The Isis Highway is a state highway in southern Queensland, Australia.[1] The highway is relatively short, and runs for 137 kilometres (85 mi) in a north-east / south-west direction between Bundaberg North and the Burnett Highway at Ban Ban Springs.[2] The Isis Highway links the sugar producing Bundaberg and Fraser Coast regions with the cattle farming districts of the North Burnett.

Isis Highway

Isis Highway (green and black)
General information
TypeHighway
Length137 km (85 mi)
Route number(s)
  • State Route 3
  • (Bundaberg North – Childers)
  • State Route 52
  • (Childers – Ban Ban Springs)
Major junctions
NE end Bundaberg–Gin Gin Road (Mount Perry Road),
Bundaberg North, Queensland
  Bruce Highway
SW end Burnett Highway, Ban Ban Springs, Queensland
Location(s)
Major settlementsChilders, Biggenden
Highway system

The highway takes its name from the Isis River, which flows between Childers and Burrum Heads. The highway also passes through a significant amount of the former Isis Shire local government area, of which Childers was the administrative centre.

The Isis Highway is signed as State Route 3 between Bundaberg and Childers, and State Route 52 between Childers and Ban Ban Springs. The section between Bundaberg and Childers is a state-controlled regional road (number 19A) while that between Childers and Ban Ban Springs is a state-controlled strategic road (numbers 19B and 19C)[3]

Route description

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The road commences at a roundabout in Bundaberg North[4] as State Route 3 and runs south as Hinkler Avenue, crossing the Burnett River on the Don Tallon Bridge. Most of this section is one lane in each direction. After 2.0 kilometres (1.2 mi) it passes through a five-way intersection, crossing Bourbong Street and turning south-west on Takalvan Street. This four lane road continues for a further 3.3 kilometres (2.1 mi) to the Airport Drive / Kendalls Road exit, where it becomes Childers Road, reverting to two lanes.

Childers Road passes to the west of Bundaberg Airport and through the outer suburbs of Kensington and Branyan before reaching the village of South Bingera. From there to Apple Tree Creek it passes through a mixture of farm land and forest, with sugar cane and other crops intermixed. Childers Road is 41.8 kilometres (26.0 mi) in length, making a cumulative distance to the Bruce Highway at Apple Tree Creek of 47.1 kilometres (29.3 mi).

From Apple Tree Creek the Isis Highway runs south-east concurrent with the Bruce Highway for 6.4 kilometres (4.0 mi) to the western outskirts of the town of Childers, where it turns south on Broadhurst Street as State Route 52. The street name is dropped as the road leaves the town, and the two lane road runs south-west and south through farm land and forest for 45.8 kilometres (28.5 mi) to Biggenden. From Biggenden a further 37.7 kilometres (23.4 mi) generally south-west through similar country leads to the Burnett Highway at Ban Ban Springs, making a total cumulative distance of 137.0 kilometres (85.1 mi).

Roads of Strategic Importance upgrade

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The Roads of Strategic Importance initiative, last updated in March 2022, includes the following project for the Isis Highway.

Overtaking lanes

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A project to construct overtaking lanes on the Isis Highway, at an estimated cost of $5 million, was completed in mid-2021.[5]

Other upgrades

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A project to improve safety in various locations, at a cost of $41.8 million, was expected to be completed in 2024.[6]

Towns along the Isis Highway

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Major intersections

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LGALocationkmmiDestinationsNotes
BundabergBundaberg North00.0  Bundaberg–Gin Gin Road (Mount Perry Road) (State Route 3) – west – Gin Gin
Bundaberg–Gin Gin Road (Mount Perry Road) – east – Bundaberg CBD
Fairymead Road – north – Fairymead
Roundabout intersection. Northern end of Isis Highway (State Route 3). State Route 3 continues west to Gin Gin.
Burnett River1.1–
1.7
0.68–
1.1
Don Tallon Bridge
BundabergBundaberg West2.01.2Bundaberg–Bargara Road (Bourbong Street) – east – Bundaberg CBD
Bourbong Street – west – Millbank
Mulgrave Street – south – Bundaberg West
Five-way intersection. Isis Highway continues south–west as Takalvan Street.
Apple Tree Creek47.129.3  Bruce Highway (Queensland Highway A1) – north–west – Gin Gin. /
south–east – Childers
Northern concurrency terminus with Bruce Highway
Wide Bay-BurnettChilders53.533.2  Bruce Highway (Queensland Highway A1) – south–east – HowardSouthern concurrency terminus with Bruce Highway.
53.533.2  Bruce Highway (Queensland Highway A1) – south–east – HowardIsis Highway continues south as State Route 52.
North BurnettBiggenden99.361.7  Maryborough Biggenden Road (State Route 86) – south–east – Brooweena
Ban Ban Springs13785  Burnett Highway (State Route A3) – north – Gayndah / south – Goomeri
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Queensland Government - Department of Transport and Main Roads - Maps
  2. ^ Hema, Maps (2007). Australia Road and 4WD Atlas (Map). Eight Mile Plains Queensland: Hema Maps. p. 9. ISBN 978-1-86500-456-3.
  3. ^ The State Road Network of Queensland (PDF) (Map). Queensland Government. 30 June 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  4. ^ Wide Bay District Map Page 2 Bundaberg Environs (PDF) (Map). Department of Transport and Main Roads ©State of Queensland [CC BY 4.0]. March 2007. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Isis Overtaking Lanes". Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Isis Highway (Bundaberg – Childers), various locations, improve safety". Queensland Government. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2022.