Capricorn Highway | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Highway |
| Length | 575 km (357 mi) |
| Route number(s) |
|
| Former route number |  National Route 66 |
| Major junctions | |
| West end |  Landsborough Highway(National Highway A2),Barcaldine |
 Gregory Highway(State Highway A7) Leichhardt Highway(State Highway A5) | |
| East end |  Bruce Highway(Queensland Highway A1),Rockhampton |
| Location(s) | |
| Major settlements | Jericho,Alpha,Emerald,Blackwater,Gogango,Westwood |
| Highway system | |
TheCapricorn Highway is located in CentralQueensland, Australia, and links the city ofRockhampton with western Queensland.[1] The highway is 575 kilometres (357 mi) long, and joins theLandsborough Highway atBarcaldine.[2] FormerlyNational Route 66, Queensland began to convert to the alphanumeric system much of Australia had adopted in the early-2000s and is now designated asA4. The highway runs parallel with theTropic of Capricorn, hence its name.
Other towns situated along the highway include (from east to west):Gracemere,Kabra,Stanwell,Westwood,Gogango,Duaringa,Dingo,Bluff,Blackwater,Comet,Emerald,Bogantungan,Alpha andJericho.
Running virtually east/west, the highway traverses the area known as the Central Highlands, and crosses theGreat Dividing Range between Alpha and Jericho.
Capricorn Highway is a state-controlled state-strategic road. It is defined in four sections, as follows:
TheNorthern Australia Roads Program announced in 2016 included the following project for the Capricorn Highway.
The project to duplicate the section between Rockhampton and Gracemere was completed in mid 2021 at a total cost of $75 million.[6] This will facilitate the construction of the south-western entry to the proposedRockhampton Ring Road.
TheNorthern Australia Beef Roads Program announced in 2016 included the following project:
The project for upgrading between Gracemere saleyards and the Rockhampton abattoirs to provide access for Type 1Road Trains was completed by early 2021 at a total cost of $30 million.[7] It involved about 29 kilometres (18 mi) of road improvements on four roads:
TheRoads of Strategic Importance initiative, last updated in March 2022, included the following projects for the Capricorn Highway.
A lead project to upgrade the Mount Isa to Rockhampton corridor, including sections of the Capricorn andLandsborough Highways and surrounding state and council roads, at an estimated cost of $237.5 million, was in the planning and scoping stage. Works are expected to include progressive sealing, lane duplications and crossing upgrades.[8]
A project to upgrade the intersection with theGregory Highway inEmerald at a cost of $7.9 million is scheduled for completion in mid-2023.[9] This project was targeted for "early works" by the Queensland Government.[10]
A project to upgrade an intersection in Blackwater, at a cost of $6.24 million, was expected to finish in early 2022.[11]
A project to strengthen and widen pavement just east of Emerald, at a cost of $5 million, was expected to finish in mid-2022.[12]
A project to widen pavement east of Alpha, at a cost of $9.65 million, was due for completion in late 2022.[13]
| LGA | Location | km | mi | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barcaldine | Barcaldine | 0 | 0.0 | Landsborough Highway (National Route A2) west –Longreach / south –Blackall | Western end of Capricorn Highway |
| Central Highlands | Emerald | 309 | 192 | Gregory Highway (State Route A7) north –Clermont | Western concurrency terminus with Gregory Highway |
| 311 | 193 | Gregory Highway (State Route A7) south –Springsure | Eastern concurrency terminus with Gregory Highway | ||
| Dingo | 432 | 268 |  Fitzroy Developmental Road (State Route 67) north –Middlemount | ||
| Rockhampton | Westwood | 522.9 | 324.9 | Leichhardt Highway (State Route A5) south –Banana andBiloela | |
| Rockhampton | 574.6 | 357.0 | Bruce Highway (Queensland Highway A1) north –Rockhampton / south –Mount Larcom | Eastern end of Capricorn Highway. Intersection is approximately 4.1 km from Rockhampton CBD | |
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
| |||||
In addition to the Bruce, Leichhardt, Gregory and Landsborough Highways, and the Fitzroy Developmental Road, the following state-controlled roads, from east to west, intersect with the Capricorn Highway:
Biloela–Duaringa Road | |
|---|---|
| Location | Capricorn Highway, Gainsford to Don River crossing, Gainsford / Kokotungo boundary |
| Length | 24.3 km (15.1 mi) |
Biloela–Duaringa Road is a state-controlled district road (number 462), rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS).[3][4] It runs from the Capricorn Highway inGainsford to theDon River crossing on the Gainsford /Kokotungo boundary, a distance of 24.3 kilometres (15.1 mi). It does not intersect with any other state-controlled roads. The physical road continues south as Kokotungo–Don River Road.[14]
Blackwater–Cooroorah Road | |
|---|---|
| Location | Capricorn Highway, Blackwater to Coronado Curragh Mine, Blackwater |
| Length | 15.5 km (9.6 mi) |
Blackwater–Cooroorah Road is a state-controlled district road (number 513), rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS).[3][4] It runs from the Capricorn Highway inBlackwater to the Coronado Curragh Mine in Blackwater, a distance of 15.5 kilometres (9.6 mi). It does not intersect with any other state-controlled roads. The physical road continues north.[15]
Comet River Road | |
|---|---|
| Location | Capricorn Highway, Comet to Comet–Rolleston Road, Togara |
| Length | 22.5 km (14.0 mi) |
Comet River Road is a state-controlled district road (number 4607), rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS).[3][4] It runs from the Capricorn Highway inComet to the northern boundary ofTogara, where it becomes Comet–Rolleston Road, a distance of 22.5 kilometres (14.0 mi). It does not intersect with any other state-controlled roads.[16]
Anakie–Sapphire Road | |
|---|---|
| Location | Bon Accord Road, Anakie Siding to Rubyvale Road, Sapphire Central |
| Length | 11.1 km (6.9 mi) |
Anakie–Sapphire Road is a state-controlled district road (number 5501), rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS).[3][4] It runs from Bon Accord Road inAnakie Siding, across the Capricorn Highway, to Rubyvale Road inSapphire Central, a distance of 11.1 kilometres (6.9 mi). It does not intersect with any other state-controlled roads.[17]
Alpha–Tambo Road | |
|---|---|
| Location | Capricorn Highway, Alpha to Dawson Developmental Road, Windeyer |
| Length | 121 km (75 mi) |
Alpha–Tambo Road is a state-controlled district road (number 443), rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS).[3][5] It runs from the Capricorn Highway inAlpha to theDawson Developmental Road inWindeyer, a distance of 121 kilometres (75 mi). It does not intersect with any other state-controlled roads.[18]
