Routes in New South Wales will be renamed under process to bring the state into line with Queensland and Victoria
September 27, 2012
Routes in New South Wales will be renamed under a process to bring the state into line with Queensland and Victoria.
Roads Minister Duncan Gay today announced road signs will begin to change from early next year as NSW adopts the alpha-numeric system used in other states.
The system identifies road corridors in order of their importance, with the letter M standing for motorway, the letter A signifying a route of national importance, and the letter B highlighting a route of state significance.
Gay says the system is used widely around the world. He says the change will make it easier for motorists to know if they are travelling on a motorway or a route of national or state significance as they plan their trip.
“This system will include M, A and B roads with a numbering system attached to each. The A roads will be numbered from 1 to 49, while the B routes will be numbered 50 to 99,” Gay says.
“For example, the corridor commonly known as the F3 will be signposted as the M1 Pacific Motorway. The Hume Highway from Liverpool to the city will change to the A22 and the Bells Line of Road will be known as the B59. Routes will retain their regular name, along with their alpha-numeric designation.
The project will start in March 2013 and be completed by December 2013.
Road signs in NSW have not been reviewed for 30 years. The introduction of the alpha-numeric system will be gradual, with more than 60 routes across NSW identified for the upgrade at a cost of around $20 million.
“The changes will mean drivers can be confident travelling along the eastern seaboard that the road numbers all follow the same pattern, ending the confusion between states,” Gay says.
A number of important routes outside the Sydney orbital road network will be renamed as motorways and assigned an ‘M’ route marker.
The Pacific Highway between the Queensland border and north of Byron Bay will now be part of the M1 Pacific Motorway, while the the Southern Freeway and Mount Ousley Road from Waterfall to Albion Park Rail will become the M1 Princes Motorway.
The M4 will become the M4 Western Motorway between Lapstone and Concord. The Hume Highway will be named the M31 Hume Motorway from the M5 at Prestons to Berrima, after which it will revert to the Hume Highway.
Gay says the Roads and Maritime Services has prepared information on the changes, including materials which can be used by tourist operators and mapping agencies.
“Any change takes adjustment but we are confident the new system will mean clearer directions for all motorists,” Gay says.
The Newell Highway between the Victorian border and the Queensland border will be known as A39, with the New England highway adopting the tag of A15.
State-owned road Kidman Way will be known as B87. Gay says the Oxley Highway will be called B56, while B84 will be applied to the Golden Highway.
