Road Photos & Information: Victoria: Hume Freeway (M31)

Road Photos & Information: Victoria

M31

Hume Freeway (M31) - Euroa To Seymour

Statistics:

Length: 303 km (Euroa to Seymour: 48 km)
Northern Terminus: NSW-Vic Border at Wodonga
Southern Terminus: Interchange with Metropolitan Ring Road at Thomastown
Miscellaneous: Continues as Hume Highway (M31) in NSW
Suburbs, Towns & Localities along route: Wodonga, West Wodonga, Barnawartha, Chiltern, Springhurst, Boralma, Bowser, East Wangaratta, Wangaratta South, Laceby, Glenrowan, Glenrowan West, Winton, Benalla, Baddaginnie, Violet Town, Balmattum, Euroa, Longwood East, Avenel, Seymour, Northwood, Tallarook, Broadford, Waterford Park, Wandong, Wallan, Wallan East, Beveridge, Kalkallo, Craigieburn, Epping and Thomastown.

Route Numbering:

Current: M31

Former:
Road Authority Internal Number: 1550

General Information:

The Hume Freeway is one of Australia's most vital highway links. Providing access between Sydney and Melbourne, Australia's 2 largest cities. Formerly known as the Hume Highway, the route is 100% dual carriageway road, either rural expressway or motorway standard.

The route started life as Sydney Road, cutting through Melbourne's northern suburbs. The highway was named in 1928 after Hamilton Hume (1797-1873), a famous explorer in the early 19th century who, in 1824, in conjunction with William Hovell first found an overland route between Sydney and the infant colonial outpost of Port Phillip, the original name of Melbourne.

M31 is the main freight and commuter route between Sydney and Melbourne and has gone through a massive amount of transformation over the past 30 or so years, with many towns being bypassed along its route as well and gradual upgrades to motorway standards. Since the 1960s, the road has either been duplicated, where alignments allow for it, and also large deviations have also been part of the upgrade process. Around 66,000 vehicles use the Hume Freeway north of Melbourne every day. 1

The Hume Freeway's highest elevation along its length is 368m and the lowest point is at 90.8m

History:

1914: Sydney Road declared a main road. 3
1928: Sydney Road renamed the Hume Highway - still a narrow two lane road. 3
1954: Hume Highway given Australia's first National Route number, NR31, as a trial of numbering systems.
1960's: Fawkner to Somerton duplication 4
1961: The first 4 lane modern freeway standard section was completed in Victoria at Craigieburn.
1969: Hume Freeway bypass from Wallan to Broadford started. 3
1974: Hume Highway route number changed to National Highway 31, indicating it's importance and also funding by the Federal Government.
1976: Hume Freeway - a modern 4 lane highway opened by the Premier of Victoria Rupert J Hamer. 3
1980: Violet Town bypassed 4
1982: Seymour bypassed 4
1984: Longwood duplication & bypass construction 4
1985: Wodonga bypassed 4
1987: Benalla bypassed 4
1988: Glenrowan and Chiltern bypassed 4
1992: Euroa bypassed 4
1994: Springhurst bypassed 4
1997: NH31 number replaced with NH-M31 as part of the rollout of alphanumeric numbering. NH31 remained in the metropolitan area until the opening of Craigieburn Bypass. 4
December 2004: The first section of the Craigieburn Bypass was opened to traffic between the Metropolitan Ring Road and Cooper Street. 1
20 December 2005: The remaining section of the 17km Craigieburn Bypass, linking the Hume Freeway near Mt. Ridley Road at Craigieburn, to the Metropolitan Ring Road at Thomastown, opened to traffic. 2
2006: Old NH31 designation in suburban Melbourne replaced with MR55.
6 March 2007: 17.4km upgrade of the Hume Freeway through Albury-Wodonga opened to traffic. 2

Seymour to Euroa		Euroa to Seymour
Preview:	Description:	Preview:	Description:
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Seymour approaching Seymour-Tooborac Rd (C384), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands		Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Creightons Creek, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Looking Northbound at Seymour Seymour-Tooborac Road interchange at Seymour, northbound 2006. Image © Rob Tilley		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Creightons Creek approaching Creighton Rd, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign Northbound RD sign at Tallarook, near the Seymour-Tooborac Road interchange. 2006. Image © Rob Tilley		Creighton Road: Hume Fwy (M31) at the junction with Creighton Rd at Creightons Creek, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Exit Signage Sign on the Hume Freeway at Tallarook as you head northbound near Seymour, 2006. Image © Rob Tilley		Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Longwood East, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental AD Sign: Supplemental advance directional sign for the Seymour / Goulburn Valley Hwy interchange as you cross the Goulburn River, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Longwood East approaching Avenel-Longwood Rd & Meades Ln, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Goulburn River: Hume Fwy as it crosses the Goulburn River near Seymour. January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Avenel-Longwood Road & Meades Lane: Hume Fwy (M31) at the junction with Avenel-Longwood Rd and Meades Ln, Longwood East, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Exit Signage Sign on the Hume Freeway at Seymour as you head northbound, 2006. Image © Rob Tilley		Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Longwood East, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental AD Sign: Services signage as you approach the Goulburn Valley Highway (M39) interchange, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Maygar's Hill: Hume Fwy (M31) climbing Maygar's Hill at Longwood East, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Goulburn Valley Highway Interchange Hume Freeway at Seymour, northbound, 2006. Image © Rob Tilley		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Longwood East approaching Depot Rd, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching the intersection with Goulburn Valley Hwy at Seymour on the Goulburn Valley Hwy interchange, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Depot Road: Hume Fwy (M31) at the junction with Depot Rd, Longwood East, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	ID Signs: Intersection directional sign assembly on the M39 / B340 interchange at Seymour on the northbound exit. January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Tubb's Hill: Hume Fwy (M31) as it climbs Tubb's Hull at Longwood, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Hume Hwy / Goulburn Valley Hwy Interchange: Eastbound sign gantry on the Goulburn Valley Hwy as it meets the Hume Fwy at Seymour, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Longwood approaching Berrys Ln and Carters Ln, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Northbound Onramp: The northbound onramp from M39 to M31 at Seymour. January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Berrys Lane & Carters Lane: Hume Fwy (M31) at Longwood at the junction with Berrys Ln & Carters Ln, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental AD Sign: Tourism orientated supplemental AD sign approaching Jones Street at Avenel, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Longwood, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	AD Sign: Advance directional sign approaching Jones Street and Tarcombe Road at Avenel, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Locksley approaching Alexandersons Rd, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Tarcombe Road: ID signage at the junction with Tarcombe Road at Avenel, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Alexandersons Road: Hume Fwy (M31) at the junction with Alexandersons Rd at Locksley, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	AD Sign: Advance sirectional sign approaching Alexandersons Road at Locksley, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Locksley, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	ID Sign: Junction with Alexandersons Road at Locksley, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Reassurance Directional Sign: Rest area distance sign at Avenel, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	AD Sign: Advance directional sign on Alexandersons Road approaching the Hume Freeway at Locksley, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Avenel approaching Tarcombe Rd and Jones St (C346), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Alexandersons Road Junction: Slip lane for northbound traffic at the Alexandersons Road intersection at Locksley, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the junction with Tarcombe Rd & Jones St (C346) at Avenel, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	ID Signs: Intersection directional signs with Alexandersons Road at Locksley, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the junction with Tarcombe Rd & Jones St (C346) at Avenel, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	RD Sign: Distance sign located after Alexandersons Road at Locksley, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Avenel approaching Lambing Gully Rd, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Typical Conditions: The Hume Freeway as it passes through Longwood East, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Lambing Gully Road: Hume Fwy (M31) at Avenel at the Lambing Gully Rd junction, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	AD Sign: Advance directional sign as you approach Oxenbury's Road and Oak Valley Road at Longwood East, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Lambing Gully Road: Hume Fwy (M31) at Avenel at the Lambing Gully Rd junction, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	ID Sign: Intersection directional sign at Longwood East for Carters Lane, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Avenel, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	RD Sign: Distance sign at Longwood East, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Seymour approaching Goulburn Valley Hwy (B340) and Goulburn Valley Fwy (M39), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	AD Sign: AD sign for Avenel-Longwood Road and Meades Lane at Longwood, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Seymour approaching Goulburn Valley Hwy (B340) and Goulburn Valley Fwy (M39), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	ID Sign: ID sign for Avenel-Longwood Road and Meades Lane at Longwood, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Seymour approaching Goulburn Valley Hwy (B340) and Goulburn Valley Fwy (M39), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	RD Sign: Distance sign after Avenel-Longwood Road and Meades Lane at Longwood, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Seymour approaching Goulburn Valley Hwy (B340) and Goulburn Valley Fwy (M39), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	AD Sign: Advance directional sign approaching Creighton Road at Creighton, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Seymour approaching Goulburn Valley Hwy (B340) and Goulburn Valley Fwy (M39), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	ID Sign: Intersection directional sign at Creighton Road at Creighton, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Bypassed Town Sign: Bypassed town AD sign approaching Goulburn Valley Hwy (B340) and Goulburn Valley Fwy (M39) at Seymour, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	RD Sign: Distance sign at Creighton after Creighton Road, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Goulburn Valley Highway & Goulburn Valley Freeway: Hume Fwy (M31) at the interchange with Goulburn Valley Hwy (B340) and Goulburn Valley Fwy (M39) at Seymour, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	AD Sign: Advance exit sign at Euroa approaching the interchange with Euroa Main Road (C312), January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Seymour on the off ramp to Goulburn Valley Hwy (B340) and Goulburn Valley Fwy (M39), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Bypassed Town Sign: Bypassed town signage for Euroa as you approach the interchange with Euroa Main Road (C312) at Euroa, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at Seymour facing the off ramp to Goulburn Valley Hwy (B340) and Goulburn Valley Fwy (M39), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Euroa Main Road Interchange: Looking northbound through the interchange with Euroa Main Road (C312) at Euroa, January 2008. Image © Viseth Uch		Distance Sign RD on the Hume Freeway at Seymour as you head towards Melbourne, 2006. Image © Rob Tilley
Click here for the continuation of M31 between Euroa and Wangaratta Click here for the continuation of M31 between Seymour and Broadford

1 Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
2 Vicroads
3 Wandong-Heathcote Junction Community Group
4 Viseth Uch

Last updated: 14-Feb-2019 21:23

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