Expressway - The Australian Highway Site: Road Photos & Information: QLD: NR17

Road Photos & Information: Queensland

Brisbane Valley Highway and D'Aguilar Highway (National Route 17)

Statistics:

Length:: 135 km
Termini:: Northern: New England Hwy (A3) and D'Aguilar Hwy (A3), Yarraman; Southern: Warrego Hwy (A2), Blacksoil
Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:: Blacksoil, Pine Mountain, Wanora, Fernvale, Wivenhoe Hill, Moombra, Esk, Ottaba, Toogoolawah, Harlin, Moore, Benarkin, Blackbutt and Yarraman

Route Numbering:

Current: 17
Multiplexed with: 85
Forthcoming Alphanumeric: A17
Road Authority Internal Classification: ¹: 42A (Blacksoil to Harlin); 40B (Harlin to Yarraman)

General Information:

National Route 17 is a highway located west of Brisbane and forms part of a link from the metropolitan area to the Burnett region of Queensland.

Originally a much longer route, it passes through several small towns, rural areas and bushland. The route is of rural highway standards.

Multiplexes along the route include:

: State Route 85, for 36 km, between Esk and Harlin.; Brisbane Valley Tourist Drive, for 16 km, between Blacksoil and Fernvale, and for 81 km, between Esk and Yarraman.

History:

: 2005: National Route 17 truncated at Yarraman and replaced by A3 with the implementation of the Strategic Tourism Route Numbering scheme. ²; 29 February 2008: Wallaby Creek Crossing No 3 Bridge, west of the town of Moore, named after Gorrie family, a farming and business family active in the area from the late 19th century into the 20th century. ³; April 2009: Widening of a 1 km section of Brisbane Valley Hwy between Blacksoil and Fernbank at Fairney Brook. ⁴; November 2013: Commencement of pavement repairs, slope stabilisation and reconstruction of drainage along Forest Hill-Fernvale Road. ⁵; 2014: National Route 17 replaced by A17 on signs at around the Warrego Hwy (A2) interchange at Blacksoil.; February 2019: Resurfacing works on 2 sections of Brisbane Valley Hwy south of Fernvale. ⁶; 2023: Completion of upgrade works in the Fernvale town centre. Works included: Installation of dedicated right-turn lanes on Main Street at Banks Creek Road, Fernvale Futures Centre access, and Simpson Street intersections, and south of Fernvale Hotel Motel, installation of pedestrian kerb build-outs and pedestrian refuges at 2 locations, relocation of an existing pedestrian crossing, construction of dedicated motorcycle parking area, resurfacing of Main Street (Brisbane Valley Highway) between Clive Street and Banks Creek Road, provision of on-road bicycle lanes, township entry treatments on both sides of Fernvale town centre and changes to speed limits through town. ⁷; December 2024: Completion of upgrades along a 14 km section of Brisbane Valley Highway, between Blacksoil and Fernvale. Works included: Wide centre line treatment to provide additional separation between northbound and southbound traffic, guardrail to provide better protection from roadside hazards, installation of dedicated right-turn and left-turn lanes at Ironbark Road intersection, a dedicated right-turn and left-turn at the Borallon Station Road intersection, plus minor bus stop improvements at James Street, construction of a police enforcement bay south of Glamorgan Vale Road and a dedicated left-turn at the Glamorgan Vale Road. ⁸

Click or tap here for the former alignment between Yarraman and Rockhampton

Click or tap the map to enable panning and zooming

Blacksoil to Yarraman

Black Kilometre Plate:

Black kilometre plate at Fernvale, July 2004.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Wivenhoe Pocket approaching Wivenhoe-Somerset Rd, July 2004.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Coominya, July 2004.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Esk approaching Esk-Hampton Rd (SR85), July 2004.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Esk-Hampton Road:

Corner of Brisbane Valley Hwy (NR17) and Esk-Hampton Rd (SR85) at Esk, July 2004. The SR85 duplex commences from this junction. Note the missing route number from sign.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Intersection Directional Sign:

Non-standard ID sign facing Esk-Hampton Rd (SR85) at Esk, November 2009. The SR85 duplex begins at this junction.

Image © Rob Tilley

Black Kilometre Plate:

Black kilometre plate at Esk, July 2004.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Esk, July 2004.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Black Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Toogoolawah, July 2004.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Harlin approaching D'Aguilar Hwy (SR85), July 2004. The SR85 duplex ends at this location and NR17 becomes D'Aguilar Hwy at this location.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Distance Sign:

Reassurance directional sign at Harlin, April 2011.

Image © Rob Tilley

Distance Sign:

Reassurance directional sign at Harlin, July 2004. This sign has since been removed.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Linville Road:

ID sign at the junction with Linville Rd at Moore, April 2011.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on a windy section of Brisbane Valley Hwy (NR17) at Benarkin approaching the entrance to Benarkin State Forest, April 2011.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on at Yarraman approaching New England Hwy (A3) and the A3 section of D'Aguilar Hwy, April 2011.

Image © Rob Tilley

New England Hwy & D'Aguilar Hwy:

ID sign at the northern terminus of National Route 17, in Yarraman, April 2011.

Image © Rob Tilley

Yarraman to Blacksoil

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Yarraman, February 2021.

Image © Rob Tilley

Town Sign:

Town site sign as D'Aguilar Hwy (NR17) enters the town of Blackbutt, February 2021.

Image © Rob Tilley

Blackbutt Town Centre:

D'Aguilar Hwy (NR17) passing through the town of Blackbutt, February 2021.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Benarkin, approaching Scott St, February 2021.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Moore, approaching Linville Rd, February 2021.

Image © Rob Tilley

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign assembly at the corner of D'Aguilar Hwy (NR17) and Linville Rd, Moore, February 2021.

Image © Rob Tilley

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Moore, February 2021.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on D'Aguilar Hwy (NR17) at Harlin, approaching Brisbane Valley Hwy (NR17) and D'Aguilar Hwy (SR85), February 2021.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on D'Aguilar Hwy (NR17) at Harlin, approaching Brisbane Valley Hwy (NR17) and D'Aguilar Hwy (SR85), February 2021.

Image © Rob Tilley

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at the corner of D'Aguilar Hwy (NR17), Brisbane Valley Hwy (NR17) and D'Aguilar Hwy (SR85) at Harlin, February 2021. NR17 turns right at this location and D'Aguilar Hwy becomes SR85 at this location.

Image © Rob Tilley

Intersection Directional Sign:

Image © Rob Tilley

Intersection Directional Sign:

Image © Rob Tilley

Distance Sign:

Reassurance directional sign at Harlin, July 2004.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on D'Aguilar Hwy (SR85) at Harlin approaching Brisbane Valley Hwy (NR17), April 2011. The SR85 duplex begins at his junction.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Toogoolawah approaching Dingyarra St, July 2004.

Image © Michael Greenslade

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Esk-Kilcoy Rd approaching Brisbane Valley Hwy (NR17 / SR85) at Esk, November 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign at Esk facing Esk-Kilcoy Rd, November 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Distance Sign:

RD sign at Esk, after the Esk-Kilcoy Rd junction, November 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

Supplemental Directional Sign:

Sign for Brisbane Valley Tourist Drive at Esk, November 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

UPDATED Esk-Hampton Road:

Corner of Brisbane Valley Hwy (NR17) and Esk-Hampton Rd (SR85) at Esk, June 2026. The SR85 duplex ends at this junction. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Rob Tilley from November 2009.

Image © Rob Tilley

NEW Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Esk, approaching Gatton-Esk Rd (Brisbane Valley Tourist Drive), June 2025.

Image © Rob Tilley

NEW Intersection Directional Sign:

Brisbane Valley Hwy (NR17) at the junction with Gatton-Esk Rd (Brisbane Valley Tourist Drive), Esk, June 2026.

Distance Sign:

RD sign as Brisbane Valley Hwy (NR17) leaves Esk, November 2009.

Coominya Connection Rd & McLean Rd:

Corner of Brisbane Valley Hwy (NR17), McLean Rd and Coominya Connection Rd at Coominya, November 2009.

Distance Sign:

RD sign on Brisbane Valley Hwy (NR17) at Coominya, November 2009.

Lake Wivenhoe:

Brisbane Vly Hwy (NR17) as it crosses Lake Wivenhoe via Wivenhoe Dam, July 2004.

Lake Wivenhoe:

Brisbane Vly Hwy (NR17) as it crosses Lake Wivenhoe via Wivenhoe Dam, July 2004.

Advance Direction Sign:

AD sign approaching Wivenhoe-Somerset Rd at Wivenhoe Pocket, November 2009.

Wivenhoe-Somerset Road:

Corner of Brisbane Valley Hwy (NR17) and Wivenhoe-Somerset Rd at Wivenhoe Pocket, November 2009.

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Fernvale approaching Forest Hill-Fernvale Rd, November 2009.

Forest Hill-Fernvale Road:

Corner of Brisbane Valley Hwy (NR17) and Forest Hill-Fernvale Rd at Fernvale, November 2009.

Distance Sign:

Reassurance directional sign as Brisbane Valley Hwy (NR17) at Fernvale, November 2009.

End Limited Access Road Sign:

Sign in the Fernvale town centre indicating the end of access construction restrictions to Brisbane Valley Hwy (NR17), November 2009.

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Pine Mountain Rd and Leschkes Rd at Wanora, November 2009.

Distance Sign:

RD sign at Wanora, November 2009.

Fingerboard Assembly:

Typical Queensland fingerboards at the Glamorganvale Rd junction in Wanora, November 2009.

Distance Sign:

RD sign at Wanora, November 2009.

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Ironbark approaching Warrego Hwy (A2), November 2013, approaching the southern terminus of NR17.

⁵

Click or tap here for the continuation of D'Aguilar Highway as A3

¹ QLD Government, Department of Transport & Main Roads, Queensland state-controlled roads and region maps, Wide Bay / Burnett District, November 2022.
² Sam Laybutt (OzRoads).
³ QLD Government, The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory, Media Releases, Minister for Transport and Main Roads, The Honourable Warren Pitt, Gorrie family honoured with D'Aguilar Highway bridge naming, 29 February 2008.
⁴ QLD Government, Minister for Main Roads, The Honourable Craig Wallace, Safety improved on Brisbane Valley Highway near Fairney Brook, 20 October 2009.
⁵ QLD Government, Department of Transport and Main Roads, Transport Network Reconstruction Program Forest Hill-Fernvale Road, November 2013.
⁶ QLD Government, The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory, Media Releases, Minister for Transport and Main Roads, The Honourable Mark Bailey, $3.7 mill upgrade for Brisbane Valley Highway, 15 February 2019.
⁷ QLD Government Department of Transport and Main Roads, Projects, Brisbane Valley Highway (Ipswich-Harlin), Fernvale, upgrade pedestrian facilities.
⁸ QLD Government Department of Transport and Main Roads, Projects, Brisbane Valley Highway (Ipswich-Harlin), Warrego Highway to Fernvale, improve safety.