Road Photos & Information: Queensland

Castlereagh Highway & Carnarvon Highway (A55)

Statistics:

• Length: 355 km
• Northern Terminus: Warrego Hwy (A2) at Roma
• Southern Terminus: NSW-QLD Border at Hebek
• Miscellaneous: Continues at NR55 in New South Wales
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along The Route: Hebel, Dirranbandi, Surat and Roma

Route Numbering:

• Current:  
• Former: 
• Multiplexes: 
• Road Authority Classification: 24B / 24C (Carnarvon Hwy) & 37A (Castlereagh Hwy) 1

General Information:

A55 is a rural highway in the southern central west of Queensland. It's a mostly single carriageway route.

Multiplexes along the route include:

• State Route 49 (Moonie Hwy / Balonne Hwy) for 10 km at St George

History:

• 2004: Widening and bitumen sealing of the Castlereagh Highway south from Dirranbandi. 2
• 2005: Construction of new approaches and bridge over Narran River near Dirranbandi 3
  
• 2006: Widening of sealed surface between St George and Hebel 4. Also widening works for a 5.3 km stretch of the Carnarvon Hwy south of Surat. 5.
• 2008: Construction of a heavy vehicle rest area between Dirranbandi and St George 6, plus 4 new heavy vehicle rest areas between St George and Roma and upgrades to 4 existing heavy vehicle rest areas between St George and Roma 7. Also an $800,000 upgrade of a 5 km stretch of Castlereagh Highway, 18km south of Dirranbandi.  The work incldued shoulder widening to 9m, pavement repairs and replacement of existing deteriorated culvert structures. 8.

St George to Roma			Roma to St George
Preview:	Description:		Preview:	Description:
	Welcome to Queensland: Tourism Queensland sign welcoming motorists to Queensland, as the Castlereagh Hwy crosses the border from NSW. It's here the route number changes from NR55 (used in NSW) to A55 (used in QLD). October 2005. Image © Paul Rands			Reassurance Directional Sign: RD sign after the Moonie Hwy (SR49) intersection at St George, October 2005. This sign should also show the SR49 duplex between here and the St George CBD. Image © Paul Rands
	State Speed Limits Sign: Sign indicating the maximum speed limits used in QLD, as you cross the border from NSW at Hebel, October 2005. Image © Paul Rands			Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on the corner Balonne Hwy (SR49) (Victoria St) and Grey St in St George, October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Services Sign: Services sign indicating tourist information details, Hebel, October 2005. Image © Paul Rands			Distance Sign: RD sign on Grey St (Carnarvon Hwy) in St George, after the Balonne Hwy (SR49) intersection. October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Dust Sign: Regulatory sign indicating heavy vehicles are to stop outside of the town centre to allow dust to fall from their vehicles before entering. Hebel, October 2005. Image © Paul Rands			Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the corner of Carnarvon Hwy (NR46) and Castlereagh Hwy (A55) southeast of St George, October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Dust Drop Bay: Bay for heavy vehicles to drop dust before entering Hebel. October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Entering Hebel: Entering the village of Hebel, October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Fingerboard Assembly: Fingerboards at the intersection with Margaret and William Streets in Hebel, October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the junction with Margaret and William Streets in Hebel, October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign as you leave Hebel, October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching the intersection with Dirranbandi-Bollon Rd at Dirranbandi. A55 turns right at this junction. October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the intersection with Dirranbandi-Bollon Rd at Dirranbandi. A55 turns right at this junction. October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign ID sign in the Dirranbandi town centre as A55 makes its way onto Railway Street, October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Dirranbandi Town Centre: Looking east through Dirranbandi, October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: Reassurance directional sign as you leave Dirranbandi, October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign facing Castlereagh Hwy traffic at St George. A55 turns left here and becomes Carnarvon Hwy. October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign after the Castlereagh Hwy / Carnarvon Hwy (NR46) intersection at St George. October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Entering St George: Council welcome sign as you enter St George, October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	AD sign: Advance directional sign on Grey St (A55) approaching Balonne Hwy (SR49) intersection. A55 turns right at this intersection onto Victoria St, and picks up the duplex with SR49 for about 10 km. St George, October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign leaving St George near Scott Street, showing the SR49 duplex, October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign near St George, October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Moonie Hwy (SR49) at St George. The SR49 duplex ends at this junction. A55 continues straight through at this junction. October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the intersection with Moonie Hwy (SR49) at St George. October 2005. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of Castlereagh Highway as NR55 in New South Wales

1 Map of the State Road Network of Queensland, 30 June 2008
2 Balonne Shire Annual Report 2003-2004
3 Balonne Shire Annual Report 2004-2005
4 Ministerial Media Statement, More Work for Border Transport Routes, 06 June 2006
5 Ministerial Media Statement, Widening Works on Cararvon Highway, 16 June 2006
6 Ministerial Media Statement, New heavy vehicle rest stops to combat driver fatigue, 26 November 2008
7 Ministerial Media Statement, Rest area upgrades along Carnarvon Highway help truckies, 07 July 2008
8 Ministerial Regional Community Forum Government Activities Statement (Darling Downs / Southwest Queensland), 4 December 2007 – 29 February 2008