The highway travels north of and roughly parallel to the Barwon River, after which it is named. The river forms part of the border between Queensland and New South Wales.
State route 85
Stock route adjacent to the Barwon Highway at Weengallon, 2021
Like many Australian roads, the Barwon Highway follows a declared stock route.[2] The road reserve for most stock routes is wider than for other roads (up to 1600 metres).[3] When seen from the air (or in the Satellite view of Google maps) the substantial width of the western end (from Nindigully to Talwood) can be clearly seen due to the difference in colour between roadside brigalowscrub and adjacent cropland.
Upgrades
Barwon Highway in Weengallon, 2021
Pavement widening
A project to widen sections of pavement on the highway, at a cost of $6.75 million, was expected to complete in June 2022.[4]
Lagoon Street (State Route 85) east – Goondiwindi Town Centre
Barwon Highway turns north as West Street[5] The route to the Cunningham and Newell highways (also signed as State Route 85) continues through Goondiwindi as Lagoon Street, Russell Street, Albert Street and Marshall Street to the intersection described at the bottom of this table
