Road Photos & Information: South Australia
Sturt Highway, Gawler Bypass and Main North Road (A20)
Nuriootpa to Gepps Cross
Statistics:
- Length:
- 267 km (Nuriootpa to Gepps Cross: 68 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:
- Greenock, Gawler, Elizabeth, Salisbury and Gepps Cross
Route Numbering:
- Current: A20
- Former: A52 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:
- 1963: Opening of Gawler Bypass as super-2 road with at-grade junctions. 2
- 1980s: Nuriootpa & Greenock bypassed. Extension and duplication of Gawler Bypass. 2
- 1992: National Route 20 replaced by National Highway 20.
- 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
- 2008: Gawler Interchange duplication and the Gawler to Daveyston duplication. 3
- 2010: Completion of the duplication of Sturt Hwy between Gawler and Nuriootpa. 4 Realignment of the Gawler bypass northbound carriageway as part of creating a grade-separated junction with the Northern Expressway.
- November 2012: Work begins on upgrading the intersection of Main North Road, Tiver Road and Gordon Road to provide a 4-way signalised intersection. 5
- November 2013: Work completed on upgrading the intersection of Main North Road, Tiver Road and Gordon Road to provide a 4-way signalised intersection. 5
- 2014: Wire Rope Safety Barriers installed on Main North Road between Curtis Road and Tiver Road. 6
- March 2015: Work starts on upgrades at the intersection of Main North Road and Midway and Woodford Roads at Elizabeth Downs, by extending the right turn lanes on both Midway and Woodford Road approaches to the junction. Also the signals on Midway and Woodford Roads were upgraded to provide partial right turn control with minor road widening. 7
- August 2018: Works commence on the upgrade of the Main North Road intersection with Dalkeith Road and Smith Road at Evanston South. Work included: service relocations, installation of traffic lights enabling controlled right turns in all directions, installation of left-turn slip lanes on Main North Road, installation of bicycle lanes, signalised pedestrian crossings, plus new road lighting, pavement and U-turn facility 300 metres north of the intersection. 8
Nuriootpa to Gepps Cross (Adelaide)
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Hewett, December 2010.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Willaston approaching Main North Rd (A32), later Horrocks Hwy (B82), December 2010.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Main North Road / Adelaide Road Exit:
Southbound on the Gawler Bypass at Hewett at the interchange with Main North Road (A32) and Adelaide Road (B81). December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Southbound at Willaston, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Redbanks Rd Interchange:
Southbound through the interchange for Redbanks Road at Willaston on the Gawler Bypass. December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Redbanks Rd Interchange:
Southbound through the interchange for Redbanks Road at Willaston on the Gawler Bypass. December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
Southbound RD sign at Willaston, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Two Wells Road Interchange:
Southbound at Gawler West. December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Two Wells Road Interchange:
Southbound at Gawler West. December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Gawler West approaching Northern Expwy (M2), December 2010. A52 has since been renumbered A20 and M20 has since been renumbered M2.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Distance Sign:
RD as you head southbound through the Two Wells Rd interchange, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
Southbound reassurance directional sign at Evanston, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
UPDATED Distance Sign:
Southbound reassurance directional sign at Evanston South on Main North Road, January 2008. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Approaching Elizabeth Way & Ifould Road:
Southbound AD sign at Elizabeth, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching John Rice Av:
Southbound at John Rice Avenue, the northern terminus of A9 (formerly A13), December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
John Rice Av Intersection:
Southbound at John Rice Avenue, the northern terminus of A9 (formerly A13), December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Salisbury Park:
Southbound under the footbridge at Salisbury Park, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching The Grove Way & Saints Road:
Southbound in Salisbury Plain, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign for the Kings Road / McIntyre Road intersection, southbound at Salisbury South. December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Para Hills West:
Typical conditions along Main North Road at Para Hills West, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Maxwell Road / Elder Smith Road:
Southbound at Mawson Lakes, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign for the Mawson Lakes Blvd intersection, southbound at Mawson Lakes. December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Montague Rd:
Southbound AD sign at Pooraka, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Gepps Cross:
Main South Rd (A20), southbound at Gepps Cross. December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
End A20:
The southern terminus of A20, Grand Jct Rd (A16), Port Wakefield Rd (A1) and Main North Rd (A1), Gepps Cross, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Gepps Cross (Adelaide) to Nuriootpa
ID Sign:
Intersection directional sign assembly on the corner of Grand Junction Road and Main North Road at Gepps Cross. December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
Northbound RD sign at Gepps Cross, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Montague Road:
Northbound at Montague Road at Pooraka. December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD as you head northbound at Mawson Lakes, December 2003.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Approaching Mawson Lakes Boulevard:
Northbound advance directional sign for the intersection at Mawson Lakes, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Maxwell / Elder Smith Rd Approach:
Northbound at Mawson Lakes. December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
Northbound AD sign at Parafield approaching Kings and McIntyre Roads, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Lanes Merge Sign:
Large lanes merge sign after the intersection with Kings and McIntyre Roads in Parafield, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Saints Road / The Grove Way:
Northbound approaching the junction with Saints Road and The Grove Way at Salisbury Plain, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Black Top Road:
Northbound carriageway of Main North Road as it approaches Black Top Road's signalised intersection in Elizabeth Vale, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
Northbound AD sign approaching John Rice Av, A9 (formerly A13), at Elizabeth Vale.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Phillip Hwy:
Northbound approaching Phillip Highway in Elizabeth, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Tourist AD sign for the Main North Road / Sturt Highway interchange. Northbound at Kudla. December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Supplemental AD Sign:
Supplemental advance directional sign, northbound approaching the Main North Road / Sturt Highway interchange at Evanston Gardens, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Main North Road Interchange:
Main North Road / Sturt Highway interchange at Evanston Gardens, December 2007.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Gawler Belt approaching Mallala Rd and Main North Rd (A32), later Horrocks Hwy (B82), December 2010.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Mallala Road:
Main North Rd (A20) at the Mallala Rd interchange at Gawler Belt, October 2012.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Gawler Belt approaching Main North Rd / Horrocks Hwy (B82), October 2012.
Image © Michael Greenslade
2 Australian Government, Peter Morris, Australian Minister for Transport, Press Release, $18 Million Gawler Bypass Gets Go Ahead, 9 May 1984.
3 Australian Government, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.
4 SA Government, Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure, Road Projects, Sturt Highway Upgrade.
5 SA Government, Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure, Road Projects, Main North Road / Tiver Road / Gordon Road Intersection Upgrade.
6 SA Government, Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure, News, Wire Rope Safety Barriers installed on Main North Road, 29 Aug 2014.
7 SA Government, Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure, News, Minor works Main North Road, Elizabeth Downs, 11 Mar 2015.
8 SA Government, Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure, Road Projects, Main North Road / Dalkeith Road Intersection Upgrade.