Major roads in the Goldfields–Esperance region of Western Australia

Main Roads Western Australia controls the major roads in the state's Goldfields–Esperance region.[1] While the region is the state's largest, the major roads are restricted to the region's western and southern edges. From the major population centres of Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie, Great Eastern Highway heads west towards Perth via the Wheatbelt (Western Australia); Coolgardie–Esperance Highway leads south to the port of Esperance via Norseman; and Goldfields Highway proceeds north to Wiluna and then on to the Mid West Region. From Norseman, Eyre Highway takes interstate traffic east across the Nullarbor Plain and into South Australia.[2][3]

The main roads in the region are important for multiple aspects of the region's economy. This is primarily mining activities, but also includes pastoral and agricultural exports via Esperance port, tourism to both coastal and inland destinations, and interstate freight traffic, with approximately two million tonnes transported annually along the Great Eastern, Coolgardie–Esperance and Eyre highways.[4]

Anzac Drive

Anzac Drive
LocationWest KalgoorlieBroadwood
Length7.04 km[5] (4.37 mi)

Anzac Drive is a main road just outside Kalgoorlie. It connecting Great Eastern Highway with Goldfields Highway, providing a bypass to the south-west of the town.[2]

Agnew Sandstone Road

Agnew Sandstone Road
(Goldfields–Esperance region)
LocationLeinster
Length56.66 km[5] (35.21 mi)

Agnew Sandstone Road is a main east-west road near the north-western edge of the Goldfields–Esperance region. From the Mid West region east of Sandstone, it travels east to Goldfields Highway at Leinster.[2]

Coolgardie–Esperance Highway

Coolgardie–Esperance Highway
LocationCoolgardieEsperance
Length370.74 km[5] (230.37 mi)
Route number

Coolgardie–Esperance Highway is a main north–south road in the Goldfields–Esperance region linking Coolgardie and Esperance. The southernmost section that bypasses Esperance is named Harbour Road.[2][3]

Eyre Highway

Eyre Highway
(Goldfields–Esperance region)
LocationNorsemanEucla
Length720.71 km[5] (447.83 mi)
Route number National Highway 1

Eyre Highway runs east from Norseman on the Coolgardie–Esperance Highway to the South Australian border near Eucla.[2]

Goldfields Highway

Goldfields Highway
(Goldfields–Esperance region)
LocationWilunaWidgiemooltha
Length660.09 km[5] (410.16 mi)
Route number Alternate National Route 94

In the Goldfields–Esperance region, Goldfields Highway starts at Wiluna, continuing on from the Mid West region east of Meekatharra. It leads south to Coolgardie–Esperance Highway at Widgiemooltha, south of Kalgoorlie. Between Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie–Esperance Highway, the highway is part of Alternate National Route 94.[2]

Great Eastern Highway

Great Eastern Highway
(Goldfields–Esperance region)
LocationVictoria RockKalgoorlie
Length159.79 km[5] (99.29 mi)
Route number

Great Eastern Highway is the main connection through to Perth. From the edge of the Wheatbelt, at the Boorabbin National Park, it heads east, to the town of Coolgardie. Three hundred metres (980 ft) beyond the townsite, traffic bound for South Australia turns south onto Coolgardie–Esperance Highway, following the National Highway 94 route. Great Eastern Highway, now signposted as Alternate National Route 94, turns north-east, travelling through another 32 kilometres (20 mi) of scrubland to the outskirts of Kalgoorlie. The road continues its journey eastward within the grid of Kalgoorlie's road system, initially passing by the industrial district of West Kalgoorlie. After 1.9 kilometres (1.2 mi), the highway once more becomes a dual carriageway, and travels past residential neighbourhoods. Following 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi), the highway takes on the name Hannan Street, and continues for 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) through to downtown Kalgoorlie, terminating at Goldfields Highway on Kalgoorlie's eastern edge. Alternate Route 94 turns south, back towards the National Highway route.[6][2]

Leonora Laverton Road

Leonora Laverton Road
LocationLeonoraLaverton
Length123.78 km[5] (76.91 mi)

Leonora Laverton Road heads east from Leonora on Goldfields Highway to Laverton, at the western end of the Great Central Road.[2]

South Coast Highway

South Coast Highway
(Goldfields–Esperance region)
LocationEast MunglinupChadwick
Length102.71 km[5] (63.82 mi)

South Coast Highway heads west from the outskirts of Esperance, close to the coast, continuing into the Great Southern region near Munglinup.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ Main Roads Western Australia (17 December 2013). "Regional Roads". Government of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Main Roads Western Australia (13 August 2013). Goldfields–Esperance Region map (PDF) (Map). 1:2,127,656. Version 1.0. Government of Western Australia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 August 2013.
  3. ^ a b Main Roads Western Australia (28 February 2011). "Goldfields–Esperance Network" (PDF) (Map). Intergrated Service Arrangement. 1:5,263,158. Government of Western Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 August 2013.
  4. ^ Main Roads Western Australia (2013). "Goldfields–Esperance Regional Profile" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 September 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Main Roads Western Australia. Road Information Mapping System (Map). Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  6. ^ "Great Eastern Highway – Yilgarn Avenue to Goldfields Highway" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 13 October 2013.