National Highway Route 23 Federal Highway (NSW Section)

NH23 trailblazer southbound between Thornford Rd and Collector, July 2004.

In 2013, RMS will be implementing a new alpha-numeric route numbering system. For more information, visit the RMS Website.
Forthcoming alpha-numeric route number:

Length: 70km

Northern Terminus: Hume Hwy & Federal Hwy interchange, 17km S Goulburn

Southern Terminus: NSW/ACT border, Ginns Gap

Route Names: Federal Highway

Focal Points: Goulburn, Canberra

Interstate Continuation: Federal Hwy continues south into Canberra. NH23 loses its NH status and returns to NSW as the Monaro Hwy.

Proclaimed a state highway: 8th August 1928

Named: July 1928

Route Overview:

Notable events in the history of Federal Hwy:

September 1927 - Federal Highway route chosen (previous access to Canberra area was via Tarago or Gunning)
1928 - Proclaimed State Highway 3
July 1928 - Named Federal Highway
November 1930 - Opened to traffic in NSW
February 1931 - Opened to traffic in ACT
1936 - Bituminous sealing completed
February 1954 - Federal Hwy given 'Rememberance Driveway' subtitle
May 1972 - Hume Hwy interchange grade separation
1974 - Proclaimed a National Highway
1977 - Dual carriageways 17-22km south of Goulburn
1981/2 - Dual carriageways 22-30km south of Goulburn
1986 - Sutton interchange grade-separation
1987 - Bungedore Rd to Sutton Interchange dual carriageways
June 1988 - Collector Bypass
1988 - Sutton Interchange to ACT deviation
March 1990 - Brooks Creek deviation
December 1993 - Collector Bypass to Lake George dual carriageways
August 1999 - Lake George dual carriageways (commenced 1996)
September 2000 - Sutton interchange to Antill St dual carriageways

Further reading (on-site):

Northern Terminus: Hume Hwy & Federal Hwy interchange, 17km S Goulburn
Former alignment: Collector
Former alignment: Brooks Creek
Sutton Road Interchange
Federal Highway (ACT)

Further reading (off-site):

Federal Highway - Michael Greenslade

Photos of National Highway 23 - Federal Highway
	This is my favourite pic for NH23 - a very old faded, probably 1974 original sign on the Old Hume Hwy at Breadalbane. Just to confirm that this sign was actually an error - should say "To NH23" (via unsealed road). Jan 2005.
	Looking south near the Hume Highway. This section of dual carriageway has a median up to a hundred metres wide, providing a superior alignment on the new carriageway while avoiding trees and farmland. Photo taken July 2004.
	Southbound across Wollogorang Creek on the original carriageway. Photo taken July 2004.
	Southbound again between the Hume Hwy and Collector. Photo taken July 2004.
	Southboudn AD sign for Collector, now bypassed by the Federal Hwy. Photo taken July 2004.
	Services AD sign for Collector. Photo taken July 2004.
	Southbound AD sign for Collector. I love this style of AD sign, very clear and simple, yet concise. Photo taken July 2004.
	Last southbound AD sign for Collector. Photo taken July 2004.
	Looking east from the old highway to the Collector Bypass, crossing the Collector Creek floodplain on long bridges. Photo taken July 2004.
	Black AD sign on the old highway at southern end of the Collector Bypass. Photo taken July 2004.
	Typical Federal Highway ID sign, although not that common considering the lack of major at-grade intersections on the highway. Photo taken July 2004.
	Another typical Federal Hwy ID sign, again at the southern end of Collector Bypass. Photo taken July 2004.
	Northbound AD sign for Collector. Photo taken July 2004.
	Northbound AD sign for Collector. Photo taken January 2004.
	Southbound RD sign from Collector. Photo taken July 2004.
	Looking south alongside an empty Lake George. Photo taken July 2004.
	Looking north from Gearys Gap over an empty Lake George in the late afternoon. Photo taken July 2004.
	Looking north in the same location, this time in a late January afternoon. Photo taken January 2004.
	Southbound AD sign for Bungedore Rd. Photo taken July 2004.
	Looking south across the Yass River Valley. This section is the Brooks Creek Deviation, opened to traffic in March 1990. Photo taken July 2004.
	Looking north on the same deviation. Photo taken July 2004.
	Old and new southbound AD signs for Macs Reef Rd. Note the strange font on the old sign and note on the new sign that NH23 is on a coverplate over an alpha-numeric route marker. Top photo taken 2002, bottom photo taken July 2004.
	Southbound ID sign for Macs Reef Rd. Photo taken July 2004.
	Northbound ID sign for Macs Reef Rd with a nice view of the Brooks Creek Deviation in the background. Photo taken October 2004.
	Northbound RD sign from Macs Reef Rd. This is the last one before the Hume Hwy. Photo taken July 2004.
	Old and new northbound AD signs for Macs Reef Rd. Note the features mentioned above. Top photo taken 2002, bottom photo taken July 2004.
	Southbound through the Eagle Hawk Hill interchange. Photo taken July 2004.
	Southbound through the Eagle Hawk Hill interchange. Photo taken July 2004.
	Northbound across the NSW/ACT border at Ginns Gap. Photo taken July 2004.
	Federal Hwy along the shores of Lake George in the 1930's. Scanned from 'The Roadmakers'.