View source for Kings Highway (Australia)

{{Short description|Highway in the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox Australian road
| road_name    = Kings Highway
| state        = act
| state2       = nsw
| type         = highway
| route        = {{plainlist|
*{{AUshield|ACT|B52}} B52 {{small|(2013–present)<br />(Symonston–ACT/NSW border)}}
*{{AUshield|NSW|B52}} B52 {{small|(2013–present)<br />(NSW/ACT border–Batemans Bay)}}
}}
| former       = {{AUshield|NR|52}} National Route 52 {{small|(1974–2013)<br />Entire route}}
| image        = 
| caption      = 
| length       = 139
| length_ref   = <ref name="gmaps">{{google maps |url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/-35.3304097,149.1615941/-35.6999057,150.1839532/@-35.4816613,149.4993405,10.82z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0?hl=en |title=Kings Highway |access-date=11 August 2022 }}</ref>
| gazetted     = August 1928 {{small|(NSW)}}
| gazetted_ref = <ref name="nswgovgaz28">{{cite news |title=Main Roads Act, 1924-1927 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219952359 |work=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |issue=110 |via=National Library of Australia |date=17 August 1928 |pages=3814–20 |access-date=1 August 2022 |archive-date=3 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803050207/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219952359 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| direction_a  = West
| direction_b  = East
| end_a        = {{AUshield|ACT|A23}} '''[[Canberra Avenue]]'''<br />{{small|[[Symonston, Australian Capital Territory]]}}
| end_b        = {{AUshield|NSW|A1}} '''[[Princes Highway]]'''<br />{{small|[[Batemans Bay, New South Wales]]}}
| through      = [[Bungendore]], [[Braidwood, New South Wales|Braidwood]], [[Nelligen]]
| exits        = {{plainlist|
*{{AUshield|ACT|A23}} [[Monaro Highway]]
*{{AUshield|ACT|B52}} [[Hindmarsh Drive]]
*Lanyon Drive
*Captains Flat Road}}
| location     =Location Kings Hwy.svg  }}

'''Kings Highway''' is an interstate highway located within the [[Australian Capital Territory]] and [[New South Wales]], Australia. The highway connects [[Canberra]] with [[Batemans Bay]] on the [[South Coast (New South Wales)|South Coast]]. It is designated route B52. 

==Route==
West to east, it starts at the interchange with [[Monaro Highway]], Canberra Avenue and Ipswich Street on the northern border of Symonston in the Australian Capital Territory and continues in an easterly direction along Canberra Avenue, crosses over the border into New South Wales near [[Queanbeyan]], passes through Queanbeyan itself, [[Carwoola]], briefly crosses back into the [[Kowen]] district of ACT and then back into NSW heading south-east to Batemans Bay via [[Bungendore]], [[Braidwood, New South Wales|Braidwood]] and [[Nelligen]].

Kings Highway links [[Monaro Highway]] in Canberra to [[Princes Highway]] in Batemans Bay, and provides access for residents of Canberra to the [[South Coast (New South Wales)|NSW South Coast]] and its beaches. The highway is often busy on weekends, especially during summer. The highway also experiences a high number of car crashes, on occasions averaging around one every three days, costing the local community around the highway several million dollars a year.<ref name="ABC2005">{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-10-20/research-highlights-costly-kings-highway-crashes/2128336|date=20 October 2005|title=Research highlights costly Kings Highway crashes|work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|location=Australia|access-date=19 May 2013}}</ref>

The landscape is generally sheep country. The highway travels from the [[Southern Tablelands]] to the [[South Coast (New South Wales)|South Coast]] via [[Clyde Mountain]].

=== Notable features and landmarks ===
A small rock cave at "Pooh Bear's Corner" can be found near the top of the Clyde Mountain Pass. This was the location of a munitions store during the Second World War, that could be detonated to stop passage from the coast to the national capital inland.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dunn|first=Peter|title=DEMOLITION OF OUR HARBOURS, AIRFIELDS, ROADS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INSTALLATIONS|url=http://www.ozatwar.com/ozatwar/demolition.htm|work=www.ozatwar.com|access-date=20 May 2013}}</ref>

Dozens of soft toys are placed in the eucalyptus trees along the stretch of road that connects Queanbeyan and Bungendore.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thinktag.com/country/archive/country_diary089.htm|first=Fred|last=Harden|date=25 March 2004|title=Bear Spotting|access-date=19 May 2013}}</ref>

==History==
The road through the [[Clyde Mountain]] area was surveyed by [[Thomas Mitchell (explorer)|Thomas Mitchell]] in 1855.<ref>{{cite book  | last = Cumpston  | first = J.H.L.  | title = Thomas Mitchell: Surveyor General and Explorer | year = 2007 |orig-year = 1954 | url = http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks07/0700531h.html | id = eBook No.: 0700531h.html  | publisher = Project Gutenberg of Australia eBook |quote = The final evidence—lamentably too final—of his tendency to do everything himself was his personal presence, in his sixty-fourth year, at the survey of a road through that rugged Clyde Mountain region: work which might well have been entrusted to his surveyors. ... Having contracted a chill when supervising the survey of a road from Braidwood to Nelligen, he developed [[broncho-pneumonia]] and died at his home, "Carthona" at Darling Point on 5 October 1855, in his sixty-fourth year.}}</ref>

A [[Cable ferry|punt]] service across the Clyde River opened in 1895 and continued until the Nelligen Bridge opened on 12 December 1964.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/107514618 Bridge open tomorrow] ''[[Canberra Times]]'' 11 December 1964 page 4</ref><ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/271252215 Nelligen Bridge Officially Opened] ''[[Queanbeyan Age]]'' 15 December 1964 page 1</ref><ref>New Bridge at Nelligen ''[[Main Roads (periodical)|Main Roads]]'' March 1965 page 72</ref> A replacement bridge built by [[Seymour Whyte]] opened in February 2023 with the original demolished.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230327201913/https://seymourwhyte.com.au/nelligen-bridge/ Kings Highway, Nelligen Bridge Replacement] [[Seymour Whyte]]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20240912033029/https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/nelligen-bridge-replacement Nelligen Bridge Replacement] [[Transport for NSW]]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20240405112116/https://www.2ec.com.au/local-news/new-nelligen-bridge-opens-to-traffic/ New Nelligen Bridge opens to traffic] [[2EC]] 22 February 2023</ref>

The passing of the ''Main Roads Act of 1924''<ref>[http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_act/mra1924n24133/ 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 Board''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811000905/http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_act/mra1924n24133/ |date=11 August 2022 }} 10 November 1924</ref> through the [[Parliament of New South Wales]] provided for the declaration of Main Roads, roads partially funded by the State government through the [[Main Roads Board]] (later [[Transport for NSW]]). Main Road No. 51 was declared along this road on 8 August 1928, from the intersection with [[Princes Highway]] at Batemans Bay, via Braidwood, Bungendore, and Queanbeyan to the border with the Federal Capital Territory (today the Australian Capital Territory);<ref name="nswgovgaz28" /> with the passing of the ''Main Roads (Amendment) Act of 1929''<ref>[https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/act-1929-15 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.''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812065622/https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/act-1929-15 |date=12 August 2022 }} 8 April 1929</ref> to provide for additional declarations of State Highways and Trunk Roads, this was amended to Trunk Road 51 on 8 April 1929.

The passing of the ''Roads Act of 1993''<ref>[https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1993-033 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.''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811000905/http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_act/mra1924n24133/ |date=11 August 2022 }} 10 November 1924</ref> through the [[Parliament of New South Wales]] updated road classifications and the way they could be declared within New South Wales. Under this act, the highway today retains its declaration as Main Road 51, from the state border with Australian Capital Territory west of Queanbeyan to the intersection with Princes Highway in Batemans Bay.<ref name="nswroadsched">{{cite web |url=https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/business-industry/partners-suppliers/lgr/documents/classified-roads-schedule.pdf |title=Schedule of Classified Roads and Unclassified Regional Roads |author=[[Transport for NSW]] |date=August 2022 |publisher=Government of New South Wales |access-date=1 August 2022 |archive-date=25 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825104657/https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/business-industry/partners-suppliers/lgr/documents/classified-roads-schedule.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Despite its long-standing classification as a Main Road, and a long historical identity as Kings Highway, the road still has no officially gazetted name. [[Transport for NSW]] has come to an informal agreement with councils along the route to signpost the entire route as Kings Highway.

Kings Highway was signed National Route 52 across its entire length in 1974. With the conversion to the newer alphanumeric system in both states in 2013, this was replaced with route B52.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/projects/key-build-programs/alpha-numeric/nsw-factsheet.pdf |title=Road number and name changes in NSW |work=[[Roads & Maritime Services]] |publisher=Government of New South Wales |date=2012 |access-date=7 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325194425/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/projects/key-build-programs/alpha-numeric/nsw-factsheet.pdf# |archive-date=25 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="ACTMIS12">{{cite web |url=https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1378528/MIS12-Guidesigns.pdf |title=Guide Signs MIS 12 |publisher=ACT Government |page=13 |date=April 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328204755/https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1378528/MIS12-Guidesigns.pdf |archive-date=28 March 2020 |access-date=9 November 2022 }}</ref>

In 2006 construction commenced on [[Headquarters Joint Operations Command (Australia)|Headquarters Joint Operations Command]] in the [[Kowen]] district of the ACT between [[Bungendore]] and [[Queanbeyan]]. The facility opened in December 2008, and sections of the highway between the [[HQJOC]] turnoff and Queanbeyan have progressively been upgraded to cater for the increased traffic.<ref>{{cite web|year=2004 |url=http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/pwc/hqjocnsw/report/chapter3.pdf |title=Inquiry into the Provision of Facilities for Headquarters Joint Operations Command, NSW (Chapter 3) |work=Joint Standing Committee on Public Works |publisher=Parliament of Australia |access-date=14 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411042357/http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/pwc/hqjocnsw/report/chapter3.pdf |archive-date=11 April 2008 }}</ref>

== Road usage ==
In 2013 it was reported that the highway carries an average of 4,500 vehicles a day. There is an increase in traffic in the summer months.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/downloads/kings_hwy_safety_review.pdf|title=Kings Highway Route Safety Review|date=March 2013|website=New South Wales Government}}</ref> In 2003, approximately 3,000 vehicles a day were using the highway at Nelligen. From Braidwood (at the Shoalhaven River Bridge) there were about 4,200 cars travelling on the road. Out of Bungendore near Burbong, 5,600 cars were counted each day.<ref>{{cite web|year=2004 |url=http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/trafficinformation/downloads/aadt_data_files/aadtsouthern2003_i.pdf |title=Traffic Volume Data for Southern Region 2003: Annual Average Daily Traffic for MAIN ROAD NO.51 – BATEMANS BAY-QUEANBEYAN |work=Traffic Management Branch |publisher=[[Roads & Maritime Services]] |access-date=5 February 2008 |pages=14–15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411042357/http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/trafficinformation/downloads/aadt_data_files/aadtsouthern2003_i.pdf |archive-date=11 April 2008 }}</ref>

Casualty crash rates on the Kings Highway are 85% higher than the NSW average and road fatalities are 8% higher. A 2005 [[NRMA]] road survey found:<ref name="ABC2005" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mynrma.com.au/cps/rde/xbcr/mynrma/SouthernNSW_ACT_Report.pdf |publisher=[[NRMA]] |title=Report on Southern NSW and ACT Roads |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411043917/http://www.mynrma.com.au/cps/rde/xbcr/mynrma/SouthernNSW_ACT_Report.pdf |archive-date=11 April 2008 }}</ref>
* The rate of people hospitalised after crashes on the Kings Highway is well over the national average. 877 crashes were recorded on Kings Highway over a 10-year period, an average of about one crash every four days. Over this time there have been 24 fatal crashes, 355 crashes resulting in injury and 488 crashes resulting in property damage. The rate was worse than this in 2004, when there were 103 crashes resulting in six fatalities and 53 injuries.
* Crashes on the Kings Highway have cost A$42.65&nbsp;million over the past three years – that's equivalent to nearly A$39,000 every day.
* Safety: particular concerns over Clyde Mountain, and only 5% of road deemed to provide "safe" overtaking opportunities. Two blackspots (one in Eurobodalla and one in Palerang) and 16 blacklengths (nine in Eurobodalla, six in Palerang and one in Queanbeyan City) were identified. The {{convert|40|km}} section of road over the [[Great Dividing Range]] – which includes Clyde Mountain – recorded the highest number of crashes, with 22% of all incidents occurring in this area.
* The most common type of crash – 18% of all incidents – was when a vehicle leaves the road to the left on a right hand bend and crashes into a stationary object. Head-on collisions made up one in 10 of all crashes. Crashes occurred most frequently on Sundays (20%) and least frequently on Tuesdays (9%). Recent drought conditions and an explosion in the kangaroo population in the area, has seen a marked increase in the number of crashes between vehicles and these macropods – particularly at night. This is evidenced by the increasing levels of 'road kill' carcasses on the sides of the Highway.

==Major intersections==
{{AUSinttop|state_col=State/Territory|sub1=District/{{Abbr|LGA|Local government area}}|length_ref=<ref name="gmaps" />}}
{{ACTint
|sspan=5
|district=[[Canberra Central]]–[[Jerrabomberra (district)|Jerrabomberra]] boundary
|dspan=4
|location_special={{ACTcity|Fyshwick}}–{{ACTcity|Narrabundah}}–{{ACTcity|Symonston}} boundary
|lspan=3
|type=trans
|km=0.0
|uspan=3
|road={{AUshield|ACT|A23}} [[Canberra Avenue]] (A23 northwest){{ACTcity|p=on|Capital Hill|Manuka}}
|notes=Western terminus of Kings Highway, continues northwest as Canberra Avenue
}}
{{ACTint
|type=incomplete
|km=none
|road={{AUshield|ACT|A23}} [[Monaro Highway]] (A23 south){{ACTcity|p=on|Hume}}, [[Cooma]]
|notes=Southbound entrance and northbound exit only
}}
{{ACTint
|km=none
|road=Ipswich Street (northeast){{ACTcity|p=on|Fyshwick}}, to {{AUshield|ACT|M23|+|airport}} [[Majura Parkway]]{{ACTcity|p=on|Pialligo}}, [[Canberra Airport]]
|notes=
}}
{{ACTint
|location_special=Fyshwick–Symonston boundary
|type=trans
|km=1.3
|road={{AUshield|ACT|B52}} [[Hindmarsh Drive]] (B52 west){{ACTcity|p=on|Woden}}<br />Newcastle Street (north){{ACTcity|p=on|Fyshwick}}
|notes=Route B52 continues west along Hindmarsh Drive
}}
{{ACTint
|type=incomplete
|district=Jerrabomberra
|location=none
|km=4.1
|road=Norse Road{{ACTcity|p=on|Oaks Estate}}
|notes=Westbound entrance and eastbound exit only
}}
{{ACTint
|location_special=State border 
|lcspan=3
|lcalign=center
|km=4.2
|place=Australian Capital Territory – New South Wales state border
}}
{{NSWint
|sspan=3
|LGAC=Queanbeyan
|LGAspan=2
|location_special=[[Crestwood, Queanbeyan, New South Wales|Crestwood]]–[[Queanbeyan West]] boundary
|km=5.6
|road=Lanyon Drive{{NSWcity|p=on|Cooma}}
|notes=Roundabout with eastbound bypass lanes
}}
{{NSWint
|location=Queanbeyan East
|km=8.6
|road={{AUshield|+|airport}} Yass Road (north){{ACTcity|p=on|Civic}}, {{NSWcity|Goulburn}}, [[Canberra Airport]]<br />Ellerton Drive (south){{NSWcity|p=on|Jerrabomberra}}
|notes=Roundabout
}}
{{NSWint
|LGA-Co=Palerang
|location=Carwoola
|km=11.3
|road=Captains Flat Road{{NSWcity|p=on|Captains Flat}}
|notes=Roundabout with eastbound bypass lanes
}}
{{NSWint
|location_special=State border 
|lcspan=3
|lcalign=center
|km=16.6
|place=New South Wales – Australian Capital Territory state border
}}
{{ACTint
|sspan=1
|district=[[Kowen]]
|location_special=[[Kowen]]
|km=17.0
|road=Charcoal Kiln Road – [[Kowen]]
|notes=
}}
{{ACTint
|location_special=State border 
|lcspan=3
|lcalign=center
|km=24.1
|place=Australian Capital Territory – New South Wales state border
}}
{{NSWint
|sspan=5
|LGA-Co=Palerang
|LGAspan=3
|location=Bungendore
|km=32.2
|road=Tarago Road{{NSWcity|p=on|Tarago|Goulburn}}
|notes=T-intersection
}}
{{NSWint
|location=Manar
|km=53.6
|road=Braidwood Road{{NSWcity|p=on|Tarago|Goulburn}}
|notes=
}}
{{NSWint
|location=Braidwood
|km=79.4
|road=Nerriga Road{{NSWcity|p=on|Nerriga|Nowra}}
|notes=
}}
{{NSWint
|LGA-S=Eurobodalla
|LGAspan=2
|location=Batemans Bay
|lspan=2
|km=139.0
|uspan=2
|road=Peninsula Drive (south) – [[North Batemans Bay]]
|notes=
}}
{{NSWint
|type=trans
|km=none
|road={{AUshield|NSW|A1}} [[Princes Highway]] (A1){{NSWcity|p=on|Nowra|Bega|Wollongong|Sydney}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of highway and route B52
}}
{{Jctbtm|keys=incomplete,trans|col=7}}


==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:WarriBridgeKingsHighway.JPG|Warri Bridge, which crosses the [[Shoalhaven River]] near Braidwood.
File:Wallace Street Braidwood March 2021.jpg|Kings Highway at Braidwood.
File:HorseTeamCartingGoodsNelligenToBraidwoodC1902.jpg|Horse teams carting goods from the ship at Nellingen to Braidwood, crossing Currajong Creek, about 1902.
File:KingsHighwayClydeMntn20050627.JPG|Climbing [[Clyde Mountain]] from the coast to Braidwood.
File:HumehwyNSW.JPG|Kings Highway (formerly called Kings Way), National Route 52, links Canberrans to the coast.
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|Australian Roads|New South Wales|Australia}}
{{Attached KML|display=inline, title}}
{{commons category|Kings Highway, Australia}}
* [[Highways in Australia]]
* [[List of highways in New South Wales]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Road infrastructure in Canberra}}
{{Road infrastructure in New South Wales}}

[[Category:Highways in New South Wales]]
[[Category:Highways in the Australian Capital Territory]]
[[Category:Southern Tablelands]]