Road Photos & Information: Queensland
New England Highway and Cunningham Highway (National Highway 15)
Warwick to Aratula
Statistics:
- Length:
- 220 km (Warwick to Aratula: 71 km)
- Termini:
- Northern: Cunningham Hwy (M15), Redbank Plains Rd (SR60) and Mary St (SR61), Blackstone
- Southern: NSW-QLD Border, Wallangarra
- Miscellaneous:
- Continues as New England Highway (A15) in NSW
- Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:
- Warwick, Womina, Glengallan, Gladfield, Maryvale, Tregony, South Branch, Middle Branch, Mt Edwards and Aratula
Route Numbering:
- Current: 15
- Multiplexed with: 42
- Former: 15
- Forthcoming Alphanumeric: A15
- Road Authority Internal Classification: 1
- 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 National Highway 15 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
History:
- 2007: Cunningham Highway widened and sections of the pavement improved between Cunningham's Gap and Freestone Creek. 3
- 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. 4
- 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. 4
- 2020: Work commenced on the reconstruction of the intersection of Cunningham Hwy (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 NH15.
Warwick to Aratula
Start Limited Access Road:
Sign announcing access restrictions as you enter Warwick, March 2006, northbound.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Bracker Road:
Northbound as you approach the Bracker Road intersection in the area known as Rosenthal Heights at Warwick. March 2006.
Image © Paul Rands
End Limited Access Road:
Sign announcing the end access restrictions at Warwick, March 2006, northbound.
Image © Paul Rands
Level Crossing:
Northbound near Glen Road at Warwick as you travel along Wallace Street (New England Highway), March 2006.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching the NR42 / NH15 junction:
Northbound at Warwick as you approach the Wallace Street and Wood Street (Cunningham Hwy) junction. March 2006.
Image © Paul Rands
NR42 / NH15 junction:
At Warwick at the Wallace Street and Wood Street (Cunningham Hwy) junction. March 2006. Note the older style traffic signal masts.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign as you head east along Wood Street at Warwick, March 2006. Note the additional sign for the Gold Coast - access to the Gold Coast is via the turn off to Beaudesert at Fassifern, near Aratula.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign for Albion Street:
Eastbound on Wood Street as you approach the hard left turn to continue along the highway, March 2006 at Warwick.
Image © Paul Rands
Corner of Albion & Wood Streets:
Turn lane for the continuation of the highway at Warwick, eastbound, March 2006.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign as you drive north along Albion Street at Warwick, March 2006.
Image © Paul Rands
Black Distance Sign:
Black RD Sign as you start to leave the central area of Warwick, heading northeast at the Alice Street intersection, before you cross the Condamine River. March 2006.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign Womina, at the Glengallan Rd intersection. December 2002.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Road Train Sign:
Sign prohibiting road trains beyond this point. Taken eastbound outside the road train assembly area at Womina near Warwick, March 2006.
Image © Paul Rands
Cunningham & New England Highways Split:
Advance directional sign for the junction of the New England Highway (becomes A3) and the Cunningham Highway (the continuation of NH15). March 2006, northbound at Glengallan.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Glengallan approaching New England Hwy (then NR42, now A3), December 2002.
Image © Michael Greenslade
New England Highway & Cunningham Highway:
New England Hwy (NH15 / NR42) at the junction with New England Hwy (then NR42, now A3) and Cunningham Hwy (NH15) at Glengallan, December 2002.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Distance Sign:
RD sign on the Cunninham Hwy after the A3 / NH15 junction at Glengallan. March 2006.
Image © Paul Rands
Maryvale Area:
Typical highway conditions in the Maryvale area, March 2006.
Image © Paul Rands
Cunnighams Gap:
Cunningham Hwy (NH15) at Tregony, approaching Cunninghams Gap, December 2002.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Middle Branch:
Brisbane-bound as you cross the Great Dividing Range via Cunninham's Gap at Middle Branch, March 2006.
Image © Paul Rands
Reduce Speed Sign:
Custom reduce speed sign warning of the dangers of the road down the mountain at Cunningham's Gap. March 2006, Middle Branch.
Image © Paul Rands
Typical Conditions:
The road conditions that can be expected in the Cunninham's Gap / Middle Branch area, March 2006.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Lake Moogerah Road:
Eastbound AD sign at Mt Edwards, March 2006.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign after the Lake Moogera Road intersection at Mt Edwards, March 2006.
Image © Paul Rands
Entering Aratula:
Sign announcing the town of Aratula, with NH15 trailblazer, March 2006.
Image © Paul Rands
Aratula Town Centre:
Approaching the main part of Aratula, March 2006, as you head northeast.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign as you approach the Rosevale-Aratula Road at Aratula. March 2006.
Image © Paul Rands
Aratula to Warwick
Great Dividing Range:
Cunningham Hwy (NH15) at Tarome approaching the Great Dividing Range, May 2012.
Image © Michael Greenslade
NEW Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Glengallan after the junction with New England Hwy (A3), June 2025. Note the lack of route numbers and road names.
Image © Rob Tilley
NEW Touring Route Sign:
Reassurance sign for the Australia's Country Way touring route, just after the junction with New England Hwy (A3) at Glengallan, June 2025. Note the incorrect route number, A3 ended at the previous intersection.
Image © Rob Tilley
NEW Road Conditions Sign:
Automated road conditions sign at Sladevale, June 2025.
Image © Rob Tilley
NEW Entering Greater Warwick Area:
Cunningham Hwy (NH15 / NR42) at Sladevale, as it enters the Warwick area, June 2025.
Image © Rob Tilley
NEW Entering Warwick:
Cunningham Hwy (NH15 / NR42) as it enters the Warwick urban area, June 2025.
Image © Rob Tilley
NEW Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Warwick, approaching Yangan Rd (TD1), June 2025.
Image © Rob Tilley
NEW Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign assembly at the junction with Yangan Rd (TD1), Warwick, June 2025.
Image © Rob Tilley
NEW Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Warwick, approaching Victoria St (TD11), June 2025.
Image © Rob Tilley
NEW Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Warwick, approaching Fitzroy St, June 2025.
Image © Rob Tilley
NEW Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the junction with Fitzroy St, Warwick, June 2025.
Image © Rob Tilley
NEW Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Wood St and Albion St, Warwick, June 2025. NH15 / NR42 turns right at this intersection.
Image © Rob Tilley
NEW Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Wood St and Albion St, Warwick, June 2025. NH15 / NR42 turns right at this intersection.
Image © Rob Tilley
NEW Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the junction with Wood St and Albion St, Warwick, June 2025. NH15 / NR42 turns right at this intersection.
Image © Rob Tilley
2 Tyler Bullock.
3 QLD Government, Office of Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for State Development, Trade and Innovation.
4 QLD Government, Department of Transport and Main Roads.