Highways in Australia

Highways in Australia are generally high capacity roads managed by

state and territory government agencies, though Australia's federal
government contributes funding for important links between capital cities
and major regional centres. Prior to European settlement, the earliest needs
for trade and travel were met by narrow bush tracks, used by tribes of
Indigenous Australians. The formal construction of roads began in 1788,
after the founding of the colony of New South Wales, and a network of
three major roads across the colony emerged by the 1820s. Similar road
networks were established in the other colonies of Australia. Road Aerial view of Tuggeranong Parkway in
construction programs in the early 19th century were generally the Australian Capital Territory.
underfunded, as they were dependent on government budgets, loans, and
tolls; while there was a huge increase in road usage, due to the Australian
gold rushes. Local government authorities, often known as Road Boards,
were therefore established to be primarily responsible for funding and
undertaking road construction and maintenance. The early 1900s saw both
the increasingly widespread use of motorised transportation, and the
creation of state road authorities in each state, between 1913 and 1926.
These authorities managed each state's road network, with the main arterial
roads controlled and maintained by the state, and other roads remaining the
responsibility of local governments. The federal government became
involved in road funding in the 1920s, distributing funding to the states. Deer Park Bypass on the Western
The depression of the 1930s slowed the funding and development of the Freeway.
major road network until the onset on World War II. Supply roads leading
to the north of the country were considered vital, resulting in the
construction of Barkly, Stuart, and Eyre Highways.

The decades following the war saw substantial improvements to the

network, with freeways established in cities, many major highways sealed,
development of roads in northern Queensland and Western Australia under
the Beef Cattle Roads Grants Acts, and interstate routes between Sydney
and Melbourne upgraded. In 1974, the federal government assumed
responsibility for funding the nations most important road links, between
state and territory capitals cities, which were declared National Highways.
Some sections of the 16,000-kilometre-long (9,900 mi) National Highway The Tasman Highway in Tasmania.
system were no more than dirt tracks, while others were four lane dual
carriageways. The network was gradually improved, and by 1989, all
gravel road sections had been sealed. In the following decades, the National Highway system was amended through legislation,
and was eventually superseded in 2005 by the broader National Land Transport Network, which included connections to major
commercial centres, and intermodal freight transport facilities.

The first route marking system was introduced in the 1950s by the Conference of State Road Authorities, which later became the
National Association of Australian State Road Authorities (NAASRA) and then Austroads. National Routes were assigned to
significant interstate routes "which, both now and in the future, comprise the more important arteries of road communications
throughout Australia in all its aspects".[1] East-west routes were planned to have even numbers, increasing from south to north,
while north-south routes would have odd numbers, with numbers increasing from east to west. National Route 1 would be an
exception, as a "circumferential route along the coastline of Australia".[1] A state route marking systems was designed to
supplement the national system, for inter-regional and urban routes within states. Each state could choose their own numbering
scheme, as long as National Route and State Route numbers weren't duplicated in the same state, or nearby routes in another
state.[1] When the National Highway system was introduced, National Routes along it became National Highway routes with the
same numbers, but with distinctive green and gold route markers. During the 1990s, planning began for a new alphanumeric route
system.[2] Alphanumeric routes have been introduced in most states and territories in Australia, partially or completely replacing
the previous systems.[3]

Contents
History
Route numbering systems
National Routes and Highways
State Routes
Metroads
Alphanumeric routes
Prefix letters

Classification
Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia
Federally funded highways
See also
Notes
References
Further reading
External links

History
The earliest needs for trade and travel were met by narrow bush tracks, used by tribes of Indigenous Australian prior to European
settlement. The formal construction of roads began in 1788, after the founding of the colony of New South Wales. These roads
were little more than cleared paths, constructed without grading, drainage systems, and road surfaces.[4] There was no system
wide planning for roads, with the Surveyor-General's 1788 proposed town plan dismissed as being too ostentatious; however, the
arrival of Governor Macquarie in 1810 lead to a planned system for roads and bridges, prior to actual settlement of areas,
financed from government funds, public subscription, and tolls. By the end of his term in 1822 the colony had a network of three
major roads, with the Great Western Road as the most important link, traversing the Blue Mountains from Sydney to Bathurst.
Similar road networks were established in the other colonies of Australia.[5]
Road construction programs in the early 19th century were generally underfunded, as they were dependent on government
budgets, loans, tolls and public subscription. This problem was exacerbated by the huge increase in road usage, due to the
Australian gold rushes. Local government authorities were therefore established as authorities primarily responsible for funding
and undertaking road construction and maintenance. The increasing amount of motorised transportation in the early 1900s lead to
another major increase in traffic levels. The vehicles also required higher standard of roads.[5] State road authorities were
established in each state between 1913 and 1926.[4][5] These authorities managed each state's road network, with the main arterial
roads controlled and maintained by the state, and other roads remaining the responsibility of local governments. Though
legislation differed in each state, highways were generally established as a subset of state controlled roads, which were the most
important links between major cities, towns, and regional centres.

The federal government became involved in road funding in the 1920s. The Public Works Act was passed in 1922, which
distributed $500,000 to the states according to population levels, conditional on states matching funding on a "dollar for dollar
basis". The funds were specifically aimed at maintenance of roads outside of metropolitan cities, and state expenditure needed
federal government approval; however, the primary purpose of the act was to reduce unemployment.[4][5] The Main Roads
Development Act of 1923 made $1 million available for road construction,[4] and specific road projects were funded under the
Federal Aid Roads Act of 1926.[5] The 1931 Federal Aid Roads Act removed matching conditions, and were less restrictive on
the way the money was used due to poor economic conditions resulting from the depression of the 1930s. Funding conditions
remained at this lower level until 1959.[5]

The depression of the 1930s slowed the funding and development of the major road network until the onset on World War II.
Supply roads leading to the north of the country were considered vital, leading to the construction of Barkly, Stuart, and Eyre
highways. Over 960 kilometres of the Stuart Highway, from Tennant Creek to Darwin, was upgraded from an often impassable
track to an all-weather sealed highway that could cope with heavy military traffic. The Eyre Highway across the Nullarbor was
formed just by grading the surface material.[4][5]

The decades following the war saw substantial improvements to the network, with freeways established in cities, many major
highways sealed, development of roads in northern Queensland and Western Australia under the Beef Cattle Roads Grants Acts.
The interstate routes between Sydney and Melbourne were upgraded with the first four lane dual carriageway section of the
Hume Highway opening in 1961, and the completed sealing of the Princes Highway between the cities in 1966. Large mining
developments in the Pilbara region of Western Australia were undertaken lead to the improvement of the North West Coastal
Highway from Carnarvon to Port Hedland, a project that involved building 30 bridges in a decade.[4]

In 1974, the federal government assumed responsibility for funding the nations most important road links. Under the National
Roads Act 1974, the most important roads between state and territory capitals cities were declared National Highways. The
federal government fully funded construction and maintenance works undertaken by the states on these roads.[4] The 16,000
kilometres (9,900 mi) of roads included in the original National Highway system varied greatly in quality. Some sections were no
more than dirt tracks, whilst others were four lane dual carriageways. While 12,496 kilometres (7,765 mi) was sealed, there was
also 3,807 kilometres (2,366 mi) of gravel roads. The National Highway was gradually improved, with the sealed proportion
increased from 73 per cent in the early 1970s to 88 per cent by 1981. The sealing works were completed in 1989.[6]:21–23

In 1988, the National Highway became redefined under the Australian Land Transport Development (ALTD) Act of 1988,[7]
which had various amendments up to 2003. The 1988 Act also defined a category of "Road of National Importance", which were
partly funded by federal government. The Introduction of the AusLink (National Land Transport) Act in 2005 superseded the
National Highway and Roads of National Importance classifications, which were replaced by the National Land Transport
Network. The criteria for inclusion in the network was similar to the previous legislation, but expanded to include connections to
major commercial centres, and inter-modal freight transport facilities.[8] All of the roads included in National Land Transport
Network as of 2005 were formally defined by regulation in October 2005.[9] Auslink has since been replaced with subsequent
legislation under the federal government's Nation Building Program, which includes the National Land Transport Network.[10]
The National Highways road routes developed under the former system are still designated as National Highways on route
markers and road guidance signs. However, the new alphanumeric route numbering system introduced to New South Wales and
the ACT in 2013 does not distinguish between the former National Highways and other routes. VicRoads have, as of September
2013, similarly deprecated the National Highway route marker in favour of standard routes.[11]

Route numbering systems

Roads routes in Australia assist drivers navigating roads throughout the country, by identifying important through-routes. The
first route marking system was introduced to Australia in the 1950s. National Routes were assigned to significant interstate routes
– the most important road links in the country. National Route 1 was designated to a circular route around the Australian
coastline. A state route marking system was designed to supplement the national system, for inter-regional and urban routes
within states.[1] When the National Highway system was introduced, National Routes along it became National Highway routes
with the same numbers, but with distinctive green and gold route markers. Alphanumeric routes were introduced in Tasmania in
1979,[12] and during the 1990s, planning began for nationally consistent route markings, using the alphanumeric system.[2]
Alphanumeric routes have been introduced in most states and territories in Australia, partially or completely replacing the
previous systems.[3]

Route types in use by state/territory

State/Territory Alphanumeric National National National State Metroad* Tourist

Highway Highway Route Route Drive
(alphanumeric) (numeric)
Australian
Yes No No No No No Yes
Capital Territory
New South
Yes Partial No No No No Yes
Wales
Northern
Partial[a] No Yes Yes Yes No No
Territory
Queensland Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
South Australia Yes Yes No No No No Yes
Tasmania Yes No Yes No No No No

Victoria Yes Partial[b] No Yes Yes No Yes

Western
No No Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Australia

* New South Wales used to use this system before becoming completely plain alphanumeric. Queensland technically uses this
system but most of these roads have been replaced by M roads by a similar move (The remaining ones are kept basically because
the state still uses State Routes).

National Routes and Highways

In 1955, the Australian National Route Numbering System was introduced to simplify navigation across Australia. The National
Route Numbers are marked by white shields that are present in directional signs, distance signs or trailblazers. The general rule
was that odd-numbered highways travel in north-south directions and even-numbered highways in east-west directions, with only
a few exceptions. National Route 1 was assigned to a network of highways and roads, which together linked all capital cities and
coastal towns circumnavigating the mainland. The National Route system initially linked the centres of towns and cities and
terminated at the junction of other national routes, however many bypasses have been constructed since then. National Routes
often terminated at the metropolitan city limits rather than the individual city centres.[1]
In 1974, the federal government assumed responsibility for funding the nations most important road links,
Route markers
with the introduction of the National Highway.[4] These highways were marked with distinctive green and
gold route marker shields instead of the plain National Route shield. Though the National Highway
system has been superseded in subsequent legislation, National Highway route markers are still used on
many of the routes. Additionally, National Highways and National Routes have been phased out, or are in
the process of being phased out, in all states and territories except Western Australia, in favour of the
alphanumeric system.[13][14][15] National Highwa

State Routes
Important urban and inter-regional routes not covered by the National Highway or National Route
systems are marked under the State Route system. They can be recognised by blue shield markers. They
National Route
were practically adopted in all states by the end of the 1980s, and in some states, some less important
National Routes were downgraded to State Routes. Each state has or had its own numbering scheme, but
do not duplicate National Route numbers in the same state, or nearby routes in another state.[1] As with
the National Routes and National Highways, State Routes are being phased out in most states and
territories in favour of alphanumeric routes.[13][14][15][16] However, despite the fact that Victoria has fully
State Route 66
adopted alphanumeric routes in regional areas, state route numbers are still used extensively within the
city of Melbourne as a part of its Metropolitan Route Numbering Scheme.[17]

Metroads
In the 1990s in Sydney and Brisbane, urban route numbering system were streamlined under the
Metroad scheme. Metroad route numbers were assigned to the key navigational corridors, along ring
and radial routes, and marked by distinctive hexagonal shields.[16] Most Metroads have been partially
replaced with alphanumeric routes in Brisbane, and they have been completely replaced in Sydney.[16]
Metroad route
marker; no
Alphanumeric routes longer in high
Tasmania introduced an alphanumeric route numbering system in 1979, based on the British system use
from 1963. The new system aimed to upgrade the signing of destinations, including previously
unmarked roads, and to simplify navigation by allowing visitors to follow numbered routes. National
Highway 1 was retained as the only route without an alphanumeric designation.[12] In the 1990s Victoria and South Australia also
overhauled their systems. While South Australia discarded the National and State Route Numbering Systems, those shield-based
schemes were retained in the Melbourne metropolitan area as the Metropolitan Route Numbering Scheme.[17] The route numbers
used in the alphanumeric schemes were generally inherited from the original National Route Numbering System, with only a few
exceptions, and prefixed with letters denoting their grade. For example, Western Freeway is M8 until Ballarat and continues
beyond as A8 Western Highway. They are not used extensively in the Melbourne metropolitan area where the blue-shield
metropolitan route system is retained for most routes. The National Highways were retained, until 2013,[11] but with the route
numbers changed to alphanumeric designations.

New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory[c] introduced the alphanumeric system from early 2013.[13] Before being
officially announced, new road signs were fitted with such numbers and then being "coverplated" with the existing route number.
However, the new system does not distinguish between the former National Highways and other routes.

Alphanumeric routes have also been introduced for many major highways and urban routes in Queensland, although many other
roads retain markers from the National Route, National Highway, State and Metroad numbering systems. According to the New
South Wales Roads and Maritime Services, the Northern Territory has similarly begun converting their numbered routes to
alphanumeric routes, with a "progressive replacement" scheme that sees alphanumeric route
Alphanumeric markers
markers introduced only when signs are replaced.[16] There are no plans to introduce an
alphanumeric route numbering system in Western Australia.[15]

Prefix letters Alphanumeric

National
In the alphanumeric systems, a letter denoting the route's construction standard and function is
Highway
prefixed to the route number, creating an alphanumeric route designation. One of four letters
may be used:

"M" routes are primary traffic routes, called motorways in some states. These are Alphanumeric
typically dual carriageway, freeway-standard highways, but may also be used for (standard)
rural roads that are nearly at freeway-standard,[18] or at least are dual
carriageways.[17]
"A" routes are other primary highways, including urban arterials[18] and interstate
or interregional single carriageways.[17][18] Alphanumeric
"B" routes are less significant routes, either as an alternative to an "A" or "M" route, (NSW &
or linking smaller population centres to larger regional centres, but without being a
ACT)
major through-route in the region.[18] These are the major road links in areas
without "A" routes.[17]
"C" routes link smaller settlements and towns to the rest of the major road
network.[17] They are used for roads without the significance of an "M", "A", or "B" route, but where numbering
would assist navigation.[18]

Classification
Australia's major roads are managed by the states and territories. While some state road authorities use a road hierarchy with
Highway as the highest classification, the classification of state-controlled roads varies between states, with differing
classification names, definitions, and number of levels in the hierarchy. Road names do not necessarily correspond to
classifications – for example, Great Southern Highway is not classified as a highway. A highway, or other classification level,
may be composed of multiple named roads, and a single road name may have varying classifications along its length. Internal
numbering schemes for such classifications do not necessarily relate to designated road routes – for example, Great Western
Highway is Highway 5 for administrative purposes but is signposted as part of route A32.

Australian Capital Territory

The ACT classifies its roads into four groups, depending on its physical properties and role within the road network:[19]

Arterial roads: These roads serve long distance travellers within or between districts, and support large volumes
of traffic. They may be limited access, or controlled-access. A small number of these roads have relatively high
levels of property access due to city design requirements at the time.
Major collector roads: These roads serve local area traffic distributing to or from minor collector roads, and also
link to the arterial network. Well designed property access is permissible.
Minor collector roads: These roads serve neighbourhood traffic, and provide access from the major collector
roads into residential areas. Normal direct property access is permissible at this level. Secondary links to the
arterial network are possible.
Access streets: These streets are the lowest road type in the hierarchy, and provide access to the bulk of
residential homes.

New South Wales

In New South Wales, sections 46, 47, 50 and 51 of the Roads Act 1993 provide for the classifications of Highway, Main Road,
Secondary Road or Tourist Road.[20]
Northern Territory
In the Northern Territory, major roads are classified into three categories: National Highway, Arterial Roads, and Secondary
Roads.[21]

Queensland
In Queensland, roads are classified as: National Network, State Strategic Roads, Regional Roads, or District Roads.[22]

South Australia
South Australia's Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) classifies state-controlled roads into three
categories: National Land Transport Network; DPTI Maintained Road, Sealed; and DPTI Maintained Road, Unsealed.[23]

Tasmania
In Tasmania, the most important state and regional connections, totalling 3,650 kilometres (2,270 mi), are state-owned roads,
which are further classified into a road hierarchy.[24]:3–4 The hierarchy consists of:

Trunk roads – major highways which are the "primary freight and passenger roads"[24]:4–5
Regional freight roads – regional roads which connect heavy freight to the trunk roads[24]:4,6
Regional access roads – providing access to Tasmania’s Regions, with less traffic than trunk and regional freight
roads[24]:4,7
Feeder roads – connect population centres and tourist traffic to and from the rest of the state road network[24]:4,8
Other roads – lower traffic roads, primarily providing access to private properties[24]:4,9

Victoria
In Victoria, major roads are designated as either freeways (including tollways) or arterial roads (including other tolled roads),
under section 17 subsection 1 of the Road Management Act 2004,[25] and under the same act, section 14 subsection 1, VicRoads
is named as the controlling authority in designating major roads as either freeways or arterial roads.[25]

Western Australia
In Western Australia, roads controlled and maintained by the state road authority, Main Roads Western Australia, are either
highways or Main Roads. Any road or section of road may be proclaimed a highway by the Governor of Western Australia, on
the recommendation of the Commissioner of Main Roads, under Section 13 of the Main Roads Act 1930.[26] Section 14 of the act
allows for the creation of new highways.[26] As well as this legal classification scheme, Main Roads Western Australia also
classifies roads by the following functional hierarchy:[27]

Primary Distributor: Provide for major regional and inter-regional traffic movement and carry large volumes of
generally fast moving traffic. They are managed by Main Roads Western Australia.
Regional Distributor: Roads that are not primary distributors, but which link significant destinations and are
designed for efficient movement of people and goods within and beyond regional areas. They are managed by
local government.
District Distributor: Roads that run between built up area land-use cells and generally not through them, forming a
grid which would ideally space them about 1.5 kilometres apart. They are managed by local government.
Local Distributor: Roads that carry traffic within a cell and link district distributors or primary distributors at the
boundary, to access roads. The route of local distributors should discourage through traffic so that the cell formed
by the grid of higher order distributor roads, only carries traffic belonging to, or serving the area. In rural areas
local distributors connect to other rural distributors and to rural access roads.
 Access Road: Provide access to abutting properties with safety aspects having priority over the vehicle
movement function. In urban areas, these roads are bicycle and pedestrian friendly, with aesthetics and amenity
also important. Access roads are managed by local government.[28]
Other classifications processes exist for planning, administrative, financial, and asset management purposes.[27]

Federally funded highways

The federal government contributes funding for the following road links, which make up the national road network, under the
Nation Building Program.[29]

Sydney to Melbourne – Hume Highway/Freeway/Motorway

Sydney to Brisbane – the Pacific Motorway (Sydney–Newcastle), New England and Cunningham Highways route
and the Pacific Highway route
Brisbane to Cairns – Bruce Highway
Brisbane to Darwin – Warrego, Landsborough, Barkly and Stuart Highways
Brisbane to Melbourne – Warrego, Gore, Newell and Goulburn Valley Highways and Hume Freeway
Melbourne to Adelaide – Western Highway/Freeway, Dukes Highway and South Eastern Freeway
Adelaide to Darwin – Port Wakefield Road, Augusta Highway and Stuart Highway
Adelaide to Sydney – Sturt and Hume Highway/Motorway
Adelaide to Perth – Port Wakefield Road, Augusta, Eyre, Coolgardie-Esperance (part) and Great Eastern
Highways
Perth to Darwin – Great Northern, Victoria and Stuart Highways
Sydney to Canberra – Hume Highway/Motorway and Federal Highways
Melbourne to Canberra – Hume Highway/Freeway and Barton Highways
Hobart to Burnie including the link from Launceston to Bell Bay – Brooker, Midlands and the Bass Highway
Townsville to Mount Isa – Flinders Highway
Melbourne to Sale – Princes Highway
Perth to Bunbury – South Western Highway
Melbourne to Mildura – Calder Highway/Freeway
Sydney to Dubbo – Great Western and Mitchell Highways
Sydney to Wollongong – Princes Motorway and Princes Highway
Melbourne to Geelong – Princes Highway

See also
Highways by state/territory: Road routes by state/territory: Related concepts and lists:

List of highways in the List of road routes in the Freeways in

Australian Capital Territory Australian Capital Territory Australia
List of highways in New South List of road routes in New South Highway 1
Wales Wales (Australia)
List of highways in the Northern List of road routes in the National Highway
Territory Northern Territory (Australia)
List of highways in Queensland List of road routes in Transport in
List of highways in South Queensland Australia
Australia List of road routes in South Road transport in
List of highways in Tasmania Australia Australia
List of highways in Victoria List of road routes in Tasmania Toll roads in
List of road routes in Victoria Australia
List of highways in Western
Australia List of road routes in Western List of highways in
Australia Australia
 List of roads and
highways
List of Australian
airports
List of Australian
ports

Notes
a. Alphanumeric route markers are introduced only when signs are replaced
b. As of September 2013, the National Highway system has been deprecated in favour of standard routes.
c. The only numbered roads in the Australian Capital Territory are interstate highways from NSW and their
interconnecting thoroughfares, as the Australian Capital Territory does not number its other highway or freeway
grade roads.

References
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2. Austroads (1997), Towards a Nationally Consistent Approach to Route Marking (https://www.onlinepublications.a
ustroads.com.au/items/AP-R224-03)
3. Roads And Maritime Services (25 February 2013). "Questions and answers: A better way to navigate NSW
roads" (http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/alpha_numeric/documents/qanda_alpha_numeric.pdf)
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p://www.anao.gov.au/~/media/Uploads/Audit%20Reports/2000%2001/2000_01_audit_report_21.pdf) (PDF).
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ngineering%20manual%20volume%202%20chapter%2010%20%20direction%20signs%20and%20route%20nu
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damend7Part15D.pdf) (PDF). Retrieved 3 October 2013.
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Further reading
National Association of Australian State Road Authorities (1987). Bush Track to Highway: 200 Years of Australian
Roads. ISBN 0855882077.

External links
Austroads, NAASRA and COSRA (http://www.ozroads.com.au/NationalSystem/naasra.htm) at OZROADS: The
Australian Roads Website

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