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User:AussieCoinCollector/State Route 40 (New South Wales)

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State Route 40 (New South Wales)

State Route 40 was a former state route in New South Wales from 1974 to 2013. In 2013 it was then replaced by A40[1] and B59[2]. State Route 40 was also the longest state route in the Greater Sydney area, stretching from Sydney in the west to Lithgow in the west and providing an alternative route to the Great Western Highway corridor[3]. It was introduced in 1974 and was split when the Metroad system was introduced. After 1994, the section between Baulkham Hills and Windsor was replaced with Metroad 2 making it one of two split routes in New South Wales along with State Route 69 (New South Wales).

Significance

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This route was a significant route however, the importance has become less and has become more of a bypass route than a main route. The western end today, is a major route for those who avoid the slow traffic on the Great Western Highway. There have been calls for a Bells Line Expressway[4] due to the fact that both the Great Western Highway (A32) and Bells Line of Road (B59) cannot handle the amount of vehicles during peak and holiday traffic. However, the NSW government has no plans to upgrade Bells Line of Road. Nevertheless, this is still one of the only 2 roads heading west from Sydney.

Speed Limit

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The speed limit of the former State Route 40 varies from 50 km/h in Lithgow and goes up to 100 km/h on Chifley Road close to Lithgow. On the Chifley Road, there is also a wet weather speed limit as well.

Roads

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State Route 40 consisted of the following roads:

B59

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The following roads have been replaced with B59

In Lithgow

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In Lithgow, State Route 40 consisted of Main Street, Lithgow Street and Mort Street. It then continued up on to Chifley Road.

Chifley Road

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Chifley Road was a 15.6km[5] scenic road that passed through scenic hill and was a popular tourist drive. More than 3690 vehicles currently use the road every day.[6] This road also crosses the Great Diving Range.

Bells Line of Road

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Bells Line of Road is a 59-kilometre (37 mi) major road located in New South Wales, Australia, providing an alternative crossing to the Great Western Highway of the Blue Mountains. The eastern terminus of the road is in Richmond, 51 km northwest of Sydney, where the road continues eastward as Kurrajong Road after the town centre, which intersects the Metroad 9. The western terminus of the road is in Bell, in the Blue Mountains, where the road continues as the Chifley Road. Bells Line of Road is also a historic route passing through Bilpin and also the road used to go to the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden.

Kurrajong Road

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Kurrajong Road was a connecting road from Richmond to the Metroad 9 junction at Windsor. It was also the eastern end of the western terminus of State Route 40.

A40

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The following roads got replaced by A40

References

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  1. ^ "Ozroads: NSW State Route 40". www.ozroads.com.au. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  2. ^ "Ozroads: NSW State Route 40". www.ozroads.com.au. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  3. ^ "Road Photos & Information: New South Wales: Western Distributor, Victoria Road, James Ruse Drive, Cumberland Highway, Old Windsor Road, Hawkesbury Valley Way, East Market Street, March Street, Kurrajong Road, Bells Line of Road, Chifley Road, Mort Street & Main Street (State Route 40) - Bilpin to Lithgow (Decommissioned)". www.expressway.online. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  4. ^ "Renewed calls for Bells Line Expressway to replace current road". Hawkesbury Gazette. 2018-01-24. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  5. ^ "85 Chifley Rd to Chifley Rd". 85 Chifley Rd to Chifley Rd. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  6. ^ "Bells Line of Road long term strategic corridor plan - Chapter 4 - Transport analysis" (PDF). Roads and Maritime Services NSW. 2020-12-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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