Road Photos & Information: South Australia

Stuart Highway (National Highway A87)

Statistics:

• Length: 2129 km (SA: 927 km)
• Northern Terminus: Northern Territory Border, 157 km northwest of Marla
• Southern Terminus: Eyre Highway, Port Augusta West
• Miscellaneous: Continues of NH87 in Northern Territory
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities along route: Port Augusta West, Pimba, Glendambo, Coober Pedy and Marla

Route Numbering:

• Current:
• Former:
• Transport SA Internal Classification: 01000 1

General Information:

The Stuart Highway is named after explorer John McDouall Stuart, the first European to cross Australia from South to North, and it generally follows his route. 2

It is a rural highway, which is very isolated, and acts as part of the main road link between Darwin, Alice Springs and Adelaide.

History:

• 1944: Completion of the Stuart Highway as a dirt track / gravel road as the main road link from SA to Darwin. 3
• 1978: Work to upgrade the Stuart Highway started. The conditions along the series of tracks that led from Port Augusta to the Northern Territory border were so severe that work could only done between April and October each year. Survey work took five years. Conditions for the road gangs were of concern and small towns sprang up which enabled families to live together. Aboriginal advisers were consulted on where the road could cross their lands. During construction of the Stuart Highway, road gangs had semi-permanent camps at Lake Hart, Baker’s Well and Bon Bon. While the road-work moved along the highway, survey work and the search for materials and water for construction was also in progress. 4
• 24 March 1987: Federal Minister for Transport Peter Morris opened the upgraded Stuart Highway. Three plaques were unveiled on a rock to commemorate the completion of the Highway. 3

Port Augusta West to NT Border (Northbound)			NT Border to Port Augusta West (Southbound)
Preview:	Description:		Preview:	Description:
	ID Sign: Intersection direction sign at the intersection with Hutchison Street in Coober Pedy. August 2008. Image © Kate Pilling			SA Welcome Sign: Crossing from NT into SA, southbound. This sign shows South Australia for southbound traffic and Norhern Territory for northbound traffic. Marla, September 2008. Image © Kate Pilling
	Kempe Road Intersection: ID sign on the junction with Kempe Road in Coober Pedy. August 2008. Image © Kate Pilling			Advance Direction Sign: Southbound approaching Mintabie Road at Marla. September 2008. Image © Kate Pilling
	Distance Sign: RD as you leave Coober Pedy, August 2008. Image © Kate Pilling			AD Sign: Advance directional sign for the Oodnadatta Track intersection at Marla, September 2008. Image © Kate Pilling
	AD Sign: Advance directional sign for the Oodnadatta Track intersection at Marla, August 2008. Image © Kate Pilling			Intersection Directional Sign Assembly: Signage facing roadhouse traffic on the Oodnadatta Track in Marla, near the Stuart Highway, September 2008. Image © Kate Pilling
				Intersection Directional Sign Assembly: Signage facing traffic on the Oodnadatta Track in Marla, September 2008. Image © Kate Pilling
				Distance Sign: Southbound RD sign as you leave Marla, September 2008. Image © Kate Pilling
				Distance Sign: Southbound RD sign at Pimba, September 2008. Image © Kate Pilling
				Approaching Eyre Hwy: Southbound AD sign approaching the southern terminus of NH-A87, the Eyre Highway (NH-A1) at Port Augusta West, September 2008. Image © Kate Pilling
Click here for the continuation of the Stuart Highway as NH87 in the Northern Territory

1 Transport SA
2 NT Government Chief Minister's Office
3 Government of South Australia
4 History Trust of South Australia

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