Length:

256 km

Termini:

Northern: Bradfield Hwy (NR1) and Shafston Rd (NR1), Kangaroo Point

Southern: Southern: NSW-QLD Border, Wallangarra

Miscellaneous:

Continued as National Route 15 (then National Highway 15 from 1974 to 2013) in New South Wales

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Wallangarra, Wyberba, Lyra, Ballandean, Fletcher, Glen Aplin, Severnlea, Stanthorpe, Applethorpe, The Summit, Thulimbah, Cottonvale, Dalveen, Braeside, The Glen, Warwick, Womina, Glengallan, Gladfield, Maryvale, Tregony, South Branch, Middle Branch, Mt Edwards, Aratula, Fassifern, Silverdale, Warrill View, Mutdapilly, Willowbank, Yamanto, Churchill, West Ipswich, Ipswich, East Ipswich, Booval, Bundamba, Ebbw Vale, Dinmore, Redbank, Goodna, Gailes, Wacol, Darra, Oxley, Rocklea, Moorooka, Yeronga, Annerley, Woolloongabba and Kangaroo Point

Current: M2 M7 A7 A15 M15 15

Multiplexed with: 42 20

Former: 15

General Information:

National Route 15 (National Highway 15 from 1974 between the NSW border and Ipswich) formed part of the inland freight route between Brisbane and Sydney and was traditionally quicker for travel between the two capitals than the coastal route via National Route 1. It wasn't until upgrades to the Pacific Highway (NR1) during the 1990s and 2000s that the inland route fell out of favour with freight companies and regular commuters between the two cities.

The route serviced commercial, industrial, residential and rural zones and passed over significant mountain ranges and vast tracts of forests and bushland. In the populated areas such as cities and larger towns the route was often divided with at least 2 lanes in each direction, and the remainder of the route was typically rural highway grade with 1 lane in each direction.

State Route 20, for 2 km, between Rocklea and Moorooka.

National Route 42, for 14 km, between Warwick and Glengallon.

13 December 1921: Brisbane-Toowoomba Road was declared a Main Road under the Main Roads Act, 1920. ¹

1955: Implementation of the National Route 15 route number by the Conference of State Road Authorities (COSRA) National Association of Australia State Road Authorities (later (NAASRA), then Austroads) to create a consistent, interstate, signposted road network.

22 September 1971: Rocklea Overpass opened by then Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen. ²

1974: National Route 15 replaced by National Highway 15 between NSW border and Ipswich.

7 December 1984: The Cunningham Hwy project, known as the Southern Ipswich Bypass, between Dinmore and Ripley was opened by premier Sir Joh Bjelke Petersen. It was four lanes for most of its length. ² National Highway 15 was eventually signposted along the new bypass, with National Route 15 replaced by Business National Route 15 between Yamanto and Dinmore via Ipswich CBD.

18 September 1988: Oxley Road Interchange opened by then Minister for Main Roads Bill Gunn. Ipswich Motorway Donaldson Road overpass construction. ² State Route 20 duplex discontinued on Ipswich Road, south of Sherwood Road. ³

12 February 1993: Oxley Flats duplication opened by then Minister for Transport David Hamill. ²

1994: National Route 15 designation revoked. It was to be replaced with ALT-NR15, however the route became SR15 as a result of an allocation of state routes by Brisbane City Council. ² Ipswich Motorway Dinmore to Archerfield grade-separation. ⁴

1995: Metroad 2 replaced National Route 15 between Dinmore and Goodna as part of the Metroad numbering system introduction.

NSW Border to Kangaroo Point

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign with NR15 shield on Brisbane Rd, Redbank, approaching the roundabout with Bridge St, March 2005. Brisbane Rd turns right at this junction and connects with Ipswich Mwy (Metroad 2, previously NR15), March 2005.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign with NR15 shield on the corner of Bridge St and Francis St, Redbank, March 2005.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign with NR15 shield on the corner of Bridge St and Francis St, Redbank, March 2005.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Kangaroo Point to NSW Border

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign with NR15 shield on the corner of Brisbane Rd (which is the service road for Ipswich Mwy) and Chalk St, Redbank, March 2005. Chalk St no longer exists.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Freeway Green Intersection Directional Sign:

Freeway green sign with NR15 shield on the corner Law St and Clare Av, Redbank, March 2003.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Freeway Green Intersection Directional Sign:

Freeway green sign with NR15 shields on the off-ramp from Ipswich Mwy onto Collingwood Dr, Redbank, March 2003.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign with NR15 shield on Tessman St, Riverview, approaching McEwan St (SR33, now unnumbered) and the on-ramp to Ipswich Mwy (Metroad 2), March 2005.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign with NR15 shields on Tessman St, Riverview, approaching Brisbane Rd and Ipswich Mwy (Metroad 2), March 2005.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Freeway Green Intersection Directional Sign:

Freeway green ID sign with NR15 shield on the roundabout of Tessman St, Brisbane Rd and Ipswich Mwy (Metroad 2), Riverview, March 2005.

Image © Michael Greenslade