Capricorn Highway

Capricorn Highway was

The Capricorn Highway, one of Queensland's major east-west highways, recently changed its route number to the A4 from National Route 66 and essentially traces the Tropic of Capricorn. Starting on the southern outskirts of Rockhampton, the highway heads due west, bypassing Gracemere before heading deep into cattle and beef country. As the highway winds its way through (no escarpment) the Great Dividing Range, it passes through the small towns of Westwood and Duaringa before reaching the central highlands and coal mining regions of Blackwater and Emerald. Further west, the highway briefly passes through sapphire mining country at Anakie but eventually enters into the QLD outback ending at the Landsborough Highway at Barcaldine. Motorists continuing west towards Longreach and Mt Isa are to use the Landsborough Highway.

State: Queensland
Name Origin: The Capricorn Highway is named appropriately as it essentially follows the Tropic of Capricorn latitude.
Start: Bruce Highway (Rockhampton)
Principal Towns: Rockhampton, Gracemere *, Westwood, Duaringa, Dingo, Blackwater, Comet, Emerald, Anakie, Alpha, Barcaldine
Finish: Landsborough Highway (Barcaldine)
Length: 574km
Road Standard: Bitumen
Road Quality: Generally good - several overtaking lanes between Rockhampton and Emerald. Highway is moderately windy between Westwood and Duaringa. West of Duaringa, the highway opens up into flat, dry country with long sections of straight road with traffic levels generally becoming less.
Speed Limit (outside built up areas): 100km/hr. Some sections of 110km/hr between Duaringa and Blackwater.
* - denotes towns/cities bypassed by the Capricorn Highway

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

Heading east on the Capricorn Hwy approaching the Bruce Highway at Rockhampton (2004).

The Capricorn Hwy, heading west approaching the Gracemere turnoff (2004).

Distance sign upon leaving Gracemere (old sign - has since been removed). Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this photo! (1999)

Same spot, different sign - heading west on the Capricorn Hwy from Gracemere (2004).

Join kilometre sign and trailblazer (common practice in QLD) heading west on the Capricorn Hwy (2004).

Looking east along the Capricorn Highway as it approaches Blackwater (1999).

Distance sign, heading east from Emerald (2004).

Directional sign, heading west on the Capricorn Highway as it approaches the Gregory Highway, Emerald. Note how Route 66 is still used on this sign (2004).

Sign assembly at the western junction of the Gregory and Capricorn Highways, Emerald (2004).

Heading west on the Capricorn Highway at the Lake Maraboon turnoff in Emerald (2004).

Distance sign, heading west from Emerald (2004).

Kilometre sign, heading west on the Capricorn Highway between Emerald and Alpha (2004).

	Heading east on the Capricorn Hwy approaching the Bruce Highway at Rockhampton (2004).
	The Capricorn Hwy, heading west approaching the Gracemere turnoff (2004).
	Distance sign upon leaving Gracemere (old sign - has since been removed). Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this photo! (1999)
	Same spot, different sign - heading west on the Capricorn Hwy from Gracemere (2004).
	Join kilometre sign and trailblazer (common practice in QLD) heading west on the Capricorn Hwy (2004).
	Looking east along the Capricorn Highway as it approaches Blackwater (1999).
	Distance sign, heading east from Emerald (2004).
	Directional sign, heading west on the Capricorn Highway as it approaches the Gregory Highway, Emerald. Note how Route 66 is still used on this sign (2004).
	Sign assembly at the western junction of the Gregory and Capricorn Highways, Emerald (2004).
	Heading west on the Capricorn Highway at the Lake Maraboon turnoff in Emerald (2004).
	Distance sign, heading west from Emerald (2004).
	Kilometre sign, heading west on the Capricorn Highway between Emerald and Alpha (2004).