Black Spur

The Black Spur
Black Spur Drive
Victoria
Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) along the Maroondah Highway on the Black Spur
General information
Type Road
Length 30 km (19 mi)
Major junctions
Southwest end Healesville
Northeast end Narbethong

The Black Spur is a road between the towns of Healesville and Narbethong in Victoria, Australia. It is also known as Black Spur Drive, and is part of the Maroondah Highway.[1]

Statistics

  • Length (km): 30
  • Corner Ratio: 80%
  • Corner Speeds: 60–120 km/h
  • Legal Speed Limit: 80 km/h
  • Traffic (cars/min): 2-5
  • Bumpiness: Smooth
  • Bitumen Grip: Very grippy
  • Special Notes: Rainforest means often damp and bark on road in winter and firestorms in summer.

Location

The Black Spur is located about 60 km ENE from Melbourne on the Maroondah Hwy between Healesville and Marysville. To reach the Black Spur, travel along the Eastern Arterial to Ringwood Bypass. Turn left at Maroondah Hwy and follow until you arrive at Healesville. Alternatively, travel through Cardinia Reservoir - Emerald - Yarra Junction - Warburton.

Etymology

The road, originally known as "The Blacks' Spur", gained its name from the route taken by displaced Aboriginal people from northern Victoria on their way to a mission settlement at Corranderrk near Healesville.[2]

Description of road

The road surface is excellent after the recent (as of August 2006) resurfacing with smooth hot-mix and recent (as of 2006) widening. It is twisty with a series of hairpin turns punctuated by short straights. A few corners are prone to dampness due to the ferny rainforest surroundings. Scenery is beautiful tall trees and ferns typical of temperate rainforest. A large section of Black Spur was damaged in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.

Street Racing

The road is a known Tōge-racing spot, with amateur racers, often in tuned/modified cars, driving back and forth at high speed late at night.

In March 2008, the Victorian state government allocated $547,000 to improve road safety on the Black Spur. Stage 1 of the works has involved reducing the speed limit from 100 km/h to 80 km/h, effective Thursday 29 May 2008.[3]

See also

Australian Roads portal

References

  1. ↑ Visit Victoria. "Black Spur Drive". Tourism Victoria. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 29 August 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  3. ↑ "Yarra Ranges' cops in camouflage". State Government of Victoria. Yarra Valley Leader. 2008-03-31. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
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