Length:

225 km

Termini:

Northern: Warrego Hwy (M2) and Ipwsich Mwy (M2), Dinmore

Southern: NSW-QLD Border, Wallangarra

Miscellaneous:

Continues as New England Highway (A15) in NSW

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Wallangarra, Wyberba, Lyra, Ballandean, Fletcher, Glen Aplin, Severnlea, Stanthorpe, Applethorpe, The Summit, Thulimbah, Cottonvale, Dalveen, Braeside, The Glen, Warwick, Womina, Glengallan, Gladfield, Maryvale, Tregony, South Branch, Middle Branch, Mt Edwards, Aratula, Fassifern, Silverdale, Warrill View, Mutdapilly, Willowbank, Yamanto, Flinders View, Raceview, Blackstone, New Chum, Ebbw Vale and Dinmore

Current: M15 A15

Multiplexed with: 42 93 16

Former: 15 15

Road Authority Internal Classification: ¹

17B (Dinmore to Warwick)

22C (Warwick to Wallangarra)

General Information:

The New England and Cunningham Highways link South East Queensland to southern freight markets including Sydney, and is a major freight route to and from regional communities in northwest New South Wales and southwest Queensland. The M15 and A15 segments of the Cunningham Highway and New England Highway form part of the National Land Transport Network system for which the Commonwealth Government has full funding responsibility. ²

The route features a mix of rural highway standards (southwest of Ipswich to NSW border) and freeway standards (through the eastern suburbs of Ipswich).

As of 2022, the conversion from the National Highway 15 route number to M15 / A15 route number is a work in progress, with a mix of both numbers along the route.

National Route 42, for 14 km, between Warwick and Glengallon

State Route 93, for 4 km, Yamanto

Tourist Drive 16, for 2 km, between Middle Rd (TD16), Purga and Ipswich-Rosewood Rd (SR93), Amberley.

1978: Construction commenced on the current alignment of Cunningham Hwy between Dinmore and Ripley. ²

July 1978: Government map released showing Stanthorpe bypassed to the west of the town centre. ³

7 December 1984: The Cunningham Hwy project between Dinmore and Ripley was opened by premier Sir Joh Bjelke Petersen. It was four lanes for most of its length. ²

November 1995: The Ripley road interchange was completed. ²

23 December 1997: Work performed at the Warrego Highway underpass to lower the road due to the 1958 bridge being quite low. ²

2007: Cunningham Highway widened and sections of the pavement improved between Cunningham's Gap and Freestone Creek. ⁴

March 2008: Safety improvements at the 8 Mile Intersection - the corner of New England Hwy and Cunningham Hwy at Glengallan, 12 km east of Warwick. ⁵

June 2008: Completion of a 3 km section, including lengthening existing overtaking lanes and widening on the Cunningham Highway east of Warwick was opened to motorists. ⁵

2008: Construction commences on the interchange at Yamanto for the Centenary Highway extension. ⁵

April 2011: Correspondence from the Department of Transport and Main Roads refers to the section of Cunningham Hwy between Dinmore and Blackstone as numbered as M15. ⁶

2012: Signage upgrades show M15 as the route number between Dinmore and Blackstone.

2019: A15 appears on signage in the Stanthorpe area.

2020: Work commenced on the reconstruction of the intersection of Cunningham Hwy (A15 / NH15) and New England Hwy (A3) at 8-mile, north of Warwick. Works included alignment changes and an overpass carrying traffic southbound from A3 onto A15 / NH15.

2025: A15 signage appears at Amberley, at the intersection with Ipswich-Rosewood Rd (SR93).

NSW Border to Dinmore

NEW Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at The Summit, facing Granite Belt Dr (TD3), June 2025.

Image © Rob Tilley

NEW Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the corner of New England Hwy (A15) and Granite Belt Dr (TD3), Dalveen, June 2025. Granite Belt Dr is a former alignment of New England Hwy.

Image © Rob Tilley

NEW Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Blackstone, approaching the interchange with Mary St and Redbank Plains Rd (SR61), June 2025.

Image © Rob Tilley

NEW Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Blackstone, approaching the interchange with Mary St and Redbank Plains Rd (SR61), June 2025.

Image © Rob Tilley

NEW Mary Street & Redbank Plains Road:

Cunningham Hwy (M15) at the Mary St and Redbank Plains Rd interchange, Blackstone, June 2025.

Image © Rob Tilley

Barclay Street:

Cunningham Hwy (M15) as it passes under Barclay St at Blackstone, March 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Blackstone, approaching Aberdare St interchange, June 2025.

Image © Rob Tilley

NEW Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign at Blackstone, approaching Aberdare St interchange, June 2025.

Image © Rob Tilley

UPDATED Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign with remnant NH15 shield at Dinmore, approaching Aberdare St, June 2025. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from March 2012.

Image © Rob Tilley

Aberdare Street Interchange:

Freeway green ID sign and standard green ID sign at the Aberdare St interchange, Ebbw Vale, March 2012.

Image © Rob Tilley

Warrego Highway & Ipswich Motorway:

Cunningham Hwy (M15) as it passes under Warrego Hwy (M2) and joins Ipswich Mwy (M2) at Dinmore, March 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW End M15 / Start M2:

Sign indicating the end of M15 at Dinmore, at the interchange with Warrego Hwy (M2), June 2025.

Image © Rob Tilley

Dinmore to NSW Border

Warrego Highway & Brisbane Road Interchange:

Cunningham Hwy (M15) at the Warrego Hwy (M2) interchange and also approaching Brisbane Rd interchange at Dinmore, June 2012.

Image © Justin Cozart

Brisbane Road Interchange:

Cunningham Hwy (M15) at the Brisbane Rd interchange at Dinmore, June 2012.

Image © Justin Cozart

Dinmore:

Cunningham Hwy (M15) at Dinmore, June 2012.

Image © Justin Cozart

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Cunningham Hwy (M15) at New Chum approaching the Redbank Plains Rd (SR61) interchange, June 2012.

Image © Justin Cozart

Barlcay Street:

Cunningham Hwy (M15) as it passes under Barclay St at New Chum, March 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Cunningham Hwy (M15) at New Chum approaching the Redbank Plains Rd (SR61) interchange, June 2012.

Image © Justin Cozart

Redbank Plains Road Interchange:

Cunningham Hwy (M15) at the Redbank Plains Rd (SR61) interchange in New Chum, June 2012. This is where M15 ends.

Image © Justin Cozart

Freeway Green Sign:

Freeway green End Of Motorway sign on the off-ramp to Redbank Plains Rd (SR61) at New Chum, March 2012. This sign has since been replaced.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on the off-ramp from Cunningham Hwy (M15) to Redbank Plains Rd (SR61) at New Chum, June 2012.

Image © Justin Cozart

Redbank Plains Road:

Directional signage at the end of the ramp from Cunningham Hwy (M15) at New Chum, June 2012.

Image © Justin Cozart

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Redbank Plains Rd (SR61) at the interchange with Cunningham Hwy (M15 / NH15) at New Chum, March 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Touring Route Sign:

Reassurance sign for the Australia's Country Way touring route, Warwick, June 2025.

Image © Rob Tilley

NEW Entering Stanthorpe:

New England Hwy (A15) as it enters the town of Stanthorpe, June 2025.

Image © Rob Tilley

NEW Trailblazer:

A15 and touring route trailblazer at Stanthorpe, approaching Mayfair Ln, June 2025.

Image © Rob Tilley

NEW Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Stanthorpe, approaching High St (TD7) and Old Caves Rd, June 2025.

Image © Rob Tilley

NEW Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Stanthorpe, approaching High St (TD7) and Old Caves Rd, June 2025.

Image © Rob Tilley

NEW High Street & Old Caves Road:

New England Hwy (A15) at the junction with High St (TD7) and Old Caves Rd, Stanthorpe, June 2025. High St is a former alignment of the New England Hwy.

Image © Rob Tilley