O'Connell Roadis aNew South Walesrural road linkingOberonto the regional highway hub ofBathurst,where several roads includingGreat Western Highway,Mid-Western Highway,Mitchell HighwayandBathurst-Ilford Roadjoin.

O'Connell Road

O'Connell Road is located in New South Wales
Northwest end
Northwest end
Southeast end
Southeast end
Coordinates
General information
TypeRural road
Length41.7 km (26 mi)[1]
GazettedAugust 1928(as Main Road 256)[2]
February 1934(as Main Road 253)[3]
Maintained byTransport for NSW,Oberon Council,Bathurst Regional Council
Tourist routesTourist Route 1
Major junctions
Northwest endGreat Western Highway
Kelso, New South Wales
Goulburn-Oberon Road
Southeast endRupert Street
Oberon, New South Wales
Location(s)
Major settlementsO'Connell

Route

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O'Connell Road commences at the roundabout withGreat Western HighwayinKelso, New South Wales(just east ofBathurst) and heads in a southeasterly direction, crossing theFish Riverjust north ofO'Connell,and continuing southeast until it eventually terminates inOberon.It is fully sealed over its entire length and of high enough standard to accommodate B-double trucks.

In conjunction withGoulburn-Oberon RoadfromHume Highwayto Oberon, this scenic route provides a leisurely and surprisingly direct route between Bathurst andGoulburn.It is designated part of Tourist Route 1.

History

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The passing of theMain Roads Act of 1924[4]through theParliament of New South Walesprovided for the declaration of Main Roads, roads partially funded by the State government through theMain Roads Board(MRB, laterTransport for NSW). Main Road No. 256 was declared along this road on 8 August 1928, from the intersection withGreat Western Highwaynear Bathurst to Oberon (and continuing southwards via Taralga to the intersection withHume HighwayatGoulburn);[2]with the passing of theMain Roads (Amendment) Act of 1929[5]to provide for additional declarations of State Highways and Trunk Roads, this was amended to Main Road 256 on 8 April 1929.

TheDepartment of Main Roads,which had succeeded the MRB in 1932, truncated the northern end of Main Road 256 to Oberon, and extended the western end of Main Road 253 over it instead, from Oberon to Bathurst, on 13 February 1934.[3]

The passing of theRoads Act of 1993[6]updated road classifications and the way they could be declared within New South Wales. Under this act, O'Connell Road today is declared part of Main Road 253, from Bathurst to Oberon (and continuing eastwards via the Jenolan Caves and Hampton to the intersection withGreat Western Highwayat Hartley).[7]

Major intersections

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LGALocationkm[1]miDestinationsNotes
BathurstKelso00.0Great Western Highway(A32) –Bathurst,MarrangarooNortheastern terminus of road and Tourist Route 1, runs south as Littlebourne Street to O'Connell Road
Brewongle7.24.5Tarana Road –Tarana
Fish River16.410.2O'Connell Bridge
OberonO'Connell18.711.6Mutton Falls Road –Tarana
Oberon30.018.6Mayfield Road –Mayfield
41.125.5Abercrombie Road(southwest) –Taralga,Goulburn
Albion Street (east) –Oberon
Roundabout
41.625.8Carrington Avenue (Tourist Route 1) –Oberon,Jenolan CavesTourist Route 1 continues east along Carrington Avenue
41.725.9Rupert Street –Oberon,toAbercrombie RoadTaralga,GoulburnSouthwestern terminus of road
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

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References

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  1. ^ab"O'Connell Road"(Map).Google Maps.Retrieved25 August2022.
  2. ^ab"Main Roads Act, 1924-1927".Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales.No. 110. National Library of Australia. 17 August 1928. pp. 3814–20.Archivedfrom the original on 3 August 2022.Retrieved1 August2022.
  3. ^ab"Main Roads Act, 1924-1931".Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales.No. 33. National Library of Australia. 23 February 1934. p. 873.Archivedfrom the original on 16 June 2023.Retrieved29 November2022.
  4. ^State of New South Wales,An Act to provide for the better construction, maintenance, and financing of main roads; to provide for developmental roads; to constitute a Main Roads BoardArchived11 August 2022 at theWayback Machine10 November 1924
  5. ^State of New South Wales,An Act to amend the Main Roads Act, 1924-1927; to confer certain further powers upon the Main Roads Board; to amend the Local Government Act, 1919, and certain other Acts; to validate certain payments and other matters; and for purposes connected therewith.Archived12 August 2022 at theWayback Machine8 April 1929
  6. ^State of New South Wales,An Act to make provision with respect to the roads of New South Wales; to repeal the State Roads Act 1986, the Crown and Other Roads Act 1990 and certain other enactments; and for other purposes.Archived11 August 2022 at theWayback Machine10 November 1924
  7. ^Transport for NSW(August 2022)."Schedule of Classified Roads and Unclassified Regional Roads"(PDF).Government of New South Wales.Retrieved1 August2022.