Derby Back Road

Fingerboard sign assembly at the intersection of Derby Back Rd (C837) & Derby Station Rd. Source: Peter Renshaw, December 2007.

Introduced: 1980

Length: 8km

Eastern Terminus: Tasman Hwy (A3) & Derby Back Rd (C837), 5km east of Derby

Western Terminus: Tasman Hwy (A3) & Derby Back Rd (C837), 4km west of Derby

Route taken: Derby Back Rd

Focal Points: Nil

Responsibility: Local Government

C837 is a minor rural route in north eastern Tasmania, providing an alternative route to the Tasman Highway around the northern side of Derby. Whilst shorter than the Tasman Highway, it is of a lower standard and therefore primarily serves local traffic. However, its importance as an alternative route has been highlighted in recent times - torrential rain during March 2011 resulted in a month-long closure of the Cascade River bridge on thge Tasman Highway at Derby with light traffic detoured via Derby Back Road.1 The permanent closure of the Ringarooma River bridge on Derby Station Road following flood damage in 2007 has increased the importance of C837 in providing access to Derby.

The route is sealed along its full length, with a set of narrow timber bridges over the Ringarooma River located at the western end of the route.

References:

1. 'Damaged roads, bridges being assessed', Launceston Examiner, 25 March 2011 and 'NE bridge link reopens', Launceston Examiner, 12 April 2011

Photos of route C837
	Fingerboard sign assembly at the intersection of Tasman Hwy (A3) & Derby Back Rd (C837), 4km west of Derby. Note how no destinations are signed down route C837 but the route marker is still shown. Source: Peter Renshaw, December 2007.
	Derby Back Rd (C837) looking north from the western junction with Tasman Hwy (A3) across the Ringarooma River floodplain, showing the timber bridges. Source: Peter Renshaw, December 2007.
	Derby Back Rd (C837) looking southwest as you descend towards the Ringarooma River, 750m north of Tasman Hwy (A3). Source: Peter Renshaw, December 2007.
	Derby Back Rd (C837) ascending from the Ringarooma River valley, approximately 1km north of Tasman Hwy (A3). Source: Peter Renshaw, December 2007.
	Derby Back Rd (C837) looking east as you approach a crest, just east of Telita Rd. Source: Peter Renshaw, December 2007.
	Derby Back Rd (C837) looking west, approximately 500m west of Derby Station Rd. Source: Peter Renshaw, December 2007.
	Signage at the intersection of Derby Back Rd (C837) & Derby Station Rd. Note the improvised focal point signage utilising an old corrugated iron shed. Source: Peter Renshaw, December 2007.
	Close-up view of the corrugated iron shed with focal point directions at the intersection of Derby Back Rd (C837) & Derby Station Rd. Source: Peter Renshaw, December 2007.
	Fingerboard sign assembly at the intersection of Derby Back Rd (C837) & Derby Station Rd. Derby Station Rd was an important local link to Derby from the north, however flooding in August 2007 has permanently closed the bridge across the Ringarooma River. Source: Peter Renshaw, December 2007.
	Derby Back Rd (C837) looking west at Kerrs Lane, approximately 800m east of Derby Station Rd. Source: Peter Renshaw, December 2007.
	Derby Back Rd (C837) looking west, approximately 2km east of Derby Station Rd. Source: Peter Renshaw, December 2007.
	Derby Back Rd (C837) looking east towards the junction with Hardmans Lane, 1km west of Tasman Hwy (A3). Hardmans Lane was originally allocated route C838 in the route numbering scheme, providing a link to Winnaleah, however it has never been signed. Source: Peter Renshaw, December 2007.
	Derby Back Rd (C837) looking east towards the junction with Tasman Hwy (A3). Source: Peter Renshaw, December 2007.
	Fingerboard sign assembly at the eastern junction of Tasman Hwy (A3) & Derby Back Rd (C837), 5km east of Derby. Source: Peter Renshaw, December 2007.