View source for Alpine Way

{{about|the rural road located in [[New South Wales]]|the country tourist road located in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]|Great Alpine Road}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox Australian road
| type         = rural road
| road_name    = Alpine Way
| state        = nsw
| image        = Alpine Way near Thredbo.jpg
| caption      = Alpine Way, near {{NSWcity|Thredbo}}
| length       = 121.3
| length_ref   = <ref name="gmaps">{{google maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/-36.1691437,148.0250317/-36.4106207,148.5954059/@-36.3499358,148.1966195,11.36z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0?hl=en |access-date=18 July 2023 }}</ref>
| gazetted     = January 1993
| gazetted_ref = <ref name="nswgovgaz93">{{cite news |title=State Roads Act |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231922774 |work=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |issue=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia |date=15 January 1993 |pages=125 |access-date=18 July 2023 |archive-date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718071801/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231922774 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| mapframe     = no
| coordinates_a = {{coord|-36.410636|148.595440|type:landmark_region:AU-NSW|display=inline}}
| coordinates_b = {{coord|-36.169133|148.024935|type:landmark_region:AU-NSW|display=inline}}
| pushpin_label_position_a = right
| pushpin_label_position_b = left
| direction_a  = East
| direction_b  = West
| end_a        = '''[[Kosciuszko Road]]'''<br />{{small|[[Jindabyne, New South Wales]]}}
| end_b        = {{AUshield|VIC|B400}} '''[[Murray Valley Highway]]'''<br />{{small|NSW/VIC border}}
| exits        = {{plainlist|
*Swampy Plains River Road
*Tooma Road}}
| through      = {{NSWcity|Thredbo|Khancoban}}
| restrictions = Carrying snow chains may be required at certain times of the year.
| show_links   = yes
}}
'''Alpine Way''' is a {{convert|121|km|adj=on}} rural road located in the [[Snowy Mountains]] region of [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]]. The road connects {{NSWcity|Jindabyne}} in the east to the [[New South Wales]]-[[Victoria (Australia)|Victorian]] border in the west, crossing the [[Murray River]] near Bringenbrong and Upper Towong.

==Route==
Alpine Way commences at the intersection with [[Kosciuszko Road]] in [[Jindabyne, New South Wales|Jindabyne]], on the eastern side of the Snowy Mountains, and heads in a south-westerly direction, adjacent to the [[Thredbo River]] and eventually past [[Thredbo]]. It then climbs and crosses the crest of the [[Great Dividing Range]] at Dead Horse Gap at an altitude of {{convert|1580|m}}, then winds a descent down to and eventually crosses Snowy Creek at Murray Gorge at an altitude of {{convert|580|m}}, very close to the Murray River. Thereafter, it continues in a northerly direction around the western side of the range along the upper reaches of the Murray River Tributaries, crossing the [[Swampy Plain River]] at [[Geehi Hut]] and continuing northwards to {{NSWcity|Khancoban}}. It then heads in a northwesterly direction to eventually cross the [[Murray River]] and terminate at [[Murray Valley Highway]] on the river's southern bank, within Victoria.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visitnsw.com/things-to-do/drives-and-road-trips/kosciuszko-alpine-way |title=Kosciuszko Alpine Way |work=[[Destination NSW]] |publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]] |date=2016 |access-date=18 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113134554/http://www.visitnsw.com/things-to-do/drives-and-road-trips/kosciuszko-alpine-way |archive-date=13 November 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

The majority of the road is contained within [[Kosciuszko National Park]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/Driving-routes/Kosciuszko-Alpine-Way-drive |title=Kosciuszko – Alpine Way drive |work=[[NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service]] |publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]] |date=2016 |access-date=18 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119182822/https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/Driving-routes/Kosciuszko-Alpine-Way-drive |archive-date=19 November 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and since 2004 has been maintained by [[Roads & Maritime Services]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/business-industry/partners-suppliers/lgr/documents/classified-roads-schedule.pdf |title=Schedule of Classified Roads and Unclassified Regional Roads |work=[[Roads & Maritime Services]] |publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]] |date=January 2014 |access-date=18 November 2016 |page=27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329003117/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/business-industry/partners-suppliers/lgr/documents/classified-roads-schedule.pdf |archive-date=29 March 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/about/corporatepublications/rta-ann-rep-2004-fins-w.pdf |title=Annual Report 2004 |work=[[Roads & Traffic Authority]] |publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]] |date=2004 |access-date=18 November 2016 |page=95 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214110023/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/about/corporatepublications/rta-ann-rep-2004-fins-w.pdf |archive-date=14 February 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===Road restrictions===
Road restrictions in the region require all [[two-wheel drive]] vehicles carry [[snow chain]]s between Thredbo and Tom Groggin from the long weekends marking the [[King's Official Birthday#Australia|King's Official Birthday in June]] and the [[Labour Day#Australia|Labour Day in October]]. It is also quite possible that snow chains may be needed to drive safely along other (more dangerous) parts of Alpine Way.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/parksafety/KosciuszkoNPRoadsafety.htm |title=Driving in the snow |work=NSW Environment and Heritage |publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]] |date=9 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209204253/http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/parksafety/KosciuszkoNPRoadsafety.htm |archive-date=9 February 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/Driving-routes/Kosciuszko-Alpine-Way-drive/visitor-info |title=Kosciuszko – Alpine Way drive: Getting there and parking |work=[[NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service]] |publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]] |date=2016 |access-date=18 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119182826/http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/Driving-routes/Kosciuszko-Alpine-Way-drive/visitor-info |archive-date=19 November 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==History==
The road was initially built in the 1950s as part of the access for the [[Snowy Mountains Scheme]]. However, the paving of it was only completed approximately forty years later in the 1990s.

The Roads and Traffic Authority declared Main Road 627 along the western portion of Alpine Way, from the border with Victoria along Murray River in Bringenbrong through Khancoban to the western boundary of [[Kosciuszko National Park]] to its east, on 15 January 1993.<ref name="nswgovgaz93" /> Main Road 677 was declared along the eastern portion of Alpine Way, from Jindabyne to the eastern boundary of Kosciuszko National Park at [[Bullocks Flat]], on 31 October 1997;<ref name="nswgovgaz97">{{cite news |title=State Roads Act |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231958480 |work=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |issue=117 |publisher=National Library of Australia |date=31 October 1997 |pages=8874 |access-date=18 July 2023 |archive-date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718074016/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231958480 |url-status=live }}</ref> this was extended west along the remaining section of Alpine Way to the western boundary of Kosciuszko National Park east of Khancoban on 17 May 2004.<ref name="nswgovgaz04">{{cite news |title=Roads Act 1993 |url=https://gazette.legislation.nsw.gov.au/so/download.w3p?id=Gaz_Gazette%20Split%202004_2004-85.pdf |work=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |issue=85 |publisher=Legislation NSW |date=17 May 2004 |pages=2905-10 |access-date=18 July 2023 |archive-date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718074416/https://gazette.legislation.nsw.gov.au/so/download.w3p?id=Gaz_Gazette%20Split%202004_2004-85.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

The passing of the ''Roads Act of 1993''<ref>[https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1993-033 State of New South Wales, ''An Act to make provision with respect to the roads of New South Wales; to repeal the State Roads Act 1986, the Crown and Other Roads Act 1990 and certain other enactments; and for other purposes.''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811000905/http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_act/mra1924n24133/ |date=11 August 2022 }} 10 November 1924</ref> updated road classifications and the way they could be declared within New South Wales. Under this act, Alpine Way retains its declaration as Main Roads 627 and 677.<ref name="nswroadsched">{{cite web |url=https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/business-industry/partners-suppliers/lgr/documents/classified-roads-schedule.pdf |title=Schedule of Classified Roads and Unclassified Regional Roads |author=[[Transport for NSW]] |date=August 2022 |publisher=Government of New South Wales |access-date=1 August 2022 |archive-date=25 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825104657/https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/business-industry/partners-suppliers/lgr/documents/classified-roads-schedule.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Major intersections==
{{AUSinttop|state_col=State|length_ref=<ref name="gmaps" />}}
{{NSWint
|sspan=12
|LGA=[[Snowy Monaro Regional Council|Snowy Monaro]]
|location=Jindabyne
|km=0.0
|type=trans
|road=[[Kosciuszko Road]]{{NSWcity|p=on|Charlotte Pass|Berridale|Cooma}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of Alpine Way
}}
{{jctbridge
|river=[[Little Thredbo River]]
|km=16.8
|bridge=Bridge (no known official name)}}
{{NSWint
|LGA=[[Snowy Monaro Regional Council|Snowy Monaro]]
|location=Thredbo
|km=32.0
|road=Banjo Drive{{NSWcity|p=on|Thredbo}}
|notes=
}}
{{jctbridge
|river=[[Thredbo River]]
|km=36.2
|bridge=Bridge (no known official name)}}
{{jctbridge
|river=Snowy Creek
|km=54.8
|bridge=Bridge (no known official name)}}
{{NSWint
|LGA-Co=Snowy Valleys
|location_special=Geehi
|km=75.7
|road=Behrs Flat Track – [[Geehi Hut]]
|notes=
}}
{{jctbridge
|river=[[Swampy Plain River]]
|km=75.8
|bridge=Bridge (no known official name)}}
{{NSWint
|LGA-Co=Snowy Valleys
|LGAspan=4
|location=Khancoban
|lspan=2
|km=106.9
|road=Scammel Street{{NSWcity|p=on|Khancoban}}
}}
{{NSWint
|km=113.0
|road=Swampy Plains River Road{{NSWcity|p=on|Cabramurra|Kiandra}}
|notes=
}}
{{NSWint
|location_special=Bringenbrong
|lspan=2
|km=119.2
|road=Tooma Road{{NSWcity|p=on|Tooma|Tumbarumba}}
|notes=
}}
{{NSWint
|km=121.3
|uspan=4
|type=trans
|road=Alpine Way{{NSWcity|p=on|Tooma|Tumbarumba}}
|notes=Western terminus of Alpine Way
}}
{{jctbridge
|river=[[Murray River]]
|km=none
|bridge=Bringenbrong Bridge}}
{{VICint
|location_special=State border
|lcspan=3
|lcalign=center
|km=none
|place=New South Wales – Victoria state border
}}
{{VICint
|sspan=1
|LGAS=Towong
|location_special={{VICcity|Towong}}–{{VICcity|Upper Towong}} boundary
|type=trans
|km=none
|road={{AUshield|VIC|B400}} [[Murray Valley Highway]] (B400){{VICcity|p=on|Corryong|Wodonga|Swan Hill}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of Murray Valley Highway, route B400 continues west
}}
{{Jctbtm|col=7|keys=trans}}

==See also==
{{stack|{{portal|Australian Roads|New South Wales}}}}
* [[List of highways in New South Wales]]
* [[1997 Thredbo landslide]]
* [[Barry Way]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Attached KML|display=title, inline}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080509120853/http://www.discoverthredbo.com/activities/default.htm Travel the Alpine Way]
*[http://www.openroad.com.au/travel_greatdrives_snowiesgreatdrive.asp Snowies great drive]

{{Road infrastructure in New South Wales}}
{{Snowy River Shire |state=autocollapse}}

[[Category:Highways in New South Wales]]
[[Category:Snowy Mountains]]