Warrego Highway
Encyclopedia
The Warrego Highway is located in southern Queensland
, Australia
. It connects coastal centres to the south western areas of the state, and is approximately 750 km in length. It takes its name from the Warrego River
, which is the endpoint of the highway. The entire highway is part of the National Highway
system linking Darwin
and Brisbane
: formerly National Highway 54, Queensland began to convert to the alphanumeric system much of Australia had adopted in the early-2000s and is now designated as National Highway A2.
, near Ipswich
, and climbs the Great Dividing Range
to Toowoomba
. The first section of highway between Ipswich and Toowoomba is motorway grade, a four lane divided highway with motorway-style on-ramps and off-ramps. In the Lockyer Valley the highway is experiencing strip development with a growth in petrol stations and commercial properties.
From Toowoomba, it then crosses the Darling Downs and continues to Charleville
where the road is two lanes with many passing lanes along the route.
, announced that an 85km stretch of the Warrego Highway will be renamed Darren Lockyer
Way, in honour of the retired Brisbane Broncos
, Queensland and Australian rugby league
captain. The section of road to be renamed is from Riverview
to the bottom of the Toowoomba Range at Withcott
. Special signage including "Welcome to Darren Lockyer Way" will be erected over the next three months.
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It connects coastal centres to the south western areas of the state, and is approximately 750 km in length. It takes its name from the Warrego River
Warrego River
The Warrego River is situated in south west Queensland and north west New South Wales, Australia. It is the northernmost tributary of the Darling River....
, which is the endpoint of the highway. The entire highway is part of the National Highway
National Highway (Australia)
thumb|right|150px|The National Highway Shield in NSW, QLD, WA, NT & TAS.The National Highway is a system of roads connecting all the States and Territories of Australia, and is the major network of highways connecting Australia's largest and most important cities.The National Highway was...
system linking Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
and Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
: formerly National Highway 54, Queensland began to convert to the alphanumeric system much of Australia had adopted in the early-2000s and is now designated as National Highway A2.
Route
The highway commences at the end of the M2 Ipswich MotorwayIpswich Motorway
The M7 runs from the junction of Ipswich Road and Granard Road to the M2 Logan Motorway interchange. It is then signed M2 until the junction of the Warrego Highway and the Cunningham Highway between Brisbane and Ipswich in South East Queensland, Australia.It initially passes through the suburbs of...
, near Ipswich
Ipswich, Queensland
Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
, and climbs the Great Dividing Range
Great Dividing Range
The Great Dividing Range, or the Eastern Highlands, is Australia's most substantial mountain range and the third longest in the world. The range stretches more than 3,500 km from Dauan Island off the northeastern tip of Queensland, running the entire length of the eastern coastline through...
to Toowoomba
Toowoomba, Queensland
Toowoomba is a city in Southern Queensland, Australia. It is located west of Queensland's capital city, Brisbane. With an estimated district population of 128,600, Toowoomba is Australia's second largest inland city and its largest non-capital inland city...
. The first section of highway between Ipswich and Toowoomba is motorway grade, a four lane divided highway with motorway-style on-ramps and off-ramps. In the Lockyer Valley the highway is experiencing strip development with a growth in petrol stations and commercial properties.
From Toowoomba, it then crosses the Darling Downs and continues to Charleville
Charleville, Queensland
Charleville is a town in south western Queensland, Australia, 758 kilometres by road west of Brisbane . It is the largest town and administrative centre of the Murweh Shire, which covers an area of 43,905 square kilometres...
where the road is two lanes with many passing lanes along the route.
Terrain
The Warrego Highway's lowest point along its length is 3.69 m where it crosses the Bremer River near Ipswich, and its highest elevation is 665 m where it crosses the Great Dividing Range as it enters Toowoomba.Speed zones
- Ipswich - Blacksoil 100 km/h
- Blacksoil - Brisbane Valley Highway Junction 80 km/h
- Brisbane Valley Highway Junction - Withcott 100 km/h
- Withcott - Great Dividing Range 60 km/h to 100 km/h
- Through Toowoomba 60 km/h
- Toowoomba - Charleville 100 km/h except sections between Toowoomba and Chinchilla at 110 km/h
Towns along the route
From east to west, the highway passes through or close to the cities and major towns of:- IpswichIpswich, QueenslandIpswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
- GattonGatton, QueenslandGatton is a town and the administrative centre of the Lockyer Valley Local Government Area situated in the Lockyer Valley of South East Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Gatton had a population of 5,295....
- ToowoombaToowoomba, QueenslandToowoomba is a city in Southern Queensland, Australia. It is located west of Queensland's capital city, Brisbane. With an estimated district population of 128,600, Toowoomba is Australia's second largest inland city and its largest non-capital inland city...
- OakeyOakey, QueenslandOakey is a rural town situated in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. It is situated west of the state capital, Brisbane, and west of the regional city of Toowoomba. At the 2006 census, Oakey had a population of 3,657.-History:...
- DalbyDalby, QueenslandDalby is a town in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, and is located approximately west of the state capital, Brisbane, at the junction of the Warrego, Moonie and Bunya Highways. Dalby is the administrative centre of the Western Downs Region and the centre of Australia's richest...
- ChinchillaChinchilla, QueenslandChinchilla is a town in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Chinchilla had a population of 3,681.The town was established in 1877...
- MilesMiles, QueenslandMiles is a small town in Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Miles had a population of 1,164.The town is situated on the Warrego Highway, 340 kilometres west of Brisbane, the state capital. Formerly known as Dogwood Crossing, the town is situated on Dogwood Creek, named by German explorer...
- RomaRoma, QueenslandRoma is a town in the western Darling Downs area of Queensland, Australia, by rail WNW of Brisbane. It is situated at the junction of the Warrego and Carnarvon highways...
- MitchellMitchell, QueenslandMitchell is a town in the Western Downs region of Queensland, Australia. It is on the Warrego Highway, 587 kilometres west of Brisbane and 176 kilometres east of Charleville. At the 2006 census, Mitchell had a population of 944....
- MorvenMorven, QueenslandMorven is a town in western Queensland, Australia. The town is located on the Warrego Highway, east of Charleville and west of Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Morven had a population of 276....
- CharlevilleCharleville, QueenslandCharleville is a town in south western Queensland, Australia, 758 kilometres by road west of Brisbane . It is the largest town and administrative centre of the Murweh Shire, which covers an area of 43,905 square kilometres...
Darren Lockyer Way
On 28 September 2011 the Queensland Main Roads Minister, Craig WallaceCraig Wallace
Craig Andrew Wallace is an Australian politician. He is the member for Thuringowa in the Queensland State Parliament, to which he was elected to on 7 February 2004....
, announced that an 85km stretch of the Warrego Highway will be renamed Darren Lockyer
Darren Lockyer
Darren Lockyer is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He was the captain of the Australian national team, the Queensland State of Origin team and his National Rugby League club, the Brisbane Broncos. His professional career spanned between 1995 and 2011...
Way, in honour of the retired Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
, Queensland and Australian rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
captain. The section of road to be renamed is from Riverview
Riverview, Queensland
Riveview is a suburb of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.-Transport:Riverview railway station provides access to regular Citytrain services to Brisbane, Ipswich and Rosewood via Ipswich.-External links:*...
to the bottom of the Toowoomba Range at Withcott
Withcott
Withcott is a town in the Lockyer Valley region of Queensland, Australia. The town is located on the Warrego Highway, west of the state capital, Brisbane and east of the regional centre of Toowoomba. At the 2006 census, Withcott had a population of 1,000....
. Special signage including "Welcome to Darren Lockyer Way" will be erected over the next three months.