Expressway - The Australian Highway Site: Road Photos & Information: NSW: Decommissioned NR1 (Yallah to Gerringong)

Road Photos & Information: New South Wales

Pacific Highway, New England Highway, John Renshaw Drive, Southern Freeway, Mount Ousley Road and Princes Highway (National Route 1) (Decommissioned)

Yallah to Gerringong

Statistics:

Length:: 1161 km (Yallah to Gerringong: 29 km)
Termini:: Northern: Gold Coast Hwy (SR2) and Pacific Mwy (Tugun Bypass) (M1) at Tweed Heads West; Southern: NSW / VIC Border
Miscellaneous:: Continues Princes Hwy (A1) in Victoria and as Pacific Mwy (M1) at Tweed Heads West
Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:: Albion Park Rail, Oak Flats, Croom, Dunmore, Kiama Downs, Jamberoo, Bombo, Kiama, Kiama Heights and Gerringong

Route Numbering:

Current: M1 A1
Former: 1
Multiplexed with: 157
Road Authority Internal Classification: ¹: HW1 (Yallah to NSW-VIC Border)

General Information:

National Route 1 formed part of the main coastal route between Victoria and Queensland. The route features a mix of rural highway, arterial and freeway design standards. The route forms part of what is collectively known as Highway 1. It is Australia's coastal highway joining all mainland's state capitals and coastal towns circumnavigating the entire Australian continent. At the time it was also the longest numbered highway in the world, covering more than 14 500 km.

In New South Wales, National Route 1 was truncated by National Highway 1 between Beresfield and Wahroonga, by Metroad 1 between Wahroonga and Waterfall and later by M1 at Tweed Heads West, as a result the route was split into 2 sections.

When National Route 1 was initially established, the Pacific Highway section began at the Tweed Heads town centre at the NSW-QLD border. It meandered south, mostly following the coast to Newcastle, then passed through Gosford, Brooklyn, Hornsby, Wahroonga, Chatswood, Artarmon, and North Sydney, concluding at Milsons Point. Subsequently, NR1 transitioned into the Bradfield Hwy, traversed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, weaved through the Sydney CBD via several streets, and finally journeyed south through Wollongong, the NSW South Coast, and towards the Victorian border along the Princes Highway. Since the 1950s, the route has been continually modified and redirected in response to evolving road conditions and changing traffic demands. By the time National Route 1 was decommissioned, substantial segments of the route had been significantly diverted from their original alignments or had undergone major transformations, bearing minimal resemblance to their initial configurations.

Princes Highway:

The Princes Highway was formed from a string of roads linking Sydney to the Illawarra, which later was renumbered as National Route 1. During the 1990s National Route 1 was renumbered to Metroad 1 to improve navigation through the Sydney metropolitan area.

At the time of decommissioning, the Princes Highway section of NR1 formed a coastal route from Yallah, in Wollongong's southern suburbs to the NSW-VIC border, before continuing to Melbourne and into South Australia. The route was a mix of urban arterial road, dual carriageway and also rural highway.

Multiplexes along the route include:

: State Route 157, for 2 km, between Albion Park Rail and Oak Flats.

History:

Princes Highway:: 1858: First bridge over Macquarie Rivulet at Albion Park Rail.; 1872: First bridge over Minnamurra River at Dunmore.; 1920s The Princes Highway between Oak Flats and Dunmore was constructed. ²; 7 June 1926: the Princes Highway comes under a federal and state government £ for £ funding scheme, thus recognising the importance of the highway as major route.; 1931: Deviation of Princes Highway between Oak Flats and Shellharbour (Dunmore). ³; 1934: Realignment of a 3 mile section of Princes Highway in the Dumnore / Minnamurra area. ⁴; October 1936: Completion of a deviation between Kiama and Berry, known as the Broughton Creek and Butchers Hill Deviation. Work started on Gerringong Deviation to eliminate the level crossing over the South Coast railway line. ⁵; 1938: Completion of the Princes Highway deviation at Gerringong. ⁶; 1939: by the middle of the year, 300 miles (or 50% of the then highway) had been paved with bituminous surface.; 1953: Major repair works made to bridge over Minnamurra River at Minnamurra near Kiama, which included replacement of piles, girders, cross beams, decking and several truss members. ⁷; 1956: Bitumen surfacing on Princes Hwy between Sydney and Eden totalling 305 miles out of 321 miles. ⁸; 1962: Advisory speed signs for curves were erected along Princes Highway between Sydney and Nowra. ⁹; 1963: Climbing lanes were constructed on the Princes Highway at Bombo Hill. ¹⁰; 1964: Construction of a five-span concrete bridge, 371 feet long, to replace an old single lane timber truss bridge over Minnamurra River was commenced. ¹¹; 1965: Completion of a five-span reinforced concrete bridge, 371 feet long, over the Minnamurra River north of Kiama. The new bridge replaced an old single-lane timber-truss bridge. ¹²; 1966: A commencement was made on providing a climbing lane on Mt Pleasant south of Kiama. Work was in progress on widening of the carriageway and replacement of an arch culvert near Farmer Street, in Kiama. The intersection of the highway with Fern Street at Gerringong, was improved. ¹³; 1967: Widening of the carriageway and replacement of a narrow arch culvert with a 3-cell 5 feet diameter reinforced concrete pipe culvert near Farmer Street, Kiama, completed. ¹⁴; 1968: Reconstruction and bitumen surfacing on improved alignment near Oak Flats railway station, including improvement of the intersection with Tongarra Road. A new climbing lane at Mt Pleasant (between Gerringong and Kiama) was opened to traffic. ¹⁵; 1972: Completion of a five span reinforced and prestressed concrete bridge over Macquarie Rivulet at Albion Park Rail. The structure is 375 feet long and provides two traffic lanes and one footway. It replaced a timber bridge 166 feet long. Construction of rest area on old highway alignment at Minnamurra River at Minnamurra. ¹⁶; November 2003: Construction begins on North Kiama Bypass; 26 November 2005: The $179 million, 7.6 kilometre North Kiama Bypass (Princes Highway) from Dunmore to Bombo opened to traffic, eliminating a winding section of the highway at Minnamurra as well as removing through traffic from residential streets in Bombo, Kiama Downs and Minnamurra. ¹⁷; October 2008: Northbound on-ramp from South Kiama Drive (former Princes Highway) to current alignment of Princes Highway (Kiama Bypass) opened to traffic. ¹⁸; February 2009: Southbound off-ramp to South Kiama Drive (former Princes Highway) from the current alignment of Princes Highway (Kiama Bypass) opened to traffic. ¹⁸; 21 October 2009: The $108 million Oak Flats to Dunmore upgrade of the Princes Highway was opened to traffic. The roadway provides four lanes divided carriageway, two lanes in each direction with a grade separated interchange linked to Shellharbour Road. The realignment of the highway between Oak Flats and Dunmore links to the North Kiama Bypass. ¹⁹; August 2012: Work begins on the Gerringong Upgrade of the Princes Highway. The upgrade includes 7.5 kilometres of upgraded highway and include two new interchanges with access to Gerringong and Gerroa. ²⁰; 2013: NR1 decommissioned with the introduction of alphanumeric route numbering.

Click or tap here for the construction photos between Yallah and Gerringong

Yallah to Gerringong

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Princes Hwy (NR1) at Yallah approaching Haywards Bay Dr, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Princes Hwy (NR1) at Yallah approaching Haywards Bay Dr, August 2013.

Image © Paul Rands

Haywards Bay Drive:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at Yallah at the Haywards Bay Dr interchange, August 2013. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Haywards Bay Drive:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at Yallah at the Haywards Bay Dr interchange, August 2013. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign within the Haywards Bay Dr interchange at Haywards Bay, November 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Macquarie Rivulet and Illawarra Hwy (NR48) at Haywards Bay, December 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from April 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Entering Albion Park Rail:

Princes Hwy (NR1) as enters the town of Albion Park Rail, December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign on the roundabout at the junction of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Illawarra Hwy (NR48) at Albion Park Rail, November 2009. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Illawarra Highway:

Roundabout (prior to part-time signalisation) at the junction of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Illawarra Hwy (NR48) at Albion Park Rail, November 2009. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from April 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign on the roundabout at the junction of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Illawarra Hwy (NR48) at Albion Park Rail, April 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Part-Time Signals:

Part time signals on the roundabout at the junction of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Illawarra Hwy (NR48) at Albion Park Rail, April 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Albion Park Rail after Illawarra Hwy (NR48) roundabout, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Airport Rd at Albion Park Rail, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Airport Road:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Airport Rd, Albion Park Rail, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Station Rd, Albion Park Rail, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Albion Park Rail approaching Tongarra Rd (SR157 / TD8), November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign at Albion Park Rail approaching Tongarra Rd (SR157 / TD8), November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at Albion Park Rail at the junction with Tongarra Rd (SR157 / TD8), June 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching New Lake Entrance Rd (SR157) at Albion Park Rail, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Albion Park Rail, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching New Lake Entrance Rd (SR157) at Oak Flats, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign approaching New Lake Entrance Rd (SR157) at Oak Flats, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

New Lake Entrance Road:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at the New Lake Entrance Rd (SR157) interchange at Oak Flats, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

New Lake Entrance Road:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at the New Lake Entrance Rd (SR157) interchange at Oak Flats, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Blackbutt approaching Shellharbour Rd (SR151), November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Blackbutt approaching Shellharbour Rd (SR151), November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign at Dunmore approaching Shellharbour Rd (SR151) interchange, November 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Shellharbour Road:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at Shellharbour Rd (SR151) interchange at Blackbutt, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Shellharbour Road:

Advance directional sign on the off-ramp to Shellharbour Rd (SR151) at Blackbutt, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Shellharbour Road:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at Shellharbour Rd (SR151) interchange at Blackbutt, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Dunmore, approaching Tabbita Rd, November 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Tabbita Road:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at the Tabbita Rd interchange, November 2010.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Dunmore approaching Riverside Dr (former Princes Hwy), November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Riverside Drive:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at the Riverside Dr interchange, Dunmore, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Minnamurra, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Changeable Sign:

Changeable sign at Minnamurra approaching the truck parking bay / heavy vehicle inspection bay, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Changeable Sign:

Changeable sign at Minnamurra approaching the truck parking bay / heavy vehicle inspection bay, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Changeable Sign:

Changeable sign at Minnamurra approaching the truck parking bay / heavy vehicle inspection bay, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Changeable Sign:

Changeable sign at Minnamurra approaching the truck parking bay / heavy vehicle inspection bay, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Changeable Sign:

Changeable sign at Minnamurra at the ramp to the truck parking bay / heavy vehicle inspection bay, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Drectional Sign:

AD sign at Minnamurra approaching Riverside Dr, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

High Wind Area:

High wind area warning sign approaching the bridge over Minnamurra River at Minnamurra, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Minnamurra River:

Princes Hwy (NR1) as it crosses Minnamurra River at Minnamurra, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Minnamurra River:

Princes Hwy (NR1) as it crosses Minnamurra River at Minnamurra, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Kiama Downs:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at Kiama Downs, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Kiama Downs approaching Riverside Dr, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Riverside Drive:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at Riverside Dr interchange, Kiama Downs, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Riverside Drive:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at Riverside Dr interchange, Kiama Downs, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Riverside Drive:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at Riverside Dr interchange, Kiama Downs, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign at Bombo approaching Gipps St, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Bombo approaching Gipps St, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Bombo approaching Gipps St, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign on Princes Hwy (NR1) at Bombo approaching Gipps St, December 2006.

Image © Paul Rands

Gipps Street:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at the Gipps St exit at Bombo, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Kiama, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Kiama approaching South Kiama Dr (former Princes Hwy), November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Princes Highway:

Southbound on Princes Hwy (NR1) at Kiama, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Kiama approaching South Kiama Dr (former Princes Hwy), November 2009. The bridge is Saddleback Mountain Rd.

Image © Paul Rands

South Kiama Drive:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at the South Kiama Dr interchange, Kiama, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

South Kiama Drive:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at the South Kiama Dr interchange, Kiama, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Weir Street:

Princes Hwy (NR1) as it passes under Weir St, Kiama Heights, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Reasurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign in the Kiama Bends at Kiama Heights, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Kiama Bends:

Kiama Bends at Kiama Heights, November 2009.

Image © Paul Rands

Gerringong to Yallah

Kiama Heights:

Princes Hwy (NR1) as it winds its way through the Kiama Heights area, September 2009.

Services Sign:

Services sign at Kiama Heights, September 2009.

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching South Kiama Dr (former Princes Hwy) at Kiama Heights, September 2009.

Trailblazer:

Grand Pacific Drive trailblazer approaching South Kiama Dr at Kiama Heights, September 2009.

Weir Street:

Princes Hwy (NR1) passing under Weir St, South Kiama, September 2009.

Saddleback Mountain Road:

Princes Hwy (NR1) passing under Saddleback Mountain Rd at South Kiama, September 2009.

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Kiama, approaching Riverside Dr, September 2009.

Entering Kiama:

Princes Hwy (NR1) passing through Kiama, September 2009.

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Spring Creek Dr (SR80 / TD9) at Kiama, September 2009.

Spring Creek Drive:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Spring Ck Dr (SR80 / TD9) at Kiama, September 2009.

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Kiama, approaching Kiama Cemetery, Panama St and Riverside Dr, June 2006.

Panama Street & Riverside Drive:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at the Panama St and Riverside Dr interchange, Bombo, September 2009.

Panama Street & Riverside Drive:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at the Panama St and Riverside Dr interchange, Bombo, September 2009.

Panama Street & Riverside Drive:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at the Panama St and Riverside Dr interchange, Bombo, September 2009.

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Kiama Downs, September 2009.

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign at Dunmore, approaching Tabbita Rd, September 2009.

Tabbita Road:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at the Tabbita Rd interchange, September 2009.

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Dunmore approaching Shellharbour Rd (SR151) interchange, November 2010. Note the partially missing coverplate over the alphanumeric route number. Prior to the roll out of alphanumeric route numbering, signs had a coverplate with a shielded route number on it that was placed over the alphanumeric route number.

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign at Dunmore approaching Shellharbour Rd (SR151) interchange, November 2010.

Shellharbour Road Interchange:

Princes Hwy (NR1) at the Shellharbour Rd (SR151) interchange at Dunmore, November 2010.

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on the off-ramp to Shellharbour Rd (SR151) and Lindsays Ln at Dunmore, November 2010.

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign on the off-ramp to Shellharbour Rd (SR151) and Lindsays Ln at Dunmore, November 2010.

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the end of the off-ramp to Shellharbour Rd (SR151) and Lindsays Ln at Dunmore, November 2010.

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign within the interchange with Shellharbour Rd (SR151) at Dunmore, November 2010.

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Albion Park Rail, approaching Tongarra Rd (SR157 / TD8), June 2013.

Tongarra Road:

Corner of Princes Hwy (NR1) and Tongarra Rd (SR157 / TD8) at Albion Park Rail, June 2013. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from June 2006.

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign on the roundabout with Illawarra Hwy (NR48) at Albion Park Rail, December 2012.

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign on the roundabout with Illawarra Hwy (NR48) at Albion Park Rail, December 2012.

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign near Macquarie Rivulet at Albion Park Rail, approaching Yallah Rd & Haywards Bay Rd interchange, December 2012. This sign has since been removed and was only in place for a few months.

Click or tap here for the continuation of NR1 between Gerringong and South Nowra
Click or tap here for the continuation of NR1 between Gwynneville and Yallah

¹ NSW Government, Roads and Traffic Authority, Schedule of Classified Roads and State & Regional Roads, 31 January 2011.
² NSW Government, Roads and Maritime Services, Projects, Princes Highway Upgrade, Completed Projects, Oak Flats to Dunmore - Realignment of the Princes Highway, Recent Project History.
³ NSW Government, Main Roads Board, Annual Report, 1930-31.
⁴ NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1933-34.
⁵ NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1936-37.
⁶ NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1937-38.
⁷ NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1953-54.
⁸ NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1955-56.
⁹ NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1961-62.
¹⁰ NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1962-63.
¹¹ NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1963-64.
¹² NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1964-65.
¹³ NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1965-66.
¹⁴ NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1966-67.
¹⁵ NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1967-68.
¹⁶ NSW Government, Department of Main Roads, Annual Report, 1971-72.
¹⁷ NSW Government, Roads and Maritime Services, Projects, Princes Highway Upgrade, Completed Projects, North Kiama Bypass.
¹⁸ NSW Government, Roads and Maritime Services, Projects, Princes Highway Upgrade, Completed Projects, Kiama Bypass Access Ramps.
¹⁹ NSW Government, Roads and Maritime Services, Projects, Princes Highway Upgrade, Completed Projects, Oak Flats to Dunmore - Realignment of the Princes Highway.
²⁰ NSW Government, Roads and Maritime Services, Projects, Princes Highway Upgrade, Gerringong Upgrade.