opened to traffic. ⁴

July 2003: Completion of the upgrade of Nelson Bay Road from Bobs Farm to Port Stephens Drive, Anna Bay to four lanes (Stage 1) ²

August 2006: Work commenced on the Nelson Bay Road Duplication - Bob's Farm to Anna Bay (Stage 2) ²

2007: Construction of new Tourle Street Bridge ²

2008: Upgrade of the Nelson Bay Road and Williamtown Drive intersection at Newcastle Airport ³

Adamstown Heights to Nelson Bay

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Cabbage Tree Rd approaching Nelson Bay Rd (B63) and Lavis Ln at Williamtown, August 2013.

Image © Peter Renshaw

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the roundabout with Cabbage Tree Rd, Nelson Bay Rd (B63) and Lavis Ln at Williamtown, December 2016.

Image © Spenser Tan

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Williamtown Dr approaching Nelson Bay Rd (B63) at Williamtown, August 2013.

Image © Peter Renshaw

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the roundabout with Medowie Rd and Nelson Bay Rd (B63) at Williamtown, December 2016.

Image © Spenser Tan

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Williamtown, December 2016.

Image © Spenser Tan

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Richardson Rd, Salt Ash, approaching Salt Ash Av and Nelson Bay Rd (B63), August 2013.

Image © Peter Renshaw

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the roundabout with Nelson Bay Rd (B63) and Lemon Tree Passage Rd at Williamtown, December 2016.

Image © Spenser Tan

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Salamander Way approaching Nelson Bay Rd (B63) at Salamander Bay, August 2013.

Image © Peter Renshaw

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the roundabout with Salamander Way and Nelson Bay Rd (B63) at Salamander Bay, August 2013.

Image © Peter Renshaw

Nelson Bay to Adamstown Heights

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Gan Gan Rd at Anna Bay, August 2013.

Image © Peter Renshaw

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the roundabout with Oakvale Dr and Lemon Tree Passage Dr at Salt Ash, August 2013.

Image © Peter Renshaw