Australian Towns, Cities & Highways: B64

B64 (Sturt Hwy-Crystal Brook) was

The B64, originally National Route 64, links the Riverland to the mid north region in central South Australia. Starting at the Sturt Highway near the small Riverland town of Monash, the B64 heads due west passing to the north of Barmera and Lake Bonney, then hugging the north side of the Murray River to Morgan. Countryside is typical Riverland - flat with at times vast citrus plantations set in a dry, mallee environment. From Morgan, the highway heads north-west passing into the northern Mount Lofty Ranges across more arid regions before reaching the old copper town of Burra. The highway continues in a westerly direction across typical treeless, mid north wheat and sheep farming regions through a series of small towns before finishing at Port Wakefield Road (National Highway 1) near Crystal Brook. With it now being fully sealed (finally), the B64's status should improve as it could well form part of the primary route for motorists from Sydney to Perth as it delivers a considerable short-cut across central South Australia - signage on the A20 and A1 should be updated accordingly to promote this.

State: South Australia
Start: Sturt Highway junction (4km west of Monash)
Principal Towns: Monash, Morgan, Burra, Spalding, Gulnare, Crystal Brook
Finish: Port Wakefield Road (National Route 1) (4km west of Crystal Brook)
Length: 266km
Road Standard: All bitumen
Road Quality: Varied. Good to excellent road between Monash and Burra. Average road from Burra to Crystal Brook.
Speed Limit (outside built up areas): 110km/hr

Photos from the B64 (Click on thumbnail for full sized image):

	Approaching the B64/A20 (Sturt Hwy) junction looking east near Monash - note the old Hwy 64 shield (2004).
	Heading west on the B64 from the Sturt Hwy junction near Monash - again note the old Hwy 64 shield (2004).
	Looking east on the B64 as it departs Crystal Brook (2003).
	Looking east on the B64 from Port Wakefield Road junction (2003).
	Heading south on the A1 (Port Wakefield Rd) approaching the B64 junction (2003).