Types of roads

Types of roads


"M" roads

These roads are duplicated (dual carriageway) roadways with at least two lanes in each direction.

Within Melbourne's metropolitan area, the majority of these roadways are built to freeway standard.

In rural areas, "M" roads are either freeway standard or highway standard with a limited number of intersecting roads instead of interchanges. They provide high standard links between Melbourne, other capital cities and major regional centres.

"M" roads in Victoria

Route Road name
M1
  • CityLink
  • West Gate Freeway
  • Monash Freeway
  • Princes Freeway
  • Princes Highway
M2
  • CityLink
  • Tullamarine Freeway
M3
  • Eastern Freeway
  • EastLink
  • Frankston Freeway
M8
  • Western Freeway
  • Western Highway
M11
  • Mornington Peninsula Freeway
  • Peninsula Link
M31
  • Hume Freeway
M39
  • Goulburn Valley Freeway
M79
  • Calder Freeway
M80
  • Western Ring Road
  • Metropolitan Ring Road
M420
  • South Gippsland Freeway
  • South Gippsland Highway
  • Bass Highway
M780
  • Western Port Highway

The CityLink sections of the M1 and M2, plus the EastLink section of the M3 are toll roads.

M1 West Gate Freeway, Altona North
M1 (West Gate Freeway), Altona North

Exit numbers

Many "M" roads in Melbourne have freeway exit numbers installed along them. This allows drivers unfamiliar with the area to easily identify exits rather than rely just on a road or suburb name. It also gives drivers a sense of how far to their required exit so they can plan lane changes well in advance.

Exit numbers increase sequentially as the distance from Melbourne's CBD increases. Exits are denoted by a number, except for those within about 15 kilometres of the city centre which have the number prefixed by the bearing of the exit in relation to the city, such as "E" for east or "W" for west.

Freeway exit numbers in Melbourne
Freeway exit numbers in Melbourne

Lane restrictions

Trucks exceeding 4.5 tonnes of gross vehicle mass are banned from the furthermost right lane on a number of Melbourne's freeways which carry 3 or more lanes of traffic. Buses and emergency vehicles are exempt from this ban.

Signage installed above lanes and along the median strip identify areas where this restriction applies.

Lane restrictions, Eastern Freeway
Lane restrictions, Eastern Freeway

"A" roads

In regional areas, these roads usually consist of a single carriageway with the majority of them having sealed shoulders and overtaking lanes in some sections. Having a similar function to "M" standard roads, they provide high standard links between Melbourne, other capital cities and between regional centres.

In metropolitan areas, these roads are major transport corridors which are generally dual carriageway.

"A" roads in regional Victoria

Route Road name
A1
  • Princes Highway
A8
  • Western Highway
A10
  • Princes Highway (Geelong)
A20
  • Sturt Highway
A39
  • Goulburn Valley Highway
A79
  • Calder Highway
A200
  • Henty Highway
A300
  • Midland Highway
A440
  • South Gippsland Highway
A780
  • Western Port Highway
A790
  • Calder Alternative Highway
A1 Princes Highway
A1 Princes Highway, near Lake Tyers

"B" roads

In regional areas, these roads are generally single carriageway roadways. They are sealed and are of a good standard. They function as primary links between regions not served by "A" roads. They also include the highly significant tourist routes of the Great Alpine Road, Great Ocean Road and Murray Valley Highway.

In metropolitan areas of Melbourne, they are secondary arterial roads.

"B" roads in regional Victoria:

Route Road name
B12
  • Mallee Highway
B23
  • Monaro Highway
B75
  • Northern Highway
B100
  • Great Ocean Road
  • Surf Coast Highway
B110
  • Bellarine Highway
  • Nepean Highway
  • Point Nepean Road
B120
  • Hopkins Highway
B130
  • Baanip Boulevard (Geelong)
B140
  • Hamilton Highway
B160
  • Glenelg Highway
B180
  • Glenthompson Road
  • Pyrenees Highway
B200
  • Henty Highway
B210
  • Warracknabeal Road
B220
  • Sunraysia Highway
B240
  • Wimmera Highway
B260
  • Loddon Valley Highway
B280
  • McIvor Highway
B300
  • Maroondah Highway
  • Melba Highway
  • Midland Highway
B320
  • Maroondah Highway
B340
  • Goulburn Valley Highway
B360
  • Maroondah Highway
B380
  • Warburton Highway
B400
  • Murray Valley Highway
B420
  • Phillip Island Road
B460
  • Bass Highway
  • Strzelecki Highway
B500
  • Great Alpine Road
B100 Great Ocean Road
B100 Great Ocean Road, Port Campbell

"C" roads

These roads are generally single carriageway roadways. Almost all of them are sealed and their standard is determined by usage and terrain.

They function as important links between population centres and also provide access links to the primary road network.

Some "C" roads are former highway routes with freeway bypasses having relieved them of much of their original through traffic. A few of these former highway routes are high quality dual carriageway roads, such as Princes Drive (C104) through Morwell.

There are hundreds of "C" roads throughout Victoria.

C241 Ararat - St Arnaud Road
C241 Ararat - St Arnaud Road, Navarre

Melbourne metropolitan routes

These roads are located within Melbourne's metropolitan area and generally define major transport routes to the city and through the suburbs.

These routes may vary in standard from single carriageway roads to multi-lane arterials and highways.

Melbourne metropolitan routes are being progressively converted to "A", "B" and "C" routes as used in regional Victoria.

Metropolitan route 40 Springvale Road
Metropolitan route 40, Springvale Road, Chelsea Heights