Monaro Highway

File:Monaro Highway start.jpg

Monaro Highway begins at the intersection with Princes Highway in {{VICcity|Cann River}} in the East Gippsland region. After leaving the town, it heads north along a relatively flat area following the Cann River upstream through a locality known as Noorinbee. To the west is farmland between the road and river and a mountain range beyond and to the east are some smaller hills. The land to the east is largely part of Drummer State Forest. As the sides close in at the northern end of this wider valley area, the highway crosses to the west bank of the river highway and enters the Noorinbee North locality. Continuing north, the terrain is more hilly and forested and the alignment more closely parallels the winding river upstream to the area of Weeragua. At this point, the land to the west of the river is part of Buldah State Forest, and to the east is Coopracambra National Park. The road has now entered the Chandlers Creek locality and at Weeragua, the road crosses the west branch of the Cann River and continues further north along the east branch through a small farmland area. From here, it follows the river through more forest before coming to another small farmland area and crossing Chandlers Creek itself. The road once again enters forest as it follows the Cann River east branch to its upper end at the confluence of Fiddlers Green Creek and Flat Rock Creek, the latter of which the road follows through Coopracambra National Park to the New South Wales border.{{cite web | url=http://services.land.vic.gov.au/maps/interactive.jsp | title=Interactive Map | publisher=Department of Environment and Primary Industries | work=Land Channel | access-date=11 August 2013 | archive-date=8 August 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808095955/http://services.land.vic.gov.au/maps/interactive.jsp? | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=http://nremap-sc.nre.vic.gov.au/MapShare.v2/imf.jsp?site=forestexplorer | title=Forest Explorer Online | publisher=Department of Environment and Primary Industries | access-date=14 August 2013}}

File:Monaro Highway, in Bombala.jpg

From the state border, Monaro Highway continues north through forest, generally keeping Bondi State Forest to the west and South East Forest National Park to the east. The immediate landscape by the roadside also includes the occasional small tract of farmland at several points. There is a crossing over the Genoa River within the forest, and the road roughly follows it upstream. Upon exiting the large forested area that exists near the border, the road enters farmland. This farmland continues as a patchwork of pastures for the rest of the journey within New South Wales and is only interrupted by the occasional town. The road continues roughly northwest until it meets Delegate Road at a T-intersection just outside Bombala. Turning towards the northeast at the intersection, the road quickly reaches Bombala. Within the urban area, the road firstly takes on the name Maybe Street. It then turns northeast at Forbes Street and crosses over the Bombala River. After the bridge, the road returns to a northeast heading as Mahratta Street. This street continues for a short distance before a right angle bend to the northwest to match the same manoeuvre by the river. The road then becomes Stephen Street before returning to the Monaro Highway name at the edge of the urban area and concluding its zig-zag trajectory through Bombala.{{cite map | url=http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/ | title=SIX Maps | publisher=NSW Government – Land and Property Information | access-date=29 June 2013 | cartography=NSW Department of Finance and Services, Sinclair Knight Merz, and Astrium GEO-Information Services}}

File:Monaro Highway in Nimmitabel.jpg

The highway then travels in a north-easterly direction, crossing the Bombala River again and making its way towards {{NSWcity|Bibbenluke}}. The road bypasses the village just to its west and makes a further crossing of the Bombala River. Continuing north, the road winds its way towards a ridge near Native Dog Creek. After crossing the creek, the road climbs the ridge and continues northbound. At this point, the former Bombala railway line alignment winds along the western side and is visible in some locations. Eventually the road swings east and meets the western end of the eastern section of the Snowy Mountains Highway at another T-intersection. The highway turns towards the northwest at this intersection and, after a short distance, crosses the Maclaughlin River. A little further along this heading, the road enters {{NSWcity|Nimmitabel}}. The highway takes on the name Bombala Street within the urban area and swings to the northeast through the small town. From here, the road continues northwest once again with the railway alignment never far to the west and sometimes paralleling the road. The road crosses several small creeks along this stretch of road. Before reaching {{NSWcity|Cooma}}, the road also passes to the west of Kuma Nature Reserve and crosses over the former Bombala railway line. Within the town of Cooma, the road initially takes up the name Bombala Street. Where this street meets Sharp Street at a 4-way roundabout, the highway turns east, while the western section of Snowy Mountains Highway begins from the same point and heads west. Continuing east as Sharp Street, the road soon curves north and transitions back to Monaro Highway. It then parallels the railway within the urban area and also passes by the Tadeusz Kościuszko Monument as it leaves the town.{{cite web | url=http://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/snowy-mountains/cooma-area/cooma/attractions/tadeusz-kosciuszko-monument | title=Tadeusz Kosciuszko Monument – Cooma Attraction | publisher=Destination NSW – NSW Government | work=VisitNSW | access-date=11 August 2013}}

File:Monaro Highway, between Cooma and Canberra.jpg

North of Cooma, the highway follows the same general path as the railway alignment as far as the area of Bunyan. From there, it continues along the same rough heading and crosses the Numeralla River just prior to its confluence with the Murrumbidgee River. The road then follows the Murrumbidgee downstream at some distance to its east. The highway continues on towards Bredbo and crosses the Bredbo River as it enters the village. The highway takes on the name Cooma Street through Bredbo and crosses over the railway yet again just north of the town. Further to the north, the road passes through Gungoandra Gap to the east of Round Hill. Mount Colinton is now visible to the highway's east, and a larger range known as the Clear Range is visible to west. The ridgeline of the Clear Range forms the eastern border of the ACT in this area. Heading further downstream, continuing the distant parallel of the Murrumbidgee, the road enters {{NSWcity|Michelago}} and crosses the railway a final few times as the railway winds through the area. It does not enter the urban area of Michelago itself and instead passes to the west of the village. North of Michelago the road and railway parallel each other very closely as they head towards the ACT border at the north end of the Clear Range. The road crosses the border just east of Cunningham Hill.

File:Monaro Highway, southbound at Fyshwick.jpg

From the territory border, the road passes into the rural southern reaches of the Tuggeranong District. In this area of the ACT, the railway line forms the eastern border of the territory, with the railway line itself situated on the NSW side. To the western side of the road flows Guises Creek, with a range of hills beyond it, Rose Hill and Mount Rob Roy being two of the more prominent peaks. As the road reaches the Tuggeranong urban area, it begins to parallel the urban area instead and forms part of the border of Tuggeranong's eastern suburbs. Approaching the Tharwa Drive intersection, the road becomes a dual carriageway. The road climbs onto a small ridge with views of the urban area to the west and the Tuggeranong Pine Plantation to the east. The road then descends towards the Jerrabomberra district border where it meets Isabella Drive, and then passes through the light industrial suburb of {{ACTcity|Hume}}, although the land to the west of the road is largely undeveloped. Within Hume, the road meets Lanyon Drive, which heads across the nearby border towards {{NSWcity|Jerrabomberra}} and {{NSWcity|Queanbeyan}}.

The road then continues roughly north and crosses a largely open area of pasture. The SouthCare emergency helicopter is stationed to the east of the road not far after its intersection with Lanyon Drive, and further on, a prison, the Alexander Maconochie Centre, is located to the west. Approaching the northern end of the pasture, Jerrabomberra Creek flows to the east. At the northern end is the Hindmarsh Drive interchange. The highway passes underneath Hindmarsh Drive and continues over Jerrabomberra Creek, before then passing over an interchange with Canberra Avenue (where it is designated route M23), along with an overpass above the Canberra railway line branch, and an interchange above Newcastle Street. Monaro Highway is then carried across a flood plain above farmland on concrete drainage channels, before crossing the Molonglo River over the Malcolm Fraser Bridge where it becomes Majura Parkway, continuing on until it meets Federal Highway near Goorooyaroo Nature Reserve.{{cite web|title=Majura Parkway|url=http://www.tccs.act.gov.au/roads-paths/major-construction-projects/completed-projects/majura-parkway|website=ACT Government TCCS}}

File:Road towards the Monaro region, within Murray County.jpeg's 1834 map
(Note: Top of image is roughly northwest)]]

A minor road appeared in this region on Thomas Mitchell's 1834 map of the Nineteen Counties of New South Wales. Located within Murray county, the road continued from {{NSWcity|Bungendore}} towards the south before turning west crossing the Queanbeyan River near its confluence with the Molonglo River (the current location of {{NSWcity|Queanbeyan}}), which then headed south towards what was then known as the "Miccaligo Plains" (now {{NSWcity|Michelago}}). The road is then marked as continuing south beyond the border of the county; although no settlement could legally occur beyond the Nineteen Counties at that time, those who settled beyond this area were known as squatters. The detail of the road beyond Murray county is not plotted on the map. By 1844 the road had reached Cooma, and was extended to Bombala by 1852. Mapping from 1882 shows the road had extended all the way to the Victorian border, crossing near {{NSWcity|Delegate}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.shop.nsw.gov.au/shopnsw/documents/agency22/RTA012.pdf |title=Monaro Highway |publisher=NSW Department of Main Roads |work=Main Roads |date=December 1959 |pages=44–9 |access-date=21 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324205227/http://www.shop.nsw.gov.au/shopnsw/documents/agency22/RTA012.pdf |archive-date=24 March 2019 |url-status=dead}}{{cite map | url=http://www.nla.gov.au/apps/cdview/?pi=nla.map-nk6228-e | title=Map of the Colony of New South Wales | publisher=T.L. Mitchell | access-date=6 August 2013 | cartography=T.L. Mitchell | date=1834}}

Within Victoria, the passing of the Country Roads Act of 1912[http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/hist_act/cra1912182.pdf An Act relating to Country Roads] State of Victoria, 23 December 1912 through the Parliament of Victoria provided for the establishment of the Country Roads Board (later VicRoads) and their ability to declare Main Roads, taking responsibility for the management, construction and care of the state's major roads from local municipalities. Cann Valley Road was declared a Main Road from Cann River to the border with New South Wales on 23 March 1914.

The passing of the Developmental Roads Act of 1918[https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/hist_act/dra1918204.pdf An Act to make provision for Developmental Roads and to amend the Country Roads Acts] State of Victoria, 4 April 1918 through the Parliament of Victoria allowed the Country Road Board to declare Developmental Roads, serving to develop any area of land by providing access to a railway station for primary producers. Cann Valley Road was subsequently reclassified as a Developmental Road on 14 January 1920.{{cite web |url=https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/view.cgi?year=1920&class=general&page_num=699&state=V&classNum=G41&id= |title=Victorian Government Gazette |date=25 February 1920 |pages=715 |publisher=State Library of Victoria |access-date=7 May 2025 }}

The passing of the Highways and Vehicles Act of 1924[http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/hist_act/hava1924204.pdf An Act to make further provision with respect to Highways and Country Roads Motor Cars and Traction Engines and for other purposes] State of Victoria, 30 December 1924 provided for the declaration of State Highways, roads two-thirds financed by the State government through the Country Roads Board. Cann Valley Highway was declared a State Highway on 10 August 1960,{{cite web | url=http://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1960/V/general/77.pdf | title=Roads Corporation – Declaration of the Cann Valley Highway in the Shire of Orbost | publisher=Victorian Government | work=Victoria Government Gazette | date=10 August 1960 | access-date=7 August 2013 | author=A. Mahlstedt | pages=2743–2748}}{{cite map | url=http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/152472 | title=Township of Cann River, Parish of Noorinbee, County of Croajingolong | publisher=J.J. Gourley – Government Printer | access-date=24 August 2013 | cartography=Department of Crown Lands and Survey (Victoria)}} from Cann River to the border with New South Wales (for a total of 27.5 miles), subsuming the original declaration of Cann Valley Road as a Developmental Road.

As part of the Bicentennial Road Development Programme, the roadway was sealed along its entire length, the project being completed in March 1985.{{cite web | url=http://expressway.paulrands.com/gallery/roads/vic/numbered/alphanumeric/b23/southbound/images/201002_03_chandlersck.jpg | title=Plaque (Image) | publisher=Expressway | date=January 2010 | access-date=6 August 2013 | author=Rands, Paul}} It was renamed Monaro Highway on 25 October 1996, to match the highway to which it connects at the NSW border.{{cite web | url=http://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/images/1996/V/general/43.pdf | title=Roads Corporation – Renaming of Declared Road | publisher=Victorian Government | work=Victoria Government Gazette | date=31 October 1996 | access-date=6 August 2013 | author=Jordan, Colin | pages=2837}}

The passing of the Road Management Act 2004{{cite web |author=State Government of Victoria |title=Road Management Act 2004 |url=https://content.legislation.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/04-12aa062%20authorised.pdf |publisher=Government of Victoria |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018233332/https://content.legislation.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/04-12aa062%20authorised.pdf |archive-date=18 October 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=19 October 2021 }} granted the responsibility of overall management and development of Victoria's major arterial roads to VicRoads: in 2004, VicRoads re-declared the road as Monaro Highway (Arterial #6760), beginning at Cann River and ending at the New South Wales border in Chandlers Creek.{{cite web |author=VicRoads |title=VicRoads – Register of Public Roads 2024 |url=https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/-/media/files/documents/utilities/about-vr/acts-and-regulations/head-transport-for-victoria-register-of-public-roads-231031.ashx |format=PDF |publisher=Government of Victoria |pages=955 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619001303/https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/-/media/files/documents/utilities/about-vr/acts-and-regulations/head-transport-for-victoria-register-of-public-roads-231031.ashx |archivedate=19 June 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=19 June 2024 }}

File:Monaro HighwayNSW.JPG

The passing of the Main Roads Act of 1924[http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_act/mra1924n24133/ State of New South Wales, An Act to provide for the better construction, maintenance, and financing of main roads; to provide for developmental roads; to constitute a Main Roads Board] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811000905/http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_act/mra1924n24133/ |date=11 August 2022 }} 10 November 1924 through the Parliament of New South Wales provided for the declaration of Main Roads, roads partially funded by the State government through the Main Roads Board (later Transport for NSW), later amended by the passing of the Main Roads (Amendment) Act of 1929[https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/act-1929-15 State of New South Wales, An Act to amend the Main Roads Act, 1924-1927; to confer certain further powers upon the Main Roads Board; to amend the Local Government Act, 1919, and certain other Acts; to validate certain payments and other matters; and for purposes connected therewith.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812065622/https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/act-1929-15 |date=12 August 2022 }} 8 April 1929 to provide for the additional declarations of State Highways and Trunk Roads.

The roads forming the future highway were given the following classifications on 8 August 1928:

• Main Road No. 53 from the Victorian border via {{NSWcity|Delegate}} to {{NSWcity|Nimmitabel}}, amended to Trunk Road 53 in 1929;
• Main Road No. 4 from Nimmitabel to Cooma, amended to State Highway 4 in 1929;
• Main Road No. 52 from Cooma via Royalla and Queanbeyan to the ACT border, amended to Trunk Road 52 in 1929.

State Highway 4 was actually named Monaro Highway at the time, which ran from {{NSWcity|Tathra}} to {{NSWcity|Wagga Wagga}}.{{cite news | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article987060 | title=The New Roads Policy | work=The Canberra Times | date=2 October 1928 | access-date=23 July 2013 | page=2}}

The Department of Main Roads, which had succeeded the New South Wales MRB in 1932, declared State Highway 19 on 16 March 1938, from Canberra via Royalla and Bredbo to the intersection with State Highway 4 at Cooma, and from the intersection with State Highway 4 at Nimmitabel via Bombala and Delegate to connect with Bonang Highway at the state border with Victoria, subsuming Trunk Road 53; the southern end of Trunk Road 52 was truncated to meet State Highway 19 at Royalla, as a result.

State Highway 4 was renamed Snowy Mountains Highway on 19 July 1955;{{cite news |title=Main Roads Act, 1924-1954 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/220387174 |work=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |issue=99 |via=National Library of Australia |date=9 September 1955 |pages=2645 |access-date=5 September 2022 |archive-date=5 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905100659/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/220387174 |url-status=live }} the section of State Highway 4 between Nimmitabel and Cooma was also re-designated part of State Highway 19 at the same time. State Highway 19 was officially named Monaro Highway three years later, on 18 June 1958.{{cite news |title=Main Roads Act, 1924-1958 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/220275645 |work=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |issue=64 |via=National Library of Australia |date=27 June 1958 |pages=1915 |access-date=5 September 2022 |archive-date=5 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905101507/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/220275645 |url-status=live }} In contrast with Snowy Mountains Highway, the entire length of State Highway 19 was within the Monaro region.{{cite web | url=http://www.shop.nsw.gov.au/shopnsw/documents/agency22/RTA018.pdf | title=Snowy Mountains Highway | publisher=NSW Department of Main Roads | work=Main Roads | date=December 1955 | access-date=23 July 2013 | pages=44, 51}} During the mid to late 1960s the highway south of Nimmitabel was rerouted along a newly constructed roadway;{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105827248 |title=Big road works to begin. |work=The Canberra Times |date=5 February 1965 |access-date=24 August 2013 |page=18 }}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105885084 |title=District News – Helicopter will guide road builders. |work=The Canberra Times|date=2 February 1966 |access-date=24 August 2013 |page=28 }}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article106953154 |title=Road conditions for Christmas tourists. |work=The Canberra Times |date=20 December 1966 |access-date=24 August 2013 |page=28 }} the former alignment is now known as Old Bombala Road. Snowy Mountains Highway was also realigned in this area as part of these works and connected to Monaro Highway along the new alignment.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article107880629 |title=District News – Highway link to reduce snow problem. |work=The Canberra Times |date=7 July 1966 |access-date=25 August 2013 |page=20}} The alignment of the highway's southern end to the state border with Victoria was later changed, travelling via Rockton to connect to Cann River Highway, instead of via Delegate to connect to Bonang Highway, on 12 October 1977;{{cite news |title=Main Roads Act, 1924-1977 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/220127032 |work=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |issue=147 |via=National Library of Australia |date=2 December 1977 |pages=5250 |access-date=5 September 2022 |archive-date=5 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905105236/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/220127032 |url-status=live }} the former alignment was proclaimed Trunk Road 93 and is now known as Delegate Road.

The passing of the Roads Act of 1993[https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1993-033 State of New South Wales, An Act to make provision with respect to the roads of New South Wales; to repeal the State Roads Act 1986, the Crown and Other Roads Act 1990 and certain other enactments; and for other purposes.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811000905/http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_act/mra1924n24133/ |date=11 August 2022 }} 10 November 1924 through the Parliament of New South Wales updated road classifications and the way they could be declared within New South Wales. Under this act, Monaro Highway today retains its declaration as Highway 19, from the state border with Victoria via Bombala, Nimmitabel, Cooma and Michelago to the state border with the Australian Capital Territory.{{cite web |url=https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/business-industry/partners-suppliers/lgr/documents/classified-roads-schedule.pdf |title=Schedule of Classified Roads and Unclassified Regional Roads |author=Transport for NSW |date=August 2022 |publisher=Government of New South Wales |access-date=1 August 2022 |archive-date=25 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825104657/https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/business-industry/partners-suppliers/lgr/documents/classified-roads-schedule.pdf |url-status=dead }}

In 1958 Federal government agreed rename the Cooma-Canberra Road within the ACT as Monaro Highway: this gave the roadway a single name between Canberra and the Victorian border.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103124551 |title=Monaro Highway New Name For Cooma Road. | work=The Canberra Times |date=21 October 1958 |access-date=25 July 2013 |page=3}} Originally, the highway ended where it met Jerrabomberra Avenue.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103104427 |title=Estimates For Reconstructing Tharwa Road. | work=The Canberra Times |date=20 October 1959 |access-date=25 August 2013}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120861910 |title=Dual section of highway opens. |work=The Canberra Times |date=23 November 1989 |access-date=25 August 2013 |page=4}} Plans were publicised during the mid-1980s for an upgrade of the existing Monaro Highway to dual-carriageway standard between Isabella Drive and Jerrabomberra Avenue, and an extension of the roadway to the north. These works were known as the Eastern Parkway.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118176861 |title=Comments invited on Eastern Parkway. |work=The Canberra Times |date=7 December 1985 |access-date=25 August 2013 |page=1 }}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118186455 |title=Public invited to attend – Hearing today on City Plan changes |work=The Canberra Times |date=23 April 1987 |access-date=25 August 2013 |page=3}} These plans were then given the go ahead in a report tabled on 5 May 1987, the estimated costs were $50 million including upgrades to other nearby roadways.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118302268 |title=$50m link for eastern Tuggeranong – New parkway is given go-ahead |work=The Canberra Times |date=6 May 1987 |access-date=25 August 2013 |page=3 }} Around the same time period a large service centre was proposed for near the Isabella Drive intersection, though it was quite controversial, and the developer pulled out.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122124373 |title=Major Tuggeranong tourism plan |work=The Canberra Times |date=26 September 1987 |access-date=25 August 2013 |page=1 }}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120906821 |title=Tuggeranong to fight development. |work=The Canberra Times |date=27 January 1989 |access-date=25 August 2013 |page=1 }}{{cite news |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/result?q=Gilmore+%22Service+Centre%22+%22Monaro+Highway%22 |title=Developer out of $20m project |work=The Canberra Times |date=18 July 1990 |access-date=25 August 2013 |page=5}} Between 1988 and November 1989 the duplication was completed, and the roadway extended as far as Canberra Avenue.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article102081854 |title=Tenders to be called in June for next two packages included in Stage 1 – Eastern Parkway forges ahead |work=The Canberra Times |date=23 April 1988 |access-date=25 August 2013 |page=12 }}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article102045834 |title=Eastern Parkway stage 2 funded – Tuggeranong Budget boost |work=The Canberra Times |date=25 August 1988 |access-date=25 August 2013 |page=3 }}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120861910 |title=Dual section of highway opens |work=The Canberra Times |date=23 November 1989 |access-date=25 August 2013 |page=4 }} After this the road was extended to its current terminus at Morshead Drive, although the northbound carriageway was originally routed over Dairy Flat Road until a southbound carriageway was constructed later on.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118151736 |title=Eastern Parkway takes shape |work=The Canberra Times |date=19 June 1991 |access-date=25 August 2013 |page=3 }} Further duplication was performed to other sections of the extension until all sections were completed in mid-2012.{{cite news |title=Monaro Highway strip due for opening today |work=The Canberra Times |date=11 September 2012 |page=3 }} The northern end of Monaro Highway now connects to the southern end of Majura Parkway following the latter's completion in 2016.{{cite web |url=http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/19619/Final_eis_Chapter_3_The_ProposalvA6945927.pdf |work=Majura Parkway Final EIS Report |title= Chapter 3 (The Proposal) |publisher=SMEC |date=26 February 2010 |access-date=28 June 2013 |pages=3–4}}{{cite web |url=http://www.majuraparkway.act.gov.au/faqs.html |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20130220132000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/116803/20130221-0020/www.majuraparkway.act.gov.au/faqs.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 February 2013 |title=Majura Parkway: FAQs |publisher=ACT Government |date=10 April 2012 |access-date=28 June 2013}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Territory and Municipal Services has classified Monaro Highway as an arterial road within the ACT Road Hierarchy.{{cite web | url=http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/398423/ACT_TRIS_03_Traffic_Management.pdf | title=Trunk Road Infrastructure Standard No. 03 – Traffic Management | publisher=Territory and Municipal Services | date=October 2012 | access-date=24 August 2013 | pages=6–7, 39}}

Currently, upgrades are underway to the highway near Hume, providing new grade separated interchanged at Lanyon Drive and Isabella Drive, as well as left-in, left-out intersections with Mugga Lane, Tralee Street with an overpass between these intersections.{{cite web | url=https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/Infrastructure-Projects/tuggeranong/monaro-highway-upgrades | title=Monaro Highway upgrade | date=7 February 2024 }} The upgrades will complete a 25 km long motorway-standard road all along eastern edge of Canberra.

{{multiple image

| align = left

| direction = horizontal

| footer = Former National Route 23 route marker (left), and former Alternate National Route 23 route marker (right). [Not to scale]

| image1 = Australian national route 23.svg

| alt1 = Diagram depicting National Route 23 route marker

| width1 = 110

| image2 = Australian national route ALT23.svg

| alt2 = Diagram depicting Alternate National Route 23 route marker

| width2 = 72

}}

{{multiple image

| align = right

| direction = vertical

| width = 150

| image1 = AUS Alphanumeric Route B23.svg

| alt1 = Diagram depicting B23 route marker used in New South Wales and Victoria

| caption1 =

| image2 = New South Wales alphanumeric route A23.svg

| alt2 = Diagram depicting A23 route marker used in the Australian Capital Territory

| footer = Current B23 route marker used in NSW/Victoria (top), and A23 marker used in ACT (bottom). [Not to scale]

}}

Route markers were first introduced in Australia in late 1954. Over the following decades they were progressively rolled out to the various highways around the nation, under a nationwide route numbering scheme.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23415470 |title=It will be 'Highway 31'. |work=The Argus|location=Melbourne |date=13 August 1954 |access-date=28 July 2013 |page=5}} The highway was originally designated National Route 23 in 1962 between Canberra and Cooma, extended further to Nimmitabel in 1967.{{cite web | url=http://expressway.paulrands.com/gallery/roads/vic/numbered/alphanumeric/b23/northbound/images/201001_18_chandlersck_nswborder.jpg | title=NR23 Trailblazer (Image) | publisher=Expressway | date=January 2010 | access-date=26 August 2013 | author=Rands, Paul}}{{self-published source |date=September 2022}} Although after the construction of the Eastern Parkway extension, the highway north of Canberra Avenue was designated Alternate National Route 23. The section of Monaro Highway between Steeple Flat and Cooma was also designated National Route 18 in addition to National Route 23, in an arrangement known as a duplex or concurrency, allowing one route to cover Snowy Mountains Highway from end to end (with Monaro Highway linking its two sections).{{cite web | url=http://expressway.paulrands.com/gallery/roads/nsw/numbered/nationalroutes/nr23/02_coomatobombala/southbound/images/200912_33_cooma.jpg | title=Reassurance Directional Sign (Image) | publisher=Expressway | date=January 2010 | access-date=26 August 2013 | author=Rands, Paul}}

With all three states' conversion to their newer alphanumeric systems between the late 1990s to the early 2010s, its former route number was updated to route B23 for the highway within Victoria (in 1997),{{cite web | url=http://expressway.paulrands.com/gallery/roads/vic/numbered/alphanumeric/b23/northbound/images/201002_04_cannriver.jpg | title=Distance Sign (Image) | publisher=Expressway | date=February 2010 | access-date=26 August 2013 | author=Rands, Paul}}{{self-published source |date=September 2022}} to route B23 within New South Wales section (in 2013),{{cite web |url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/projects/key-build-programs/alpha-numeric/nsw-factsheet.pdf |title=Road number and name changes in NSW |work=Roads & Maritime Services |publisher=Government of New South Wales |date=2012 |access-date=7 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325194425/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/projects/key-build-programs/alpha-numeric/nsw-factsheet.pdf |archive-date=25 March 2016 |url-status=dead}} and route A23 within the Australian Capital Territory (also in 2013).{{cite web |url=https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1378528/MIS12-Guidesigns.pdf |title=Guide Signs MIS 12 |publisher=ACT Government |page=13 |date=April 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328204755/https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1378528/MIS12-Guidesigns.pdf |archive-date=28 March 2020 |access-date=9 November 2022 }} This violates the convention in New South Wales, where numbered routes below 50 are prefixed with an 'A' and 'B' routes are numbered above 50; the violation was allowed so the number and letter would be consistent across state lines. The concurrency along Monaro Highway remains intact, with B72 used in addition to B23 between Steeple Flat and Cooma, linking the two sections of Snowy Mountains Highway. In the ACT, Monaro Highway is designated route A23 from the NSW border to Canberra Avenue, and as route M23 north of Canberra Avenue to its terminus, where it joins Majura Parkway.

{{Clear}}

{{AUSinttop|state_col=State/Territory|sub1={{abbr|LGA|Local government area}}/District|location_ref={{cite map |url=http://www.actmapi.act.gov.au/Html5Viewer_1_2/Index.html?viewerConfigUri=http://www.actmapi.act.gov.au/Geocortex/Essentials/GE10/REST/sites/Basic/viewers/Basic_HTML5_12/virtualdirectory/Resources/Config/Default/Desktop.json.js |title=ACTMAPi |publisher=ACT Government |access-date=29 June 2013 |cartography=Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502051634/http://www.actmapi.act.gov.au/Html5Viewer_1_2/Index.html?viewerConfigUri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.actmapi.act.gov.au%2FGeocortex%2FEssentials%2FGE10%2FREST%2Fsites%2FBasic%2Fviewers%2FBasic_HTML5_12%2Fvirtualdirectory%2FResources%2FConfig%2FDefault%2FDesktop.json.js |archive-date=2 May 2013}}|length_ref=|dest_ref=}}

{{VICint

|sspan=1

|LGAS=East Gippsland

|location=Cann River

|lspan=

|km=0.0

|type=trans

|road={{AUshield|VIC|A1}} Princes Highway (A1){{NSWcity|p=on|Eden}}, {{VICcity|Orbost}}, Melbourne

|notes=Southern terminus of Monaro Highway and route B23

}}

{{VICint

|location_special=State border

|lcspan=3

|lcalign=center

|km=43.9

|place=Victoria – New South Wales state border

}}

{{NSWint

|sspan=20

|location_special=Genoa River

|lcspan=2

|lcalign=center

|km=57.0

|place=Bridge over the river

}}

{{NSWint

|LGA=Snowy Monaro

|LGAspan=2

|location=Bombala

|lspan=2

|km=83.7

|road=Delegate Road (MR93){{NSWcity|p=on|Delegate}}

|notes=T-intersection

}}

{{NSWint

|km=86.0

|road=Maybe Street, to Cathcart Road (MR91 east){{NSWcity|p=on|Cathcart}}
Forbes Street (south){{NSWcity|p=on|Bombala}}

|notes=Four-way intersection

}}

{{jctbridge

|river=Bombala River

|km=86.2

|bridge=Bridge over river

}}

{{NSWint

|LGA=Snowy Monaro

|location=Bombala

|km=86.3

|road=Mahratta Street (west){{NSWcity|p=on|Bombala}}

|notes=T-intersection

}}

{{jctbridge

|river=Bombala River

|km=88.4

|bridge=Bridge over river

}}

{{NSWint

|LGA=Snowy Monaro

|location=Bibbenluke

|km=98.6

|road=Black Lake Road (MR563){{NSWcity|p=on|Bibbenluke|Cathcart|Pambula}}

|notes=

}}

{{jctbridge

|river=Bombala River

|km=99.0

|bridge=Bridge over river

}}

{{NSWint

|LGA=Snowy Monaro

|LGAspan=9

|location=Ando

|km=106.3

|road=The Snowy River Way (MR394){{NSWcity|p=on|Dalgety|Berridale|Jindabyne}}

|notes=

}}

{{NSWint

|location_special=Steeple Flat

|lspan=2

|km=125.0

|road=Old Bombala Road

|notes=Former Monaro Highway alignment

}}

{{NSWint

|km=127.2

|type=concur

|road={{AUshield|NSW|B72}} Snowy Mountains Highway (HW4, B72 east){{NSWcity|p=on|Bega}}

|notes=Southern terminus of concurrency with route B72 at T-intersection

}}

{{NSWint

|location=Nimmitabel

|lspan=2

|km=135.2

|road=Old Bombala Road

|notes=Former Monaro Highway alignment

}}

{{NSWint

|km=137.1

|road=Clarke Street, to Old Bega Road{{NSWcity|p=on|Bemboka}}

|notes=Former Snowy Mountains Highway alignment

}}

{{NSWint

|location=Cooma

|lspan=4

|km=172.3

|road={{AUshield|+|airport}} Polo Flat Road (RR7624) – Polo Flat Airport

|notes=

}}

{{NSWint

|km=173.5

|type=concur

|road={{AUshield|NSW|B72}} Sharp Street (HW4, B72 west){{NSWcity|p=on|Tumut|Jindabyne}}
Bombala Street (north){{NSWcity|p=on|Cooma}}

|notes=Northern terminus of concurrency with route B72 at four-way roundabout

}}

{{NSWint

|km=174.7

|road=Yareen Road, to Numeralla Road (RR7625){{NSWcity|p=on|Braidwood}}

|notes=

}}

{{NSWint

|km=177.3

|road={{AUshield|+|airport}} Polo Flat Road (RR7624) – Polo Flat Airport

|notes=

}}

{{jctbridge

|river=Numeralla River

|km=191.6

|bridge=Bridge over river

}}

{{jctbridge

|river=Bredbo River

|km=206.1

|bridge=Bridge over river

}}

{{NSWint

|LGA=Snowy Monaro

|location=Williamsdale

|km=248.0

|uspan=3

|type=trans

|road={{AUshield|NSW|B23}} Monaro Highway

|notes=Northern terminus of route B23

}}

{{NSWint

|location_special=State border

|lcspan=3

|lcalign=center

|km=none

|place=New South Wales – Australian Capital Territory state border

}}

{{ACTint

|sspan=11

|LGA=Tuggeranong

|LGAspan=3

|location_special={{ACTcity|Williamsdale}}

|km=none

|type=trans

|road={{AUshield|ACT|A23}} Monaro Highway

|notes=Southern terminus of route A23

}}

{{ACTint

|location_special={{ACTcity|Theodore}}–{{ACTcity|Calwell}}–{{ACTcity|Richardson}} tripoint

|km=268.1

|road=Tharwa Drive (southwest){{ACTcity|p=on|Tharwa}}
Johnson Drive (west) – Tuggeranong Town Centre, {{ACTcity|Calwell}}

|notes=Roundabout with southbound bypass lane

}}

{{ACTint

|location=Gilmore

|km=273.4

|road=Isabella Drive – Tuggeranong

|notes=Roundabout with southbound bypass lanes

}}

{{ACTint

|LGA=Jerrabomberra

|location=Hume

|km=275.5

|road=Lanyon Drive{{ACTcity|p=on|Hume}}, {{NSWcity|Jerrabomberra|Queanbeyan}}

|notes=

}}

{{ACTint

|LGA=Jerrabomberra–Canberra Central boundary

|LGAspan=2

|location_special={{ACTcity|Symonston}}–{{ACTcity|Narrabundah}} boundary

|km=280.4

|road={{AUshield|ACT|B52}} Hindmarsh Drive (B52 east, unallocated west){{NSWcity|p=on|Queanbeyan}}, {{ACTcity|Symonston}}, Woden

|notes=Diamond interchange

}}

{{ACTint

|location_special={{ACTcity|Symonston}}–{{ACTcity|Narrabundah}}–{{ACTcity|Fyshwick}} tripoint

|km=281.6

|type=incomplete

|road={{AUshield|ACT|A23}} Canberra Avenue (A23 west, unallocated east){{ACTcity|p=on|Fyshwick}}, South Canberra, {{ACTcity|City}}

|notes=Half-diamond interchange: northbound exit, southbound entry only
Route A23 continues west along Canberra Avenue, southern terminus of route M23 north

}}

{{ACTint

|LGA=Canberra Central

|LGAspan=2

|location=Fyshwick

|lspan=2

|km=282.6

|road=Dairy Road (west) – Jerrabomberra Wetlands
Newcastle Street (east){{ACTcity|p=on|Fyshwick}}

|notes=Diamond interchange

}}

{{ACTint

|km=283.9

|bridge=Canberra railway line

}}

{{jctbridge

|river=Molonglo River

|km=284.9

|bridge=Malcolm Fraser bridge

}}

{{ACTint

|LGA=Canberra Central–Majura boundary

|LGAspan=2

|location_special={{ACTcity|Fyshwick}}–{{ACTcity|Campbell}}–{{ACTcity|Pialligo}} tripoint

|lspan=2

|km=285.1

|uspan=2

|road=Morshead Drive (west) – North Canberra, {{ACTcity|City}}
{{AUshield|+|airport}} Pialligo Avenue (east){{NSWcity|p=on|Queanbeyan}}, Canberra Airport

|notes=

}}

{{ACTint

|type=trans

|km=none

|road={{AUshield|ACT|M23}} Majura Parkway – Majura

|notes=Northern terminus of Monaro Highway, route M23 continues north along Majura Parkway

}}

{{jctbtm|col=7|conv=no|keys=incomplete,concur,trans|key={{small|Listing includes: Terminuses, declared roads, former alignments, grade separated interchanges, and intersections where a turn is required to remain on the highway}}}}

{{stack|{{Portal|Australian Roads|Australia|New South Wales}}}}

• Highways in Australia
• Highways in New South Wales
• List of highways in Victoria
• Road infrastructure in Canberra

{{reflist}}

{{Attached KML|display = inline, title}}

{{commons category-inline}}

{{Road infrastructure in Canberra}}

{{Road infrastructure in New South Wales}}

{{Road infrastructure in Victoria}}

Category:Highways in Australia

Category:Highways in the Australian Capital Territory

Category:Highways in New South Wales