NSW is renaming all the major roads. The Sydney to Newcastle Freeway (commonly known as the F3) will become part of the M1 Pacific Motorway. The Pacific Highway between the Queensland border and north of Byron Bay will now be part of the M1 Pacific Motorway. 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. The route will however retain the alpha numeric route marker M31. The Federal Highway will remain the Federal Highway, however with the new alpha-numeric route marker M23.
Lots of other changes as well.
-- Edited by jetj on Friday 17th of May 2013 05:50:47 PM
We'll catch up with the rest of the world eventually!
But regarding A roads in NSW compared to Victoria - we do have a bigger state and more roads to work on in NSW so that is probably the difference in quality.
-- Edited by neilnruth on Friday 17th of May 2013 07:31:58 PM
I understand this is a plan to have a consistent numbering system as is done in some other states and elsewhere in the world. Having all the main roads clearly and consistently numbered makes both giving and following directions easier. The system would be even better if all the motorway interchanges were also numbered. This is standard practice in USA and makes giving directions very simple.
Maps and GPS data need to be updated to get the best out of the system.
I suppose it is good to be consistent with naming conventions.
One could only hope that might lead to consistency with road build standards
As I understand it they will rename the New England Highway NSW to A15. This is nowhere near as good as an "A' road in Victoria and I think it is deliberately misleading motorists into thinking they will be travelling on an "A" class road.
frank
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You're right rockylizard. We choose to travel the back roads and they are generally quite good to travel and they have no fancy name. They are certainly quieter and the scenery is usually great.
A few years ago I had a holiday in Western Victoria, (Grampians, Gt Ocean Rd etc) and found the road numbering system in Victoria very good and a big help. I've also driven in USA on a number of occasions and likewise have found their extensive use of road numbering and free-way interchange numbering to be very useful.
Whilst I agree that the Bruce Highway is somewhat substandard for the traffic volume it carries that has little relevance to a topic on road numbering in NSW.
-- Edited by jimricho on Saturday 18th of May 2013 08:40:23 PM
A few years ago I had a holiday in Western Victoria, (Grampians, Gt Ocean Rd etc) and found the road numbering system in Victoria very good and a big help. I've also driven in USA on a number of occasions and likewise have found their extensive use of road numbering and free-way interchange numbering to be very useful.
Whilst I agree that the Bruce Highway is somewhat substandard for the traffic volume it carries that has little relevance to a topic on road numbering in NSW
The reason i used the Bruce highway in regard to the change of renaming major roads, is the funding for any thing regarding highways around OZ is the funding for all this comes from Fed Gov funding to start with.I feel with the tighten the belt attitude regading where money is being spent ,Road maintance is more an issue to the travelling public than renaming roads ,with the shocking condition of the Bruce highway.For locals who have no choice and have to use this road it is known as the Highway from Hell.A news release from the RACQ quoted that rated five sections of the Bruce Highway among the top 15 most dangerous stretches of Highway in Oz.
-- Edited by jimricho on Saturday 18th of May 2013 08:40:23 PM
-- Edited by herbie on Saturday 18th of May 2013 09:33:27 PM
I use a tom tom and it has been showing these new naming details since I last upgraded the maps, I suspect that the Bruce hwy will be categorized "Z" as a low category mostly unsealed bush track that you use at your own risk.
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NSW is renaming all the state and federal roads to a letter and numbering system to make it easier. and in line with some other states. Not just the major highways. It is to make it easier to navigate. Most of the roads are state owned as far as I'm aware.
Maps and GPS software will need to be updated to reflect the changes.
-- Edited by jetj on Saturday 18th of May 2013 11:27:26 PM
... as long as it is black and goes away from cities I don't care what it is called ... or where it is going 
