The Western Highway is the principal road link between Melbourne and Adelaide. The carries substantial interstate and interregional freight and tourist traffic. The traffic
volume between Ballarat and Ararat is around 6000 vehicles per day, with 25 per cent being
commercial vehicles. Between Ararat and Stawell the traffic volume is around 6500 vehicles per
day, with approximately 20 per cent being commercial vehicles. 2 As such it falls under Auslink funding from the Federal Government. The route is a mix of divided and undivided highway and also freeway standard roadway.
The NH-M8 designation runs from the junction with Sunraysia Highway (B220) at Mitchell Park and runs through to the interchange with Western Ring Road (NH-M80) at Deer Park. The NH-A8 designated runs from the SA Border to Burrumbeet.
The Melbourne section of the Western Highway was shown in the 1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan as part of the F12 Freeway corridor.
This page shows photos of former alignments between Ballarat and Deer Park.
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Pyrites Creek:
Old Western Hwy at Merrimu as it crosses Pyrite Creek, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Start Divided Road:
Start of divided road along Old Western Hwy at Melton West, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Low Speed Curves Sign:
Unusual low speed curves sign approaching Anthony's Cutting, Merrimu, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Deep Creek Cutting:
Old Western Hwy at Melton West at the Deep Creek Cutting over Djerriwarrh Creek, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Anthony's Cutting:
Old Western Hwy at Merrimu at Anthony's Cutting, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Djerriwarrh Creek:
Old Western Hwy at Melton West at Djerriwarrh Creek, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Anthony's Cutting:
Old Western Hwy at Merrimu at Anthony's Cutting, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign:
The Old Western Hwy alignment is mostly unchanged from when it was bypassed, apart from a handful of signs like this AD sign at Merrimu approaching Long Forest Rd and Hopetoun Park Rd, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign:
The Old Western Hwy alignment is mostly unchanged from when it was bypassed, apart from a handful of signs like this AD sign at Long Forest approaching Long Forest Rd and Hopetoun Park Rd, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Anthony's Cutting:
Old Western Hwy at Merrimu at Anthony's Cutting, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign:
The Old Western Hwy alignment is mostly unchanged from when it was bypassed, apart from a handful of signs like this AD sign at Long Forest approaching Long Forest Rd and Hopetoun Park Rd, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Anthony's Cutting:
Old Western Hwy at Merrimu at Anthony's Cutting, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Long Forest Road & Hopetoun Park Road:
Old Western Hwy at the junction with Long Forest Rd and Hopetoun Park Rd at Long Forest, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign:
Bypassed town advance directional sign approaching Bacchus Marsh Rd (C802) at Merrimu, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Long Forest Road & Hopetoun Park Road:
Old Western Hwy at the junction with Long Forest Rd and Hopetoun Park Rd at Long Forest, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands |
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End Divided Road:
End divided road at Merrimu, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Deep Creek Cutting:
Old Western Hwy at Long Forest at the Deep Creek Cutting over Djerriwarrh Creek, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Deep Creek Cutting:
Old Western Hwy at Long Forest at the Deep Creek Cutting over Djerriwarrh Creek, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Djerriwarrh Creek:
Old Western Hwy at Long Forest at Djerriwarrh Creek, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands |
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End Divided Road:
End divided road at Melton West, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Djerriwarrh Creek Bridge:
Older former alignment of Western Hwy as it crosses Djerriwarrh Creek, August 2015. Djerriwarrh Creek Bridge, is a sandstone bridge constructed over the Djerriwarrh Creek in 1858-59 for the Road and Bridges Department of the Board of Land and Works. Djerriwarrh Creek Bridge was restored in 1963. 3Image © Paul Rands |
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Djerriwarrh Creek Bridge:
Older former alignment of Western Hwy as it crosses Djerriwarrh Creek, August 2015. Djerriwarrh Creek Bridge, is a sandstone bridge constructed over the Djerriwarrh Creek in 1858-59 for the Road and Bridges Department of the Board of Land and Works. Djerriwarrh Creek Bridge was restored in 1963. 3Image © Paul Rands |
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Old alignment:
Older former alignment of Western Highway at Melton West, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands |
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Djerriwarrh Creek Bridge:
Older former alignment of Western Hwy as it crosses Djerriwarrh Creek, Melton West, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands |
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