Irrigation Way[4] is a major rural road that runs approximately 85 kilometres (53 mi) through the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area in south western New South Wales, Australia.

Irrigation Way

Leeton's Main Street, part of Irrigation Way
General information
TypeRural road
Length84.8 km (53 mi)[1]
GazettedDecember 1929 (as Main Road 254)[2]
March 1938 (as Trunk Road 80)[3]
Route number(s) B94 (2013–present)
(Yoogali–Griffith)
Former
route number
State Route 94 (1974–2013)
(Yoogali–Griffith)
Major junctions
Southeast end Newell Highway
Narrandera, New South Wales
 
  • Whitton-Darlington Point Road

Burley Griffin Way

Northwest end Kidman Way
Griffith, New South Wales
Location(s)
Major settlementsLeeton, Widgelli

Route

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Irrigation Way commences at the intersection with Newell Highway in Narrandera and heads in a north-westerly direction for 29 kilometres (18 mi) before reaching Leeton, continuing another 52 kilometres (32 mi) before ending at the intersection with Kidman Way in Griffith. The road is an important link between the three towns as it is a very productive farming region. Irrigation Way provides a direct route between the national highway network and Griffith. This complements the two state routes that pass through Griffith. The route is most important in linking Leeton to other regions of the state as its only major road.

History

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The passing of the Main Roads Act of 1924[5] 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 the Department of Main Roads, and eventually Transport for NSW). With the subsequent passing of the Main Roads (Amendment) Act of 1929[6] to provide for additional declarations of State Highways and Trunk Roads, Main Road 254 was declared on 5 December 1929, from Griffith via Leeton, Yanco and Narrandera (continuing south to the intersection with Trunk Road 58, later Sturt Highway, at Gillenbah, and north to Hillston).[2]

The Department of Main Roads, which had succeeded the MRB in 1932, declared Trunk Road 80 on 16 March 1938, from Griffith via Leeton to the intersection with State Highway 17 (later Newell Highway), in Narrendera (and continuing westwards via Hillston to Mossgiel), subsuming the alignment of Main Road 254 between Narrandera and Hillston;[3] Main Road 254 was re-declared from Yenda to the intersection with Trunk Road 80 at Wumbulgal as a result.[3]

The passing of the Roads Act of 1993[7] updated road classifications and the way they could be declared within New South Wales. Under this act, Irrigation Way today retains its declaration as part of Main Road 80, from Narrandera to Griffith.[8]

The route was allocated State Route 94 in 1974 between Yoogali and Griffith. With the conversion to the newer alphanumeric system in 2013, this was replaced with route B94.[9]

Towns

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Narrandera: Irrigation Way begins off the Newell Highway near the bridge over the Murrumbidgee River and 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the junction with the Sturt Highway. The Narrandera Airport is also located on the Irrigation Way, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Narrandera. Irrigation Way reaches the Shire of Leeton shortly after the airport.

Leeton: Irrigation Way begins in the Leeton Shire between Narrandera Airport and the turn off to Rockdale Beef. After travelling approximately 18 kilometres (11 mi) the small village of Yanco is reached. The Yanco CBD is located on Irrigation Way as Main Street. Leeton is located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from Yanco. Leeton's CBD is also found on Irrigation Way. On the southern approach to town there are schools, offices and residential properties before the main streets are reached. On the northern side of town large commercial and industrial properties are found before exiting Leeton. The villages of Wamoon and Whitton are bypassed before entering the City of Griffith Local Government Area.

Griffith: Irrigation Way is short in Griffith. It runs approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Leeton, where it reaches the village of Widgelli before it passes through Yoogali at its junction with Burley Griffin Way, and to eventually end in central Griffith.

Major intersections

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LGALocationkm[1]miDestinationsNotes
NarranderaNarrandera0.00.0  Newell Highway (A39) – Dubbo, West Wyalong, JerilderieEastern terminus of Irrigation Way, commences as Audley Street
0.90.56Audley Street – Narrandera
6.33.9  Knight Drive – Narrandera Airport
LeetonYanco22.514.0Euroley Road – EuroleyIrrigation Way continues through Yanco as Main Avenue
Leeton29.318.2Chelmsford Place (Brobendar Road) (northeast) – Barellan
Wade Avenue (southwest) – Leeton
Roundabout; Irrigation Way continues west as Pine Avenue, southeast as Kurrajong Avenue
Stanbridge40.325.0Murrami Road – Murrami, Whitton
Whitton49.730.9Binyah Street (Whitton-Darlington Point Road) – Whitton, Darlington Point
GriffithWidgelli67.942.2Whitton Stock Route Road – Yenda
Yoogali81.350.5  Burley Griffin Way (B94 northeast) – Yenda, Temora, Bowning
Kurrajong Avenue (southwest) – Hanwood, Darlington Point
Route B94 continues northeast along Burley Griffith Way
Griffith84.852.7  Kidman Way (B87) – Darlington Point, Hillston, CobarWestern terminus of Irrigation Way and route B94 at roundabout, commences as Banna then MacKay Avenues
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •       Route transition

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Irrigation Way" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Main Roads Act, 1924-1929". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 154. National Library of Australia. 13 December 1929. p. 4917. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Main Roads Act, 1924-1937". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 58. National Library of Australia. 14 April 1938. pp. 1525–6. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Road & Street Programs". Narrandera Shire Council. 7 June 2005. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
  5. ^ 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 Archived 11 August 2022 at the Wayback Machine 10 November 1924
  6. ^ 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. Archived 12 August 2022 at the Wayback Machine 8 April 1929
  7. ^ 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. Archived 11 August 2022 at the Wayback Machine 10 November 1924
  8. ^ Transport for NSW (August 2022). "Schedule of Classified Roads and Unclassified Regional Roads" (PDF). Government of New South Wales. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 August 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  9. ^ "Road number and name changes in NSW" (PDF). Roads & Maritime Services. Government of New South Wales. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
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