Australian Towns, Cities & Highways: Castlereagh Highway

Castlereagh Highway (NSW)

The Castlereagh Highway, starts at the Great Western Highway, just north of Lithgow in central NSW. It immediately heads north-west as State Route 86, passing Windamere Dam, then across various sheep, cattle and grain growing regions, through Mudgee, Gulgong, Dunedoo and into Gilgandra. The highway continues north (now as National Route 55), keeping to the west of the Warrambungle Ranges and follows the Castlereagh River passing through cotton fields into Coonamble. It eventually enters the northern goldfields area, passing through Walgett and near to Lightning Ridge before reaching the QLD border, 4km south of Hebel.

State: New South Wales
Name Origin: The Castlereagh Highway is named after the Castlereagh River for which a significant length of the highway follows (Mendooran-Walgett approx 250km). The river gains its name Lord Castlereagh - the secretary of state for the new Australian colonies.
Start: Great Western Highway (8km north of Lithgow)
Principal Towns: Lithgow, Mudgee, Gulgong, Dunedoo, Gilgandra, Coonamble, Walgett, Lightning Ridge
Finish: NSW/QLD border (Hebel)
Length: 636km
Road Standard: All bitumen.
Road Quality: Road is at its best between Mudgee and Lithgow where there are occasional overtaking lanes - traffic levels are moderate with some windy sections encountered. Reasonable quality between Gilgandra and Coonamble with a narrower road thereafter to the QLD border. North of Gilgandra, the highway is open, flat, has low traffic levels with ample overtaking opportunities.
Speed Limit (outside built up areas): 100km/hr Lithgow-Gilgandra, 110km/hr Gilgandra-QLD Border
Road Continuation: Click for the Great Western Highway. Click here for the Castlereagh Highway in QLD.

Photos from the Castlereagh Highway (NSW) (Click on thumbnail for full sized image):

	Distance sign, heading south from Ilford on the Castlereagh Highway (2006).
	Looking north through Ilford on the Castlereagh Highway as it approaches Sofala Road (2006).
	Looking south on the Castlereagh Highway as it passes through Ilford. Thanks to Jamie Suglia for this pic! (2004)
	Distance sign, heading north on the Castlereagh Highway from Ilford (2006).
	Heading south on the Castlereagh Highway between Mudgee and Ilford. Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2004).
	Looking north on the Castlereagh Highway as it approaches the Rylstone turnoff (2006).
	Looking south along the Castlereagh Highway, a few kilometres out of Mudgee (2006).
	Heading south along the Castlereagh Highway from Mudgee (2006).
	Looking south along Church Street as it approaches the Cudgegong River and Market St (Castlereagh Hwy), Mudgee. Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic (2004).
	Looking north-west along Market St (Castlereagh Hwy) in Mudgee (2006).
	Heading south-east on the Castlereagh Highway from the Golden Hwy junction, near Dunedoo - thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic! (2004)
	View west along the Golden Highway as it approaches the eastern Castlereagh Highway junction, east of Dunedoo - thank to Jamie Scuglia for this pic! (2004)
	Distance sign, heading west along the Golden/Castlereagh Highways from the eastern Castlereagh Highway junction - thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this pic! (2004)
	On the Castlereagh Hwy, heading north from Gilgandra (2002).
	Looking south along the Castlereagh Highway, 5km north of Coonamble (2003).
	The Castlereagh Highway, heading south from Walgett (2003).
	Looking north on the Castlereagh Highway, from the Kamilaroi junction, north of Walgett (2003).
	Looking south on the Castlereagh Highway as it approaches the Gwydir Hwy junction (2003).
	Sign assembly on the Castlereagh Hwy between Walgett and Lightning Ridge (2003).
	Heading north on the Castlereagh Highway between Walgett and Lightning Ridge (2003).
	The Castlereagh Highway, heading north approaching the Lightning Ridge turnoff (2003).
	Heading south along the Castlereagh Hwy from the NSW/QLD border (2003).

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