Road Photos & Information: South Australia
Sturt Highway, Gawler Bypass and Main North Road (A20)
Victorian Border to Barmera
Statistics:
- Length:
- 267 km (Victorian Border to Barmera: 57 km)
- Termini:
- Eastern: SA-VIC Border
- Western: Main North Road (A1) and Grand Junction Road (A16), Gepps Cross
- Miscellaneous:
- Continues as A20 in Victoria
- Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:
- Yamba, Paringa, Renmark, Monash and Barmera
Route Numbering:
- Current: A20
- Former: A20 20 20
- Road Authority Internal Classification: 1
- 07200
General Information:
A20 is a major route connecting South Australia with Victoria and New South Wales.
The highway itself varies from 2-lane rural highway in the less populated areas to multi-laned main road in some of the larger towns, to freeway standard and 6-lane arterial road standard in Adelaide.
The route receives Auslink funding from the Federal Government, recognising its importance as a major Australian highway for freight and travel.
The Sturt Highway is named after Charles Sturt, who explored south western New South Wales, the Murrumbidgee and Murray Rivers and also parts of central Australia in the 1800s.
History:
- 1888: First bridge at Renmark built over River Murray constructed in timber by the Chaffey Brothers, to connect their new irrigation settlement with Adelaide. 2
- 1927: Opening of Paringa Bridge over the River Murray at Renmark, when the railway line was extended from Paringa to Renmark. The bridge carried both road and rail traffic. 2
- 1933: The Chaffey Brothers' timber bridge at Renmark was replaced by a timber and steel bridge. 2
- January 1959: Construction on a new bridge (called the Distillery Bridge) began at Renmark. It was made of pre-stressed concrete, a first for South Australia. 2
- January 1960: Completion of Distillery Bridge at Renmark. 2
- 1992: National Route 20 replaced by National Highway 20.
- 1995: Monash Deviation opened, bypassing the towns of Berri and Glossop.
- 1998: Changed to National Highway A20 with the implementation of the alphanumeric route numbering system in SA, also completion of the Mickens Bridge to Truro realignment (an 8 km alignment and bridge, north of the old carriageway). 3
- November 2013: New heavy vehicle parking bays constructed on Sturt Highway east of Monash and west of Renmark. 4
- 2019: Installation of new guard rails and bridge barriers and widening of road pavement across several bridges on Sturt Highway. Bridges upgraded include: Paringa Causeway Bridges 1 & 2, Paringa Causeway Bridges 3 & 4, Bookmark Bridge, Salt Creek Bridge and Kingston Bridge. 5
Victorian Border to Barmera
SA Welcome Sign:
Crossing from Victoria into SA, westbound. November 2016. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Quarantine Restrictions Sign:
Westbound sign detailing prohibited / restricted items as you get closer to the quarantine inspection station at Yamba, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
Westbound RD sign at Yamba. December 2003. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Welcome Sign:
Sign at Yamba welcoming motorists to the Riverland Wine Region, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Quarantine Station Ahead Sign:
Westbound at Yamba, 5 km from the quarantine inspection station, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Quarantine Station Ahead Sign:
Westbound at Yamba, 5 km from the quarantine inspection station, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Warning Sign:
Westbound sign warning motorists to prepare to stop at the quarantine station at Yamba, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Black Kilometre Plate:
Black kilometre plate just before the quarantine station at Yamba, December 2003.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Approaching the Quarantine Station:
Westbound as you approach the quarantine inspection station at Yamba, all vehicles must stop for inspection, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching the Quarantine Station:
Westbound as you approach the quarantine inspection station at Yamba, all vehicles must stop for inspection, December 2007. The station is split for cars and larger vehicles.
Image © Paul Rands
Riverland Welcome Sign:
Westbound at Yamba after the fruit fly inspection station, December 2007. It was built when Adelaide had the rights to the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Image © Paul Rands
Black Distance Sign:
Old black (but updated) distance sign indicating distances to Adelaide. Westbound at Mundi Creek approaching Loxton Main Road. 2004.
Image © Jamie Scgulia
Approaching Loxton Main Road:
Westbound at Mundic Ck, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign after Loxton Main Road at Mundic Creek. December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Services Sign:
Services sign at Mundic Creek. November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Entering Paringa:
Westbound as you drive into the town of Paringa, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
Sign assembly featuring old style SA stack sign setup, including and old black sign at Paringa. December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Tourist Sign:
Westbound tourist sign for the Paringa Bridge over the River Murray, at Paringa. The bridge opened in 1927. December 2007 near Murtho Road.
Image © Paul Rands
Black Distance Sign:
Westbound black RD sign at Paringa near the Murtho Road intersection. The route shield is an updated one when the alphanumeric route numbers were introduced into SA in 1998. December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Paringa Bridge:
Westbound at Paringa as you approach the River Murray, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Paringa Bridge:
Westbound at Paringa as you approach the River Murray, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Paringa Bridge:
Crossing the Paringa Bridge (westbound). December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Entering Renmark:
Westbound as you enter Renmark, December 2007. The name Renmark refers to an Aboriginal word meaning "Red Mud”.
Image © Paul Rands
Black Directional Sign:
AD sign assembly approaching Renmark Av, Renmark, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign facing westbound traffic at Renmark Av, Renmark, December 2003. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Black ID Sign:
Black intersection directional sign facing Renmark Av traffic, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
Travelling southwest on Renmark Av in South Renmark, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Black AD Signs:
Old black advance directional sign assembly as you approach Lyrup Rd in Monash, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign located after the Lyrup Road intersection at Monash. December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign approaching Old Sturt Hwy (B201) sign at Monash, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
Westbound approaching Old Sturt Hwy (B201) at Monash. December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Sturt Hwy / Old Sturt Hwy Intersection:
Looking southwest at Monash, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign at Monash, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Goyder Highway:
Corner of Stuart Hwy (A20) and Goyder Hwy (B64) at Monash, November 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Entering Barmera:
Westbound at Barmera, after the Old Sturt Hwy intersection. December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign as you head into Barmera, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Anderson Street:
Advance directional sign for Anderson St Barmera, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Black ID Sign:
Westbound black intersection directional sign on the corner of Anderson St (TD29) and Sturt Hwy (A20) in Barmera. December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
Westbound distance sign after Anderson St Barmera, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD as you leave Barmera, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Barmera to Victorian Border
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Monash approaching Goyder Hwy (B64), December 2003. Note the remnant NR64 shield.
Image © Michael Greenslade
NEW Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign at Monash, February 2018.
Image © Alexander Czarnecki
Entering Monash:
Sturt Hwy (A20) as it enters the town of Monash, December 2003.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Maddison Road & Webber Road:
Corner of Sturt Hwy (A20), Maddison Rd and Webber Rd at Monash, December 2003.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Black Distance Sign:
Black reassurance directional sign at Monash, 2004.
Image © Jamie Scuglia
Distance Sign:
RD sign after the Sturt Hwy / Old Sturt Hwy intersection at Lyrup. December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Lyrup Road:
AD sign assembly near Lyrup Rd in Monash. December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
RD sign on Renmark Av approaching Eighteenth St and the right turn that A20 follows to bypass the Renmark CBD. December 2007. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Michael Greenslade from December 2003.
Image © Paul Rands
Cnr Renmark Av & 18th St:
Looking northeast at Renmark as the Sturt Hwy turns right to head to Victoria. December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Paringa approaching Murtho Rd, December 2003.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Approaching Paringa Bridge:
Signage approaching Paringa Bridge over the River Murray at Paringa, December 2003.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Narrow Bridge Warning Sign:
Special narrow bridge sign approaching Paringa Bridge over the River Murray at Renmark, July 2019.
Image © Ben Winkler
Reassurance Directional Sin:
Distance sign at Paringa, July 2019.
Image © Ben Winkler
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Wonurra approaching Stanitzki Rd, July 2019.
Image © Ben Winkler
Stanitzki Road:
Corner of Sturt Hwy (A20) and Stanitzki Rd at Wonurra, July 2019.
Image © Ben Winkler
Reassurance Directional Sin:
Distance sign at Wonurra, July 2019.
Image © Ben Winkler
Riverland Welcome Sign:
Welcome sign that was built when Adelaide had the rights to the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix, July 2019.
Image © Ben Winkler
SA/Vic Border:
Stuart Hwy (A20) as it crosses into Victoria, December 2003.
Image © Michael Greenslade
2 SA Government, SA Memory, The river as a highway: Crossing the Murray.
3 Australian Government, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.
4 SA Government, Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure, News, New roadside facilities for truck drivers, 29 Nov 2013.
5 SA Government, Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure, Community Update, Regional Bridges Upgrade Project, Sturt Highway Bridges, Commencement of Works, 20 Dec 2018.