Gulf Developmental Road is an Australian highway linking the
Cairns and
Normanton regions in northern
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
,
Australia. It is the only sealed (
asphalt
Asphalt, also known as bitumen (, ), is a sticky, black, highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It may be found in natural deposits or may be a refined product, and is classed as a pitch. Before the 20th century, the term ...
) road linking these two regions.
In the east, the road begins at an unnamed junction on the southern edge of
Forty Mile Scrub National Park, 241 km south-west of Cairns. The Gulf Developmental Road runs west before terminating at its junction with the
Burke Developmental Road
The Burke Developmental Road is a Queensland ( Australia) developmental road. It links Cloncurry and Normanton in a south–north direction, then turns to the north-east north of Normanton for before turning south-east till Dimbulah, where ...
7 km south of Normanton, a total distance of 442 km. Towns along the route include
Mount Surprise,
Georgetown and
Croydon
Croydon is a large town in south London, England, south of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Croydon, a local government district of Greater London. It is one of the largest commercial districts in Greater London, with an extens ...
.
[Queensland Government - Department of Transport and Main Roads - Maps]
/ref> There are no other communities along the route, but it passes through the ghost town
Ghost Town(s) or Ghosttown may refer to:
* Ghost town, a town that has been abandoned
Film and television
* ''Ghost Town'' (1936 film), an American Western film by Harry L. Fraser
* ''Ghost Town'' (1956 film), an American Western film by All ...
of Cumberland. The road is sealed for its full length, but as of 2018 there are many sections of the road which are only single lane bitumen. These sections require caution when passing other traffic as the shoulders are gravel and vehicles need to move partly onto the shoulders. They extend between points about 55 kilometres west of Georgetown and 20 kilometres west of Mount Surprise.
The Gulf Developmental Road is designated Highway 1
The following highways are numbered 1.
For roads numbered A1, see list of A1 roads.
For roads numbered B1, see list of B1 roads.
For roads numbered M1, see List of M1 roads.
For roads numbered N1, see list of N1 roads.
For roads numbered ...
; however, it is not part of the National Highway network.
Major intersections
This road has only one major intersection, with the Gregory Highway
The Gregory Highway is a state highway in Queensland, Australia that serves the major coal-mining centres of Central Queensland. The highway was named after Augustus Gregory, an early explorer.
Route description
The highway runs southward fro ...
in the locality of .
Upgrades
The Roads of Strategic Importance
Roads of Strategic Importance (ROSI) is a $5.8 billion initiative of the Australian Government designed to help connect regional businesses to local and international markets, and to better connect regional communities. The source for this article ...
initiative, last updated in March 2022, includes the following projects for the Gulf Developmental Road.
Corridor upgrade
A lead project to upgrade the Cairns to Northern Territory border corridor, including the Gulf Developmental Road and surrounding state and council roads, at an estimated cost of $62.5 million, was commenced in 2020, with planning continuing.
Pavement strengthening and widening
A project for pavement strengthening and widening of sections of the Gulf Developmental Road between Mount Garnett and Croyden at a cost of $21.5 million is planned to be completed by mid-2022.
See also
* Einasleigh River Bridge
* Highways in Australia
Highways in Australia are generally high capacity roads managed by state and territory government agencies, though Australia's federal government contributes funding for important links between capital cities and major regional centres. Pri ...
* List of highways in Queensland
Queensland, being the second largest (by area) state in Australia, is also the most decentralised. Hence the highways and roads cover most parts of the state unlike the sparsely populated Western Australia. Even Queensland's outback is well ser ...
References
{{Road infrastructure in Queensland
Highways in Queensland
Highway 1 (Australia)