Road Photos & Information: Queensland
Gateway Motorway, Logan Motorway, Ipswich Motorway, Warrego Highway, Landsborough Highway and Barkly Highway (M2 / A2)
Marburg to Toowoomba
Statistics:
- Length:
- 2031 km (Marburg to Toowoomba: 70 km)
- Termini:
- Eastern: Pacific Motorway (M1 / M3) and Gateway Motorway (M1), Eight Mile Plains
- Western: NT-QLD Border, Camooweal
- Miscellaneous:
- Continues as Barkly Highway (NH66) in Northern Territory
- Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:
- Marburg, Minden, Plainland, Gatton, Grantham, Helidon Spa and Helidon
Route Numbering:
- Current: A2
- Former: A2 54
- Road Authority Internal Classification: 1
- 18A (Ipswich to Helidon Spa)
General Information:
M2 / A2 is the main link from Brisbane to the Northern Territory. It varies from motorway standard in the Brisbane metropolitan area, to dual carriageway rural highway standard between Brisbane and Toowoomba, and rural highway standard beyond Toowoomba. The route is the only sealed link between Flinders Highway and Capricorn Highway apart from Gregory Development Road between Emerald and Charters Towers.
The Landsborough Highway runs through vast tracts of land that was once occupied by William Landsborough, an Australian explorer of the 19th century. The Barkly Highway is the only major route connecting Queensland and the Northern Territory.
History:
- 1849: Surveyor J.C. Burnett found a better route to the north to replace the road from Brisbane over the Toowoomba Range (via Gormans Gap, south of the city). This new route was to later become Toll Bar Road. 2
- 1853: A gang of twelve workers cleared and constructed a better road along the route of what would become Toll Bar Road. 2
- January 1855: Toll Bar Road opens. A simple gatehouse was erected at the top of the range, near the current intersection of Ipswich and Curtis Streets in Toowoomba. A bar crossing the road and a fence either side stopped traffic and enabled toll collection of approximately two pence. Toll Bar Road consisted of a rough stone pavement on very steep grades. As the road was unsealed and very steep, with grades as much as 14%, it was subject to severe scouring during heavy rains. 2
- 13 December 1921: Brisbane-Toowoomba Road was declared a Main Road under the Main Roads Act, 1920. 2
- 24 September 1932: The Main Roads Commission proclaimed the Toll Bar Road a State Highway when it became part of the Lockyer-Darling Downs Highway. 2
- 1938: A major upgrade of the range road took place. The most significant change was to the uppermost section, with the new route reaching the top of the range further north. 2
- December 1939: Work to upgrade the range road completed. 2
- 29 January 1940: A two-lane bitumen Toowoomba range road was formally opened by the Honourable H.A. Bruce, Minister for Public Works, MLA. The new range road was a vast improvement on the old Toll Bar Road as it provided a 6.1 m wide bitumen surfaced pavement over a length of 3.7 km and climbed a total height of 350 m. The average rate of climb was nearly 9%, although the actual grades varied between 7.5% and 10.5% with the exception of a short flattening in the vicinity of a saddle which had become known as "Essex Evans" due to the fact that the poet George Essex Evans (1863-1909) once resided at this location. 2
- 1964: The Main Roads Department commenced the duplication of the road at an estimated cost of £185 000. By 1964 the traffic volume had reached 2300 vehicles per day, of which approximately 500 were heavy trucks and semi-trailers. The alignment of the upgrading project was along the existing road from the foot of the range proper to the saddle at Essex Evans. However, an entirely new up-lane from Essex Evans to the top was constructed on the southern side of the existing road. The new up-lane was slightly longer, with improved horizontal and vertical alignment and an increased width of 7.3 m. The basic route used up until 2019, has remained unaltered since 1940. 2
- 10 October 1975: Plainland to Laidley Creek Duplication opened. 3
- 21 October 1991: Helidon Spa to Withcott Duplication opened by then Minister John Flynn. 3
- 2004: Warrego Highway (NH54) renumbered to A2 under the QMR Strategic Tourism Routes plan. 4
- 2006: Laidley-Plainland interchange on the Warrego Highway upgrade completed. 5
- April 2016: Construction begins on Toowoomba Range Second Crossing.
- 8 September 2019: Toowoomba Range Second Crossing completely open to traffic.
Click or tap here for the former alignment between Marburg and Toowoomba
Marburg to Toowoomba
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Minden approaching Tallegalla Rd and Lowood-Minden Rd, December 2020. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Michael Greenslade from June 2009.
Image © Rob Tilley
Tallegalla Road:
Warrego Hwy (A2) at the junction with Tallegalla Rd, Minden, December 2020.
Image ©
Lowood-Minden Road:
Warrego Hwy (A2) at the junction with Lowood-Minden Rd, Minden, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Minden, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Hattonvale for Summerholm Rd, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Plainland for Laidley-Plainland Rd, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Plainland for Laidley-Plainland Rd, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Entering Plainland:
Warrego Hwy (A2) as it enters the town of Plainland, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Plainland for Laidley-Plainland Rd, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Plainland for Laidley-Plainland Rd, December 2020.
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Plainland for Laidley-Plainland Rd, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Laidley-Plainland Road Interchange:
Warrego Hwy (A2) at the interchange with Laidley-Plainland Rd, Plainland, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on the off-ramp to Laidley-Plainland Rd, Plainland, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Touring Route Reassurance Sign:
Touring route reassurance sign at Plainland, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Forest Hill-Fernvale Rd, Forest Hill, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Forest Hill-Fernvale Road:
Warrego Hwy (A2) at the intersection with Forest Hill-Fernvale Rd, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Forest Hill-Fernvale Road:
Warrego Hwy (A2) at the intersection with Forest Hill-Fernvale Rd, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Forest Hill-Fernvale Road:
Warrego Hwy (A2) at the intersection with Forest Hill-Fernvale Rd, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Crowley Vale, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Crowley Vale, approaching Crowley Vale Rd, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Crowley Vale Road:
Warrego Hwy (A2) at Crowley Vale, approaching Crowley Vale Rd, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at the staggered junction of Crowley Vale Rd and Harm Dr, Crowley Vale, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at the staggered junction of Crowley Vale Rd and Harm Dr, Crowley Vale, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Bypassed Town Sign:
Bypassed town sign at Lawes, approaching Eastern Dr (SR80), December 2020. Eastern Dr is a former Warrego Hwy alignment.
Image © Rob Tilley
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Lawes, approaching Eastern Dr (SR80), December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Gatton approaching Eastern Dr (SR80), December 2020. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Michael Greenslade from April 2004.
Image © Rob Tilley
Entering Gatton:
Warrego Hwy (A2) as it enters the town of Gatton, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Gatton, approaching Eastern Dr (SR80), December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Eastern Drive:
Warrego Hwy (A2) at the Eastern Dr (SR80) interchange, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
NEW Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Gatton on the off-ramp to Eastern Dr (SR80) and Gatton-Esk Rd at Gatton, June 2025.
Image © Rob Tilley
NEW Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign assembly on the roundabout with Eastern Dr (SR80) and Gatton-Esk Rd at Gatton, June 2025.
Image © Rob Tilley
NEW Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign assembly on the roundabout with Eastern Dr (SR80) and Gatton-Esk Rd at Gatton, June 2025.
Image © Rob Tilley
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Gatton, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Helidon, approaching Gatton-Helidon Rd and Lawlers Rd, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Helidon approaching Helidon-Gatton Rd and Lawlers Rd, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Helidon approaching Helidon-Gatton Rd and Lawlers Rd, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Gatton-Helidon Road and Lawlers Road Interchange:
Warrego Hwy (A2) at the interchange with Gatton-Helidon Rd and Lawlers Rd interchange a Helidon, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Helidon, approaching James Hedges Park service road, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Helidon, February 2022. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign on Warrego Hwy (A2) at the junction with James Hedges Park service road, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Touring Route Reassurance Sign:
Touring route reassurance sign at Helidon Spa, approaching Toowoomba Connection Rd (A21), December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Heavy Vehicle Restriction Sign:
Sign approaching Toowoomba Connection Rd (A21), indicating road restrictions for heavy vehicles, Helidon Spa, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Helidon Spa, approaching Toowoomba Connection Rd (A21), February 2022.
Image © Rob Tilley
Bypassed Town Sign:
Bypassed town sign at Helidon Spa, approaching Toowoomba Connection Rd (A21), February 2022.
Image © Rob Tilley
Trailblazer:
Reassurance marker sign at Helidon Spa, near the U-turn bay, December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Helidon Spa, approaching Toowoomba Connection Rd (A21), February 2022.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Helidon Spa, approaching Toowoomba Connection Rd (A21), February 2022. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Helidon Spa, approaching Toowoomba Connection Rd (A21), December 2020.
Image © Rob Tilley
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign approaching Toowoomba Connection Rd (A21), Helidon Spa, February 2022. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Dean Sherry from January 2019.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Toowoomba Connection Rd (A21), Helidon Spa, February 2022. Prior to September 2019, A21 was numbered A2. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from December 2020. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Dean Sherry from January 2019.
Image © Rob Tilley
Toowoomba Connection Road Interchange:
Warrego Hwy (A2) at the Toowoomba Connection Rd (A21) interchange, Helidon Spa, December 2020. A21 is a former alignment of Warrego Hwy. The A2 route number on the sign should be prefixed with 'To' and the word Brisbane should be in mixed case FHWA E-modified font.
Image © Rob Tilley
Toowoomba to Marburg
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on the Warrego Hwy at Helidon, approaching the interchange with Turner Street and Gatton-Helidon Road, April 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign on the Warrego Hwy at Helidon, approaching the interchange with Turner Street and Gatton-Helidon Road, April 2011.
Image © Rob Tilley
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign on the Warrego Hwy at Helidon, approaching the interchange with Turner Street and Gatton-Helidon Road, April 2011.
Image © Rob Tilley
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign on the Warrego Hwy at Helidon, at the interchange with Turner Street and Gatton-Helidon Road, April 2011.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Gatton-Esk Rd & Eastern Dr:
Advance directional sign approaching the interchange with Gatton-Esk Road and Eastern Drive (SR80) at Gatton, April 2005.
Image © Rob Tilley
NEW Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Gatton-Esk Rd, Gatton, approaching Warrego Hwy (A2) and Eastern Dr (SR80) interchange, June 2025.
Image © Rob Tilley
NEW Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign facing Gatton-Esk Rd, Gatton, at the Warrego Hwy (A2) and Eastern Dr (SR80) interchange, June 2025.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Warrego Hwy (A2) approaching Forest Hill-Fernvale Rd at Crowley Vale, April 2011.
Image © Rob Tilley
Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign at Glenmore Grove, April 2011.
Image © Rob Tilley
Distance Sign:
RD sign at Plainland, April 2011.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Lowood-Minden Rd and Tallegalla Rd at Minden, April 2011.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Queen St Marburg approaching Warrego Hwy (A2), June 2009.
Image © Michael Greenslade
2 QLD Government, Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Roads, Edition No 5, (Toowoomba Range Tunnels Report), March 2008.
3 Tyler Bullock.
4 QLD Government, Department of Transport and Main Roads, Strategic Tourism Routes Revision 12.
5 QLD Government, Ministerial Media Statements, Federal Government own worst enemy on roads: Lucas, 25 July 2006.