NATIONAL ROUTE 52
Kings Highway


Heading east from the Goublurn-Braidwood Rd junction, 26km north of Braidwood. April 2005.

Length: 134km

Eastern Terminus: Princes Hwy, Surfside

Western Terminus: Monaro Hwy & Canberra Ave, Fyshwick

Route taken: Kings Hwy, Canberra Ave

Focal Points: Batemans Bay, Braidwood, Queanbeyan, Canberra

RTA Internal Classification: Main Road No. 51

Route Introduced: 1974

National Route 52, the Kings Highway, is an east-west artery connecting Batemans Bay, the Princes Highway and New South Wales south coast with the southern tablelands and capital country. The Highway ascends the coastal escarpment by way of Clyde Mountain, a route first opened up in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Once on the tablelands the Kings Highway passes through rolling hillsides and undulating farmland, briefly entering the Australian Capital Territory near Bungedore before entering it permanently near Queanbeyan. After crossing the Molonglo River on a two-lane bridge in Queanbeyan NR52 becomes high-standard dual carriageway for the remainder of its journey. The Kings Highway becomes Canberra Ave at the NSW/ACT Border and National Route 52 follows Canberra Ave, terminating at its junction with the Monaro Highway at Fyshwick.

The road name "Kings Highway" is not an officially gazetted name, but is signed as part of an informal agreement between Councils and the RTA. This explains the use of local street names on directional signs within Braidwood and Bungedore.

The western terminus of National Route 52 has been the subject of much conjecture. Signage found on Laynon Drive (Queanbeyan-Hume road) in both NSW and ACT, at Tomspitt Drive and Sheppard St, indicates that Lanyon Drive is National Route 52. However, I have come to conclusion that National Route 52 follows the Kings Highway and Canberra Ave, terminating at the junction of Monaro Highway and Canberra Ave at Fyshwick, ACT. This conclusion is based on the following evidence:
- Signage at the Kings Hwy/Lanyon Drive junction shows NR52 continuing along the Kings Hwy towards Canberra
- Standard green on-reflective fingerboard signage indicates that NR52 continues towards Canberra
- Very old, black painted ACT signage indicates NR52 along Canberra Ave
- The Kings Highway, which NR52 follows for the most part, transitions directly into Canberra Ave at the NSW/ACT border
- Lanyon Drive is not a state-controlled road
- The logical terminus of a National Route is at another National Route

Major construction work was undertaken to improve the highway east of Braidwood in the 1950s, including widening of the Clyde Mountain section and extensive timber bridge replacements. A large concrete bridge over the Clyde River at Nelligen was opened in December 1964, repalcing a ferry service, and a high-level pre-stressed concrete bridge replaced a narrow timber truss bridge (Warri Bridge), built in 1892, across the Shoalhaven River west of Braidwood.

At Queanbeyan the replacement of the original alignment via Crawford St, North Rd, Uriarra Rd and Norse Rd was commenced in the mid-1970s. A new railway overpass on the NSW/ACT Border was opened to traffic in May 1977 and April 1982 the dual carriageway deviation was completed, between the railway overpass and Ross Road. This deviation also included the northern section of Lanyon Drive (former route Tharwa Road).

The Road and Traffic Authority have not released plans for any new construction on the highway, although the establishment of a truck route around Queanbeyan is underway. This will negate the need for a duplicate crossing of the Molonglo River in the short term.

List of Notable Events:

Dec 64 - Bridge over Clyde River, Nelligen
1974 - National Route 52 introduced
Nov 76 - Warri Bridge over Shoalhaven River
May 77 - Canberra Ave (formerly Commonwealth Ave) Railway Bridge
April 1982 - Ross Rd to Railway Bridge Deviation (former route Uriarra/Norse Rd)
Southbound on the Princes Highway approaching the beginning of NR52 at Surfside, near Batemans Bay. April 2005.
Kings Hwy looking east at its eastern terminus, the junction with the Princes Hwy. April 2005.
First westbound RD sign on the highway leaving Surfside. April 2005.
Looking west across the Clyde River at Nelligen. April 2005.
Looking west on the ascent of the coastal escarpment at Clyde Mountain. April 2005.
Another westbound view of the ascent. Note the wire fencing to try and protect the road from falling rocks. April 2005.
Looking west ascending Clyde Mountain, showing downhill overtaking lane and "BR27" kilometre plate. These kilometre plates are placed every 1km on the Clyde Mountain section of Kings Highway. Feb 2006.
Looking east from Braidwood. April 2005.
Incorrect National Route 51 shield in Braidwood. The RTA's internal classification for this road is Main Road No. 51 but the route marker is National Route 52. April 2005.
Looking south along the main street of Braidwood. April 2005.
Double-chevron ID sign at the junction with Main Road No. 92 (Nowra-Nerriga-Braidwood) on the northern outskirts of Braidwood. The RTA is currently upgrading this road as it will provide a much shorter route between Canberra and Port Kembla. April 2005.
Rolling hillside east of Braidwood. April 2005.
Heading west from the Goublurn-Braidwood Rd junction. April 2005.
More rolling hillsides closer to Bungedore. April 2005.
Incorrect State Route 52 shield on distance heading east from Bungedore. April 2005.
Looking east into Bungedore. April 2005.
Incorrect NR51 shield on a fingerboard in Bungedore. April 2005.
NR52 shield on Molonglo St southbound in Bungedore. Oct 2004.
Molonglo St southbound approaching the Kings Hwy in Bungedore. April 2005.
Looking west across a railway overpass into New South Wales, just west of Bungedore. The Highway had briefly entered ACT. April 2005.
Unusual AD sign on Kings Hwy westbound approaching Captains Flat Rd, 4km east of Queanbeyan. Oct 2004.
Distance sign heading west from Queanbeyan. Oct 2004.
Incorrect National Highway 51 shields at Atkinson St, Queanbeyan. Oct 2004.
Looking east through Queanbeyan town centre. Oct 2004.
Blackl AD sign northbound on Lowe St approaching the Kings Hwy in Queanbeyan. Feb 2006
Black and brown painted AD sign approaching Lowe St. Better photo coming soon. Feb 2006.
Black ID sign dating from 1982 at Ross Road, Queanbeyan. Oct 2004.
Signage showing NR52 goes straight at the Kings Hwy/Lanyon Dr junction. Feb 2006
Kings Highway RD sign heading west from Lanyon Drive. Better photo coming soon. Oct 2004.
ACT style black ID sign at Kealman Rd. Oct 2004.
Black painted AD signs at Stephens Rd. Oct 2004.
Stray NR52 shield on the former alignment 1974-1982 of NR52 at the intersection of North Rd & Uriarra Rd. Oct 2004.
Canberra Ave eastbound approaching the Norse Road interchange and railway overpass at the NSW/ACT Border. Oct 2004.
Canberra Ave looking west between Queanbeyan and Fyshwick. Oct 2004.
Canberra Ave looking east the beginning of NR52 in Fyshwick. Note no mention of NR52. Oct 2004.
Photos of NR52 evidence on Lanyon Drive
Recently duplicated section of Lanyon Drive looking south towards Tomspitt Drive. Oct 2004.
NR52 shield on AD sign approaching Tomspitt Drive. Oct 2004.
NR52 RD sign heading north from Tomspitt Drive. Oct 2004.
NR52 AD sign northbound approaching Tomspitt Drive. Oct 2004.
Railway overpass at the NSW/ACT Border. Oct 2004.
NR52 shield on an ID sign at Sheppard St, Hume, ACT. Oct 2004.
ID sign at the Monaro Hwy/Lanyon Drive junction, about 300m from the previous photo, shoing no NR52 shield. July 2004.

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