Hervey Range Developmental Road

Hervey Range Road

Queensland
General information
TypeRural road
Length125 km (78 mi)[1]
Route number(s)
  • Entire route
Major junctions
East end Thuringowa Drive, and
Ross River Road, Kirwan
 
West end Gregory Highway, Basalt
Location(s)
Major settlementsThuringowa Central, Bohle Plains, Rangewood, Alice River, Hervey Range

Hervey Range Developmental Road (alternate spellings: "Herveys", "Hervey's") is a continuous 125-kilometre (78 mi) road route in the Townsville and Charters Towers local government areas of Queensland, Australia. It is designated as State Route 72.[1] It is a state-controlled regional road (number 83A).[2][3]


Route description

The road commences as Hervey Range Road (State Route 72) at an intersection with Garbutt–Upper Ross Road (Thuringowa Drive / Riverway Drive) and Ross River Road (see below), on a mid-point of Kirwan and Thuringowa Central. State Route 72 continues east on Ross River Road. The road proceeds west through Thuringowa Central, passing between Kirwan and Condon, and crossing the Bohle River as it enters Bohle Plains. Here it runs under the Bruce Highway at an incomplete diamond interchange. From the start to this point the road has a four-lane divided carriageway, which reverts to two lanes undivided just west of the Bruce Highway.[1]

Continuing west the road passes between Rangewood and Alice River, and then crosses the Alice River, a tributary of the Black River, and follows the boundary between the localities of Hervey Range and Black River. After crossing Scrubby Creek and Canal Creek, passing the exit to Black River Road to the north-east, entering Hervey Range, and crossing Log Creek, the road turns south-east. It runs parallel to the Black River as it approaches the ascent of the Hervey Range. At the peak of the range, following a circuitous climb, it passes through the southern tip of Lynam, enters the Charters Towers Region and then continues to the south-east, still in the locality of Hervey Range.[1][4]

On entering the locality of Dotswood the road turns to the west. It continues west, passing the exit to Dotswood Road to the south and crossing several creeks and the Star River before reaching the Burdekin River, which it crosses into the locality of Basalt. After turning south-west it reaches an intersection with the Gregory Highway, where it ends.[1]

About 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) of this road has a gradient greater than 5%, of which 440 metres (1,440 ft) is between 10 and 15%, and 320 metres (1,050 ft) is greater than 15%. The highest point on the road is 421 metres (1,381 ft) and the lowest is 15.2 metres (50 ft).[5] The road is fully sealed.[6]

For communities along the Gulf Developmental Road, this road is part of the shortest route to east coast centres from Townsville to Mackay.[7]

Road widening

A project to widen more than 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) of this road, at a cost of $8.9 million, was to be completed late in 2021.[8]

Ross River Road

Ross River Road

State Route 72 marker

LocationTownsville Connection Road (Bowen Road / Charters Towers Road), Mundingburra to Garbutt-Upper Ross Road (Thuringowa Drive / Riverway Drive), Kirwan
Length8.1 km (5.0 mi)
Route number72

Ross River Road is a state-controlled district road (number 612).[2][3] It starts at an intersection with Townsville Connection Road (Bowen Road / Charters Towers Road) (State Route 17) in Mundingburra. It runs west as State Route 72, crossing Douglas-Garbutt Road (Nathan Street), for 8.1 kilometres (5.0 mi) to Kirwan, where it ends at an intersection with Garbutt–Upper Ross Road (Thuringowa Drive / Riverway Drive), while State Route 72 continues west on Hervey Range Road. The road's only major intersection is with Douglas–Garbutt Road.[9]

History

The original Hervey Range Road, now known as Page Road, was a steep and difficult track. It was constructed in 1865, and was then the only way to travel from Townsville to the west.[10]

Gold was discovered in Charters Towers in 1871.[11] In the period 1872 to 1899 the population grew to about 25,000. The railway opened in 1882, effectively replacing a two-day coach ride from Townsville for new arrivals.[12]

The current Hervey's Range Road (as it was then called) was opened in April, 1933.[13]

Major intersections

All distances are from Google Maps.[1]

LGALocationkmmiDestinationsNotes
TownsvilleKirwan / Thuringowa Central midpoint00.0 Thuringowa Drive – north – Kirwan
Ross River Road – northeast – Aitkenvale, Mundingburra
Riverway Drive – south – Condon		Eastern end of Hervey Range Developmental Road (State Route 72).
Road continues west as Hervey Range Road.
Bohle Plains3.4–
3.8		2.1–
2.4		 Bruce Highway – north – Deeragun
– south – Condon		No access to Bruce Highway southbound for westbound traffic on Hervey Range Road.
Road continues west.
Charters TowersHervey Range17.010.6Black River Road – northeast – Black River and Bruce HighwayRoad continues west.
Dotswood63.539.5Dotswood Road – south – Mingela and Flinders HighwayRoad continues west.
Basalt12578 Gregory Highway – northwest – Greenvale
– southeast – Charters Towers.		Western end of Hervey Range Developmental Road (State Route 72).
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also


References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Google (28 January 2023). "Kirwan to Basalt" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 "North Queensland region map" (PDF). Department of Transport and Main Roads ©State of Queensland [CC BY 4.0]. 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Northern district map" (PDF). Department of Transport and Main Roads ©State of Queensland [CC BY 4.0]. 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  4. ↑ Hervey Range (Map). Open Street Map. 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  5. ↑ "Hervey Range Developmental Road". Bonzle Digital Atlas. 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  6. ↑ "The Tropics Trail". Charters Towers Regional Council. 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  7. ↑ Google (2 February 2023). "Karumba to Mackay" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  8. ↑ "Hervey Range Developmental Road (Townsville - Battery), Rupertswood Drive to Black River Road, widen pavement". Queensland Government. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  9. ↑ Google (28 January 2023). "Mundingburra to Kirwan" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  10. ↑ "Original Hervey Range Road (Page Road)". tracks.4x4 earth.com. 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  11. ↑ Charters Towers Story Archived 22 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Citigold Corporation. January 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  12. ↑ "World History". Charters Towers Regional Council. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  13. ↑ "North Queensland History - Hervey's Range Road". Trisha Fielding. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2023.


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