Recently on my trip up to Townsville from NSW (September 2024) I drove the Bowen Developmental Road (Hwy 77) from the Gregory Developmental Road near Belyando Road House (West to East) to Bowen.

I've read on this forum that the first 53 Km to Mount  Coolon (an old Gold Mining town), was in a bad condition. Yes, I found it certainly was, but not unexpected for a major unsealed road.

Lots of corrugations and fine dust. Not quite the awful 'bull dust', but getting there. I also had to stop for an approaching cattle truck and the resulting complete 'dust out' after it passed. 

Also the road has crushed shale as its surface. Hence, I kept my speed down to around 20/25 Kmh. I drive a 2007 Mazda Single Cabin BT-50 Ute (Manual rear wheel drive)  with a canvas over the tray that I bunk in at overnight stops.

After Mount Coolon, I continued on towards Bowen and was disappointed that there was a further unsealed section. However, this turned out to be what looked like the final surfacing before the bitumen is laid down.

 I was averaging over 80 kmh on this section as the surface was smooth. Apparently,  it won't be long before Hwy 77 will be completely sealed from Mount Coolon to Bowen.

However, there's one problem I noticed after I passed Mount Coolon about 4.60 klms before the Collingsville Elphinstone Road.   There's a one lane bridge. And  I mean one lane !

Before this, you're driving on a good standard two lane sealed road with a center line and the two outside edge lines clearly marked as it's a fairly recently sealed section.

Then just before this bridge after approaching it down a slight curve, the center line ends, and the two outside edge lines pinch into to a single lane. WTF ?

Such a bridge should not even exist on such a road. It's ridiculous and dangerous ! There's no clear view of any approaching vehicles on the other side as it's also a slightly curved section.

I forget the name of the waterway the bridge is over. (There's no Google Earth Street view for this section)

Other than the negatives I've mentioned above, the road between Mount Coolon and Bowen is an enjoyable road to travel on.

-- Edited by Skyfacer on Saturday 5th of October 2024 04:03:37 PM