Gulf Developmental Road
Highway in Queensland, Australia
title: "Gulf Developmental Road" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["highways-in-queensland", "highway-1-(australia)"] description: "Highway in Queensland, Australia" topic_path: "geography/australia" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_Developmental_Road" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Highway in Queensland, Australia ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox Australian road"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| road_name | Gulf Developmental Road |
| state | qld |
| type | rural road |
| image | Gulf Developmental Road.png |
| caption | Gulf Developmental Road (green on black) |
| length | 442 |
| direction_a | West |
| direction_b | East |
| end_a | Savannah Way (National Route 1) / |
| Burke Developmental Road (State Route 83), 7 km south of Normanton, Queensland | |
| end_b | Kennedy Highway (National Route 1) / |
| Kennedy Developmental Road, (State Route 62) Forty Mile Scrub, Queensland | |
| through | Croydon, Georgetown, Mount Surprise |
| route | National Route 1 |
| exits | Gregory Highway |
| :: |
| road_name = Gulf Developmental Road | state = qld | route_image = | type = rural road | image = Gulf Developmental Road.png | caption = Gulf Developmental Road (green on black) | length = 442 | direction_a = West | direction_b = East | end_a = Savannah Way (National Route 1) / Burke Developmental Road (State Route 83), 7 km south of Normanton, Queensland | end_b = Kennedy Highway (National Route 1) / Kennedy Developmental Road, (State Route 62) Forty Mile Scrub, Queensland | est = | through = Croydon, Georgetown, Mount Surprise | route = National Route 1 | exits = Gregory Highway
Gulf Developmental Road is an Australian highway linking the Cairns and Normanton regions in northern Queensland, Australia. It is the only sealed (asphalt) road linking these two regions, and is designated Highway 1 in the Queensland part of the national Highway 1 network.
Description
In the east, the Gulf Developmental Road begins at an unnamed junction on the southern edge of Forty Mile Scrub National Park, 241 km south-west of Cairns. It runs west before terminating at its junction with the Burke Developmental Road 7 km south of Normanton, a total distance of 442 km. It is sealed for its full length, but as of 2018 there were many sections of the road which were only single-lane bitumen, with gravel shoulders, requiring vehicles to move partly onto the shoulders. These sections extend between points about 55 km west of Georgetown and 20 km west of Mount Surprise.
Towns along the route include Mount Surprise, Georgetown and Croydon. There are no other communities along the route, but it passes through the ghost town of Cumberland.
The Gulf Developmental Road is designated Highway 1. It is not part of the National Highway network.
Major intersections
This road has only one major intersection, with the Gregory Highway in the locality of .
Upgrades
The Roads of Strategic Importance initiative, last updated in March 2022, includes the following projects for the Gulf Developmental Road.
Corridor upgrade
A lead project to upgrade the Cairns to Northern Territory border corridor, including the Gulf Developmental Road and surrounding state and council roads, at an estimated cost of $62.5 million, was commenced in 2020, with planning continuing.
Pavement strengthening and widening
A project for pavement strengthening and widening of sections of the Gulf Developmental Road between Mount Garnet and Croydon at a cost of $21.5 million was planned to be completed by mid-2022. This project was targeted for "early works" by the Queensland Government, and was split into two packages.
References
References
- Hema, Maps. (2007). "Australia Road and 4WD Atlas". Hema Maps.
- [http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Travel-and-transport/Maps-and-guides/Queensland-state-controlled-roads-and-region-maps.aspx Queensland Government - Department of Transport and Main Roads - Maps]
- (29 March 2022). "Cairns to Northern Territory Border Corridor Upgrade - Future Priorities". Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.
- (8 November 2021). "Gulf Developmental Road - Pavement Strengthening and Widening". Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.
- (29 April 2020). "ROSI early works package". Queensland Government.
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