Main Roads Victoria: A Routes

	A Routes
	Connecting major provincial centres
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A1/A200 Intersection Direction signs at Heywood.
April 2005

'A' roads provide a similar high standard [to M routes] of driving conditions on a single carriageway. 'A' roads serve the same purpose as 'M' roads, but carry less traffic. ^[1]

Number of Signed A Routes	11
Number of Unsigned A Routes	0
Number of National Highway A Routes	3
Total Length (Signed Routes)	2572 km
Longest Signed A Routes	A1 (combined) - 698 km; A79 (single continuous) - 452 km
Shortest Signed A Route	A780 - 16.4 km

A routes form the principal links between provincial centres not covered by M routes. The majority of A routes are single carriageway roads, having full delineation, sealed shoulders and overtaking opportunities.

Currently, ten A Routes have been designated across the state. In the terms of network importance, A routes perform the same purpose as M routes, the only substantial difference is that of lower traffic volumes.

The highways listed below have an A route number based on its previous National Route/Highway number. This is the case as interstate routes retain their number for consistency across the border^[2] (eg. Calder Freeway's NR79 became A79). There are five of these such routes:

SRNS	Former number	Route
A1	National Route 1	Princes Highway (East & West)
NHA8	National Highway 8	Western Freeway / Highway
NHA20	National Highway 20	Sturt Highway
NHA39	National Highway 39	Goulburn Valley Highway
A79	National Route 79	Calder Highway

Other A routes serve the purpose of major intra-state though routes such as the A200 Henty Highway, A300 Midland Highway, A420 Bass Highway and A440 South Gippsland Highway.

The majority of A routes were signed in 1997, with the 'newest' A route being A440 in 2003. Initially, the South Gippsland Highway was B440, but with route upgrades such as the Loch Bypass and numerous realignments, the route was promoted. The next route planned for introduction is the A10 along the current alignment of the Princes Highway between Corio and Waurn Ponds. It will replace M1 which will be moved onto the Geelong Ring Road when it opens.^[2]

A routes include the road's name on reassurance direction signs.

Signed Routes

	Princes Freeway/Highway Waurn Ponds - SA Border, Traralgon - NSW Border		Western Freeway/Highway Miners Rest (Ballarat) - SA Border (Serviceton)
	Sturt Highway SA Border - NSW Border (Mildura)		Goulburn Valley Highway Tabilk - Wahring, Arcadia - NSW Border (Koonoomoo)
	Calder Highway Elphinstone - NSW Border (Yelta)		Henty Highway Portland - Horsham
	Midland Highway Geelong West - Benalla		Bass Highway Grantville - Anderson
	South Gippsland Highway Lang Lang - Sale		Western Port Highway Langwarrin - Tyabb
	Calder Alternative Highway Ravenswood - Marong

Proposed Routes

via Princes Highway
Corio - Waurn Ponds

[1] Vicroads (Roads Corporation); Victoria's Route Number Signs (online); http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/RoadsAndProjects/TravellingOnOurRoads/Victorias+route+number+signs.htm; 17/2/2007.
[2] Correspondence from Vicroads staff, March 2007 and December 2007.