Australian Towns, Cities & Highways: Sturt Highway

Sturt Highway (SA) was previously

The Sturt Highway is one of the premier east-west routes in South Australia, linking Adelaide with the Riverland as well as the eastern states. Starting in the northern Adelaide suburbs, the Sturt Highway traces Main North Road through outer suburbia to Gawler where it then heads north-east into the Barossa Valley and the Northern Mt Lofty Ranges, before winding down onto the Murray flats and entering the Riverland region. The highway then bypasses most of the towns in some form, but essentially follows the path of the Murray River crossing the major river three times before reaching the Victorian border.
Great road to drive on - with most towns bypassed, travel times can be estimated with some degree of accuracy. Despite some long sections of flat mallee scrub to look at, there are some scenic spots near the Murray River and amongst the Barossa Valley however its existence and alignment is very much in favour of moving traffic.
The highway has had several changes over time affecting its route, with the significant alterations including the Gawler Bypass (1960's), the Northern Barossa Deviation (moving the highway through Lyndoch over to its current route - 1976), the Greenock/Nuriootpa bypasses (early 1980's) and the Monash deviation (moving the highway through Berri to its current route - 1995).

State: South Australia
Name Origin: The highway is named after Charles Sturt, the explorer and navigator who was the first to travel the Murray-Darling-Murrumbidgee River network from NSW to the Murray Mouth in South Australia. The highway's path follows a significant length of the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers thus the name "Sturt Highway".
Start: Adelaide (Gepps Cross - A1/A16 junction - 9km north of the CBD)
Principal Towns: Adelaide, Gawler *, Greenock *, Nuriootpa *, Truro, Blanchetown, Waikerie *, Barmera *, Monash, Renmark, Paringa
Finish: SA/VIC Border
Length: 268km
Road Standard: All bitumen.
Road Quality: Excellent - dual carriageway from Adelaide up to and including the Gawler Bypass. Single carriageway thereafter (although Super 2 between Daveyston and Stockton). Several overtaking lanes between Gawler and Truro. Flat and straight road through the entire Riverland with plenty of overtaking oppurtunities (little overtaking lanes) albeit plenty of traffic.
Speed Limit (outside built up areas): 110km/hr
Road Continuation: Click here for the Sturt Highway in Victoria
* - denotes towns bypassed by the Sturt Highway

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

	Approaching the start of the A20 heading east on Grand Junction Road, Gepps Cross (2004).
	Heading north-east on Main North Road, just after the Montague Road junction, Mawson Lakes (2004).
	Approaching the start of the Gawler Bypass, Evanston Gardens (2004).
	Heading north on the Barrier Highway at the Sturt Highway interchange, Gawler (2004).
	Eastbound on the Sturt Highway from the Barrier Hwy interchange, Gawler (2001).
	Heading east from Truro on the Sturt Highway. Note the old NH20 shield. (2004).
	Looking east into the Riverland as the Sturt Highway winds down from the Mt Lofty Ranges (near Truro) (2004).
	Heading east on the Sturt Hwy at Blanchetown (2004).
	The Sturt Highway bridge over the Murray River, Blanchetown (2004).
	Heading east on the Sturt Highway approaching the western Waikerie turnoff (2004).
	Distance sign heading west from Waikerie on the Sturt Highway (2004).
	Approaching the Sturt Highway from Waikerie (note the old NH20 route markers) (2004).
	Looking west on the Sturt Hwy at the eastern Waikerie intersection (2004).
	Heading east on the Sturt Hwy between Waikerie and Barmera (2004).
	Distance sign, heading east on the Sturt Highway just after the Moorook Road junction (2004).
	Heading east on the Sturt Hwy approaching the western Barmera turnoff (2004).
	Direction sign advising of the Sturt Hwy/Old Sturt Hwy junction, heading east in Glossop (2004).
	Eastbound on the Sturt Hwy at the B64 junction near Monash (2004).
	Eastbound on the Sturt Highway between Berri and Renmark. Thanks to Jamie Scuglia for this picture (2001).
	Looking south along Renmark Avenue at the Sturt Highway intersection. Note the old NR20 route marker, Renmark (2004).
	Direction sign on the Sturt Hwy, heading east through Paringa (2004).
	Heading west on the Sturt Hwy approaching the Loxton turnoff, 10km east of Paringa (2001). Thanks again to Jamie Scuglia for this image.
	Heading east under the Riverland welcome sign with the Yamba Fruit Fly Inpsection Station directly behind it, Yamba (2004).
	Westbound on the Sturt Highway, approaching Yamba with an old kilometre sign (2004).
	Heading east on the Sturt Highway about to cross into Victoria (note the bitumen change!) (2004).
	Distance sign, heading west on the Sturt Hwy into South Australia at the SA/VIC border (2004).