The Donohue Highway is a 249 km (155 mi) mostly unpaved outback track that leads through the northern foothills of the Simpson Desert in Queensland to Tobermorey Homestead, Northern Territory near the Northern Territory/Queensland border in Australia.
Donohue Highway –Northern Territory | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Donohue Highway (depicted in blue and white) | |
| General information | |
| Type | Track |
| Length | 249 km (155 mi) |
| Major junctions | |
| West end |  Plenty Highway (State Route 12), Tobermorey Homestead, Northern Territory (near NT/Qld Border) |
| East end |  Diamantina Developmental Road (National Route 83), near Boulia, Queensland |
The road branches from the Diamantina Developmental Road 7 km (4 mi) north-west of Boulia and proceeds towards the Northern Territory. The Georgina River is at about the 166 km mark and 83 km further is Tobermorey, a town with 20 inhabitants. From here the trail continues as the Plenty Highway towards Alice Springs.[1] The route is mostly unpaved and marked by corrugations, deep potholes and bulldust (fine red desert dust). However, in 2009 further development in the form of river crossings were initially attached and further parts of the road are paved.[2] Despite the improvements to the track, it is often impassable after heavy rain.[3]
In 2016 a section of the road was widened to add a passing lane and to act as an emergency landing strip for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.[4]
The Donohue Highway along its entire length forms part of the Outback Highway, which runs 2,800 km through central Australia.
Upgrades
editPaving and sealing
editA project to pave and seal sections of the road, at a cost of $10.48 million, was completed in June 2021.[5]
Major intersections
editThis route has no major intersections.
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ Hema Maps (2006). Australia easy read road and 4WD atlas (7th ed.). Eight Mile Plains, Qld.: Hema Maps. ISBN 978-1-86500-395-5.
- ^ "www.nationbuildingprogram.gov.au - Queensland Black Spot Projects" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2009.
- ^ "Plenty Highway". Archived from the original on 19 February 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2009.
- ^ Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities. "Project Details". Infrastructure and Regional Development. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
- ^ "Boulia-Tobermorey Road (Donohue Highway), Outback Way, various locations, pave and seal". Queensland Government. 22 November 2021. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.