Gregory Highway
{{Short description|State highway in Queensland, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox Australian road
| road_name = Gregory Highway
| road_name2 = Gregory Developmental Road
| type = highway
| state = qld
| image = Gregory Highway 1112.svg
| caption = Gregory Highway (yellow on black), Gregory Developmental Road (green on black)
| length = 930
| direction_a = North
| direction_b = South
| end_a = {{AUshield|R|1}} Gulf Developmental Road (National Route 1), Mount Surprise, Queensland
| end_b = {{AUshield|QLD|A7}} Dawson Highway (State Highway A7), Springsure, Queensland
| est =
| through = Charters Towers, Belyando, Clermont, Emerald
| route = {{plainlist|
- {{AUshield|None|N}} No shield
- (Kennedy Developmental Road – Conjuboy)
- {{AUshield|S|63}} State Route 63
- (Conjuboy – Charters Towers)
- {{AUshield|QLD|A7}} State Highway A7{{Queensland Globe|access-date=5 Dec 2019}}
- (Charters Towers – Springsure)
}}
| former = {{AUshield|R|55}} National Route 55
(Charters Towers – Springsure)
| exits = {{plainlist|
- {{AUshield|S|62}} Kennedy Developmental Road (State Route 62)
- {{AUshield|S|72}} Hervey Range Road (State Route 72)
- {{AUshield|QLD|A6}} Flinders Highway (State Highway A6)
- {{AUshield|S|77}} Bowen Developmental Road (State Route 77)
- {{AUshield|S|70}} Peak Downs Highway (State Route 70)
- {{AUshield|QLD|A4}} Capricorn Highway (State Highway A4)}}
}}
The Gregory Highway is a state highway in Queensland, Australia that serves the major coal-mining centres of Central Queensland.{{Cite web |url=http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Travel-and-transport/Maps-and-guides/Queensland-state-controlled-roads-and-region-maps.aspx |title=Queensland Government - Department of Transport and Main Roads - Maps |access-date=15 April 2014 |archive-date=19 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319070948/https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Travel-and-transport/Maps-and-guides/Queensland-state-controlled-roads-and-region-maps.aspx |url-status=live }} The highway was named after Augustus Gregory, an early explorer.
Route description
The highway runs southward from Quartz Blow Creek, a point {{convert|31|km|mi}} west of Mount Surprise on the Gulf Developmental Road, via Charters Towers, to Springsure, over {{convert|900|km|mi}} away.{{cite map |title=Australia Road and 4WD Atlas|last=Hema |first=Maps|year=2007 |publisher=Hema Maps|location=Eight Mile Plains Queensland|isbn=978-1-86500-456-3|pages=10&13 }}
The northern section of {{convert|756|km|mi}} is designated by the state government as the Gregory Developmental Road. The shorter southern section between Clermont and Springsure ({{convert|174|km|mi}}) is designated the Gregory Highway. As of 2015, the first {{convert|120|km|mi}} between the Gulf Developmental Road via Einasleigh to the Lynd Junction are unsealed and may be corrugated. The next section to Charters Towers has been upgraded from single lane to mostly dual-laned bitumen. The road is used by many road trains.
File:Gregory Highway, QLD, Australia.jpeg|High quality road section
File:Gregory Highway 2, QLD, Australia.jpeg|Example of poorer quality road section
Northern Australia Beef Roads upgrades
The Northern Australia Beef Roads Program announced in 2016 included the following project for the Gregory Developmental Road.
=Road widening=
The project to widen the road south of Charters Towers is expected to be completed in early 2023 at a total cost of $5.79 million.{{cite web |url=https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/projects/ProjectDetails.aspx?Project_id=067227-16QLD-NAB |title=Gregory Developmental Road - South of Charters Towers - Widening |publisher=Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications |date=20 September 2021 |access-date=30 March 2022 |archive-date=29 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329131326/https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/projects/ProjectDetails.aspx?Project_id=067227-16QLD-NAB |url-status=live }}
Roads of Strategic Importance upgrades
The Roads of Strategic Importance initiative, last updated in March 2022, includes the following projects for the Gregory Highway.
=Corridor upgrade=
A lead project to upgrade the Townsville to Roma corridor, including sections of the Carnarvon, Dawson and Gregory Highways and surrounding state and council roads, at an estimated cost of $125 million, commenced construction of some work projects in 2020. Planning continues for other projects.{{cite web |url=https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/projects/ProjectDetails.aspx?Project_id=100534-18QLD-RSI |title=Townsville to Roma Corridor Upgrade |publisher=Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications |date=29 March 2022 |access-date=6 May 2022 |archive-date=29 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429070635/https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/projects/ProjectDetails.aspx?Project_id=100534-18QLD-RSI |url-status=dead }}
=Intersection upgrade Capricorn Highway=
A project to upgrade the intersection with the Capricorn Highway in {{QLDcity|Emerald}} at a cost of $7.9 million is scheduled for completion in mid-2023.{{cite web |url=https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/projects/ProjectDetails.aspx?Project_id=111297-20QLD-RSI |title=Capricorn Highway and Gregory Highway Intersection Upgrade (Emerald) |publisher=Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications |date=17 May 2021 |access-date=6 May 2022 |archive-date=29 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429070634/https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/projects/ProjectDetails.aspx?Project_id=111297-20QLD-RSI |url-status=live }} This project was targeted for "early works" by the Queensland Government.{{cite web |url=https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/_/media/projects/r/roads-stimulus-packages-queensland/road-stimulus-packages-jointly-funded-australian-government.pdf?sc_lang=en&hash=2CE432E465807F6B231DD64BEA34F9E4 |title=ROSI early works package |publisher=Queensland Government |date=29 April 2020 |access-date=7 May 2022 |archive-date=27 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227102907/https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/_/media/projects/r/roads-stimulus-packages-queensland/road-stimulus-packages-jointly-funded-australian-government.pdf?sc_lang=en&hash=2CE432E465807F6B231DD64BEA34F9E4 |url-status=live }}
=Pavement strengthening and widening=
A project to strengthen and widen sections of pavement on the Gregory Developmental Road between Charters Towers and The Lynd at a cost of $15.3 million is planned to be completed in mid-2023.{{cite web |url=https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/projects/ProjectDetails.aspx?Project_id=106476-19QLD-RSI |title=Gregory Developmental Road (Charters Towers - The Lynd) - Feeder Road - Pavement Strengthening and Widening |publisher=Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications |date=24 May 2021 |access-date=6 May 2022 |archive-date=29 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429070625/https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/projects/ProjectDetails.aspx?Project_id=106476-19QLD-RSI |url-status=live }} This project is targeted for "early works" by the Queensland Government.
Other upgrades
A project to widen and strengthen {{convert|7|km|mi}} of pavement between Marble Creek and Christmas Creek, at a cost of $45.41 million, was due to be completed in late 2023.{{cite web |url=https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/gregory-developmental-road-charters-towers-lynd-package-of-works |title=Gregory Developmental Road (Charters Towers - Lynd), package of works |publisher=Queensland Government |date=22 November 2021 |access-date=22 June 2022 |archive-date=22 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622040705/https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/gregory-developmental-road-charters-towers-lynd-package-of-works |url-status=live }}
A project to upgrade a culvert near Porphyry Road, at a cost of $5,1 million, was due to be completed in late 2023.
Proposals
The Queensland Inland Freight Route is a proposal to upgrade the existing highways from Charters Towers to {{QLDcity|Mungindi}}. This would involve significant upgrades to the Gregory Highway between Charters Towers and Springsure.
List of towns along the Gregory Developmental Road/Highway
Major intersections
{{AUSinttop}}
{{QLDint
|LGA=Etheridge
|LGAspan=4
|location=Mount Surprise
|lspan=
|type=
|km=0
|mile=
|road={{AUshield|R|1}} Gulf Developmental Road (National Route 1) – west – Georgetown /
east – Mount Surprise|notes=Northern end of Gregory Developmental Road (No route number)
}}
{{QLDint
|LGA=
|LGAspan=
|location=Conjuboy
|lspan=3
|type=concur
|km=120
|Mile=
|road={{AUshield|S|62}} Kennedy Developmental Road (State Route 62) – west, then south – Hughenden /
east – Greenvale
|notes=Western concurrency terminus with Kennedy Developmental Road
}}
{{QLDint
|LGA=
|LGAspan=
|location=
|lspan=
|type=concur
|km=123
|Mile=
|road={{AUshield|S|62}} Kennedy Developmental Road (State Route 62) – north – Mount Garnet
|notes=Eastern concurrency terminus with Kennedy Developmental Road
}}
{{QLDint
|LGA=
|LGAspan=
|location=
|lspan=
|type=trans
|km=123
|Mile=
|road={{AUshield|S|62}} Kennedy Developmental Road (State Route 62) – north – Mount Garnet
|notes=Gregory Developmental Road continues south east as State Route 63
}}
{{QLDint
|LGA=Charters Towers
|LGAspan=4
|location=Basalt
|lspan=
|type=
|km=284
|Mile=
|road={{AUshield|S|72}} Hervey Range Road (State Route 72) – east – Hervey Range
|notes=
}}
{{QLDint
|LGA=
|LGAspan=
|location=Charters Towers
|lspan=
|type=concur
|km=382
|Mile=
|road={{AUshield|A|6}} Flinders Highway (State Route A6) – east – Townsville
|notes=Northern concurrency terminus with Flinders Highway /
Gregory Developmental Road continues south west through Charters Towers
}}
{{QLDint
|LGA=
|LGAspan=
|location=Black Jack
|lspan=2
|type=concur
|km=390
|Mile=
|road={{AUshield|A|6}} Flinders Highway (State Route A6) – west – Pentland
|notes=Southern concurrency terminus with Flinders Highway
}}
{{QLDint
|LGA=
|LGAspan=
|location=
|lspan=
|type=trans
|km=390
|Mile=
|road={{AUshield|A|6}} Flinders Highway (State Route A6) – west – Pentland
|notes=Gregory Developmental Road continues south as State Route A7.{{Queensland Globe|access-date=5 Dec 2019}}
}}
{{QLDint
|LGA=Isaac
|LGAspan=3
|location=Belyando
|lspan=
|type=
|km=588
|Mile=
|road={{AUshield|S|77}} Bowen Developmental Road (State Route 77) – east – Mount Coolon
|notes=
}}
{{QLDint
|LGA=
|LGAspan=
|location=Clermont
|lspan=2
|type=concur
|km=741
|Mile=
|road={{AUshield|S|70}} Peak Downs Highway (State Route 70) – east – Nebo
|notes=Northern concurrency terminus with Peak Downs Highway
}}
{{QLDint
|LGA=
|LGAspan=
|location=
|lspan=
|type=concur
|km=755
|Mile=
|road={{AUshield|S|70}} Peak Downs Highway (State Route 70) – south – Clermont
|notes=Southern concurrency terminus with Peak Downs Highway /
Gregory Highway continues east as State Route A7
}}
{{QLDint
|LGA=Central Highlands
|LGAspan=3
|location=Emerald
|lspan=2
|type=concur
|km=862
|Mile=
|road={{AUshield|A|4}} Capricorn Highway (State Route A4) – west – Alpha
|notes=Western concurrency terminus with Capricorn Highway
}}
{{QLDint
|LGA=
|LGAspan=
|location=
|lspan=
|type=concur
|km=864
|Mile=
|road={{AUshield|A|4}} Capricorn Highway (State Route A4) – east – Blackwater
|notes=Eastern concurrency terminus with Capricorn Highway
}}
{{QLDint
|LGA=
|LGAspan=
|location=Springsure
|lspan=
|type=
|km=930
|Mile=
|road={{AUshield|A|7}} Dawson Highway (State Route A7) – south–east – Rolleston
|notes=Southern end of Gregory Highway /
State Route A7 continues south east as Dawson Highway
}}
{{Jctbtm
|keys=concur,trans
}}
See also
{{portal-inline|Australian Roads}}