Great Northern Highway

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States:

Western Australia

The Great Northern Highway is a highway in the north and west of the Australian state of Western Australia. It connects the state's capital, Perth, with its most northern port city, Wyndham. With 3204 km it is the longest highway in Australia. The largest part is applied two lanes ( with the exception of some single-lane bridges in the Kimberley region ).

He is one of the most remote paved roads in the world: You can drive hundreds of miles without encountering even a rest stop. Economically, it is a vital link, this, insofar as it grants access to the resource-rich regions of the Pilbara and Kimberley. In these areas depend all major economic sectors, such as mining or tourism, off the highway.

History

Prior to the 1960s the Great Northern Highway consisted mainly of a series of roadways that Perth with the rural areas combined ( with the exception of some sections of higher quality in the Wheatbelt ). In the 1950s, however, several things happened that accelerated the development of the highway. The Beef -roads - plan of the federal government encouraged the Road in the Kimberley region, which meant that cattle trucks could carry to the ports. There, in the 1960s a paved, one-lane connection between Broome and Derby was completed, as well as a number of access roads to the port of Wyndham.

Meanwhile, iron ore was discovered in the Pilbara region. Thus began the important improvements of the highway that took place both in the 1960s and in the 1970s - the section between Meekatharra and Newman in 1978 was opened after he had been expanded to two tracks. In the same year the road between Halls Creek and Wyndham was expanded two-lane, and soon after (1981 ) opened the 476 km long stretch between Port Hedland and Broome.

In the 1980s, the work was accelerated as part of the program of road works on the occasion of the bicentennial of Australia. In 1986, the developed route between Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek was opened after completion of five years of work. This marked the completion of the Highway 1 route, a route that ( the coastal highway ) included the already completed North-West-Coastal-Highway-/Brand-Highway-Verbindung between Perth and Port Hedland. Between Newman and Port Hedland, the Great Northern Highway was built in the 1980s, replaced by a new route to the west was the original route. Previously latter Nullagine and Marble Bar had crossed. The new connection between Newman and Port Hedland was completed in 1989; This event marked the completion of the attachment of the Great Northern Highway ( Route inland ) and the completion of the federally funded National Highway throughout Australia.

Course

The Great Northern Highway branches in Midland, a northeastern suburb of Perth, the Great Eastern Highway (R1 ) to the north. For about 37 km, it runs along the east bank of the Swan River. In the Brand Highway Muchea (R1 ) branches off to the northwest, during the Great Northern Highway continues to the north - northeast by interspersed with salt lakes country about Mount Magnet, Meekatharra to Newman.

In Newman, the road bends to the west-north -west to lead after about 120 km further north again. Approx. 30 km from Port Hedland opens the North West Coastal Highway ( R1) from the west, and the Great Northern Highway continues its path along the coast continued until shortly before Broome. Broome itself is a 24 km-long impasse, the Broome Road, connected, as well as the Derby further east with a 41- km-long Derby Highway.

The Great Northern Highway pulls on the southern edge of the Kimberley region eastward through the interior, reached Fitzroy Crossing and describes an arc on the southeast and east to the northeast until it reaches Halls Creek. Shortly before, or in Halls Creek, lead important Outbackpisten from the Northern Territory, the Tanami Road ( S5) and the Duncan Road ( R80 ).

The Great Northern Highway runs from Halls Creek to the north, almost parallel to the Northern Territory border, but in about 50-100 km distance from this. West of Kununurra is coming from the east Victoria Highway (N1 ) is connected and a few kilometers north of it coming from the west Gibb River Road, a Outbackpiste that opens up the center of the Kimberley region. About 50 km to the ends of the Great Northern Highway in the port town of Wyndham.

Numbering

  • Midland (Perth ) to the junction of the Brand Highway at Muchea
  • Midland (Perth ) to the junction of the North West Coastal Highway at Port Hedland
  • From the junction of the North West Coastal Highway at Port Hedland to the junction of the Victoria Highway in Kununurra
  • Unnumbered from the branch of the Victoria Highway at Kununurra to Wyndham

Tourism

The highway section immediately north of Perth runs along the eastern Swan Valley, a large number of visitors attracts by its numerous wineries, breweries and restaurants. Further north, the canyons and the associated area of ​​the Karijini National Park and the mines of the Pilbara inland; but the alternative possible North West Coastal Highway between Perth and Port Hedland provides access to the Indian Ocean and its numerous natural attractions and is therefore preferred by the tourists.

In the Kimberley region can be reached via Highway many natural attractions near the road, about the Purnululu National Park, the Wolfe Creek Crater, the Gibb River Road and Broome. He is also a part of the route to the Northern Territory. Especially from April to October, in cooler weather, pull these attractions to local, national and international tourists, many of which use caravans from all-wheel jeep.

Hazard potential

The Great Northern Highway threatens travelers with various serious dangers, both seasonal and new. Stray cattle and other grazing animals are sometimes dangerous and often in the Kimberley and Pilbara region. Also Kangaroos and Wedge-tailed eagle pose a danger, although they are smaller, because Keilschwanzadler often sit motionless on the road, after they have gorged on roadkill. Night driving should be avoided whenever possible; also good front guard and headlight can help. The risk, however, remains.

Another important risk is that of flooding since November to May to torrential rains occur in these two regions. The dry dam Willare Crossing over the Fitzroy River is enormous floods withstand. Nevertheless, several times important parts of the dam were washed away by seasonal floods occurring in the early 1980s. To alleviate the problem, in 1985 two new bridges were built to allow an increased flow of water without the flooding of the dam. Then, less than six months later, the cyclone Hector 70 % more water produced than expected - four to five kilometers of newly built section were washed away and a bridge without pillars remained. All destruction were eliminated, and the dam since then holds despite further flooding the water stand

In other places it is not uncommon that the road is meters deep under water. Satisfy Ten inches of water to cause a serious accident at high speed. The golden rule is that routes through which you can not be sure, also should not be traveled.

Wyndham, Western Australia Toodyay Road Roe Highway Swan River (Western Australia) Brockman River Moore River Geraldton–Mount Magnet Road Mount Magnet, Western Australia Lake Anneen Meekatharra, Western Australia Goldfields Highway Fortescue River Newman (Western Australia) Yule River Port Hedland, Western Australia De Grey River Fitzroy River (Western Australia) Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia Mary River (Western Australia) Laura River (Western Australia) Halls Creek, Western Australia Elvire River Ord River Bow River Dunham River Broome, Western Australia Derby (Western Australia) Marble Bar, Western Australia Swan Valley (Western Australia)
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