Freeways in Australia explained

See also: Highways in Australia.

Australian Capital Territory

Canberra region

Other freeways (no route number)

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New South Wales

See also: Highways in New South Wales and List of road routes in New South Wales.

New South Wales has the largest number and second highest density of motorways in Australia (behind Victoria), with the majority being located in Sydney City or the metropolitan areas.

Sydney region (urban motorways)

(Oran Park to Bringelly, freeway grade road as part of the Northern Road Upgrades)


Unnumbered freeway-grade roads

Hunter and Central Coast region (rural and urban motorways)

South Coast region (rural and urban motorways)

Rural region (rural motorways)

Under construction

In planning

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Northern Territory

While the Northern Territory does not have any official freeways, parts of the Stuart Highway and the Tiger Brennan Drive are freeway grade roads with grade separate intersections.

See full freeway route here https://www.google.com/maps/dir/-12.4699291,130.9852951/-12.4571492,130.9464086/@-12.4639206,130.9570287,15z/am=t/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!4m1!3e0

Queensland

Brisbane region

'No shield'

Motorway grade roads

Former motorways

Gold Coast region

Sunshine Coast region

Regional Queensland

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South Australia

See also: Metropolitan Adelaide Transport Study.

In South Australia, expressway may refer to a controlled access highway with no at-grade intersections or a limited access road of slightly lower standard with at-grade intersections at some locations.

Unlike some other states, South Australia only uses the 'M' designation on grade separated freeways

Planned/proposed

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Tasmania

While Tasmania's highway network has been constructed to a high standard, its grade-separated freeway network is limited. In the past, Hobart and Launceston have each had comprehensive transport studies conducted, proposing grade-separated freeways running through and around them. While some of these roads have been constructed, the majority are limited access featuring at-grade intersections. Devonport and Burnie are the only major population centres with freeway standard roads linking each other. There have been repeated proposals in recent years to fully upgrade the Midland Highway to grade-separated freeway standard.[8] [9]
This List is limited to Tasmania's freeway-standard roads.

Hobart region

See also: Hobart Area Transportation Study.

Rural region

Victoria

See main article: Road transport in Victoria.

Victoria has the second largest number (behind New South Wales) and highest density of freeways in Australia, with the majority being located in Melbourne City or the metropolitan areas. While most of Australia has a low population density over a large area, where towns are sparse or located a significant distance from each other; Victoria has towns located throughout the entire state, with large numbers of inhabitants, in both urban and rural areas (many of which are major) such as Ballarat or Bendigo. In addition to the roads listed below, Victoria has a number of dual carriageway standard Highways that are given an "M" designation. Whilst these roads are not officially Freeway standard, many of them may have a number of grade-separated intersections along the route. These routes are not listed below.

Melbourne region (urban freeways)

Note: "East" and "West" sections of Princes Freeway are officially part of the same freeway and route corridor.

Other freeway grade roads

These roads are officially designated by the Victorian Government as Freeways and may include some freeway signage, but are generally not considered part of the Melbourne freeway network.

Rural region (rural freeways)

On freeways outside of Greater Melbourne,[10] the speed limit varies between 80 km/h and 110 km/h.

Note: "East" and "West" sections of Princes Freeway are officially part of the same freeway and route corridor.

Under construction

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Western Australia

Western Australia has three named freeways – Kwinana Freeway, Mitchell Freeway, and Graham Farmer Freeway – but in addition has several highways that are in the process of being upgraded to full freeway standard and are considered part of the Perth freeway network. Their designation may remain as a highway though due to state restrictions on heavy vehicles (e.g. road trains) that are prevented by law from travelling on any road classed as a freeway.

Perth metro freeways

Rural expressways / freeways

Under construction

Perth

Rural

In planning

Perth

Rural

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See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Monaro Highway upgrade . 21 February 2024 .
  2. Web site: F6 Extension. 2020-09-10. Roads Australia. en.
  3. Web site: Google Maps. 2020-09-18. Google Maps. en.
  4. Web site: Google Maps. 2020-09-18. Google Maps. en.
  5. Web site: Google Maps. 2020-09-13. Google Maps. en.
  6. Web site: Construction of $1.8 billion Coffs Harbour bypass gets underway | 7NEWS . YouTube . 2020-12-16 . 2022-04-12.
  7. Web site: M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace. 30 January 2023 .
  8. Web site: Plan for four-lane Midland Highway . . December 2010 . 3 November 2011.
  9. Web site: Abbott Doorstop in Launceston – Midland Highway upgrade . . February 2010 . 3 November 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110227151802/http://www.liberal.org.au/Latest-News/2010/02/18/Abbott-Doorstop-in-Launceston-Midland-Highway-upgrade.aspx . 27 February 2011 . dead .
  10. Web site: Greater Melbourne and urban zones.
  11. Web site: VicRoads Map of Declared Roads .
  12. Web site: VicRoads Map of Declared Roads .
  13. Web site: VicRoads Map of Declared Roads .
  14. Web site: Google Maps Street View - Ringwood Bypass .
  15. News: 21 February 2017 . Western Highway upgrade suspended over VicRoads planning blunder . The Age . 23 July 2023.
  16. Web site: Managed Freeways Policy Discussion Paper . Main Roads Western Australia . 3, 25–26 . 27 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090300/https://www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/Documents/Managed%20freeways%20policy%20-%20discussion%20paper.RCN-D12%5E23212575.PDF . 27 March 2019 . June 2012 . live.
  17. News: Seeber . Elisia . Grand Gateway to Perth Airport opens . 27 March 2019 . PerthNow . 13 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180220033058/https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/gateway-wa-prime-minister-tony-abbott-and-premier-colin-barnett-open-grand-gateway-to-perth-ng-7b31b1030aa88d2d2b07a3e7032728d8 . 20 February 2018 . live . Leach Highway has been upgraded to expressway standard.
  18. Web site: Bunbury Outer Ring Road Stages 2 and 3 . Main Roads Western Australia . 26 December 2022 . August 2022.
  19. Web site: Whiteman Yanchep Highway . Main Roads Western Australia . Government of Western Australia . 12 June 2019.