Bells Line of Road
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Bells Line of Road New South Wales |
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| Type | Road |
| Length | 59 km (37 mi) |
| Route number(s) |
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| Former route number |
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| West end |
 Chifley Road (B59)Bell |
| Darling Causeway | |
| East end |
Kurrajong Road (B59) Richmond |
| Major suburbs | Bell, Mount Tomah, Berambing, Bilpin, Kurrajong Heights, Kurmond, Richmond |
State Route 40 (??-2013)The Bells Line of Road is a 59-kilometre (37 mi) major road located in New South Wales, Australia, providing an alternative crossing of the Blue Mountains. The eastern terminus of the road is in Richmond on the northwestern outskirts of Sydney where the road continues as the Kurrajong Road and joins the A9. The western terminus of the road is in Bell in the Blue Mountains where the road continues as the Chifley Road.
The entire length of the Bells Line of Road is designated route B59.
The route, part of the traditional Aboriginal pathway network, was shown to Archibald Bell, Jr. by Darug men Emery and Cogy in 1823. They were accompanied by assistant government surveyor Robert Hoddle and the route they marked was known as Bell's Line, to be later cleared to become the second road across the Mountains. It was rarely used before World War II. The road was improved between 1939 and 1949 as it was seen by the government as being an alternative to the Great Western Highway and could be used for war efforts.
Today, the route is still used as an alternate route across the Blue Mountains and is also a popular tourist drive.
The eastern terminus of the Bells Line of Road is east of Richmond Bridge, Richmond at the junction of Kurrajong Road and Old Kurrajong Road. At the Richmond Bridge the road crosses the Hawkesbury River and proceeds west through the towns of North Richmond and the village of Kurmond, before bypassing Kurrajong. It then proceeds to climb onto the Bell Range of the Blue Mountains, passing through Kurrajong Heights. When on the range it proceeds the fruit growing areas of Bilpin and Berambing, before climbing and descending Mount Tomah, passing by the Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens. After Mount Tomah it proceeds through the Blue Mountains National Park passing Mount Bell and Mount Charles as well as picnic areas such as Pierces Pass and Mount Banks. Eight kilometres (5.0 mi) before Bell is the turn off to the villages of Mount Wilson and Mount Irvine. The western terminus of the road is at Bell where the Bells Line of Road forms a junction with the Darling Causeway and the Chifley Road, with the latter continuing west to Lithgow.
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