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Statistics:

• Length: 303 km (Broadford To Wallan: 31 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. Click here for a photo from the construction. 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

Wallan to Broadford			Broadford to Wallan
Preview:	Description:		Preview:	Description:
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Wandong approaching Epping-Kilmore Rd (C729), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Clonbinane approaching Broadford-Wandong Rd, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign with rest areas at Wandong, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Clonbinane approaching Broadford-Wandong Rd, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	C729 Advance Exit Sign: Heading northbound as you pass through Wandong approaching Epping-Kilmore Rd, 2006. Image © Rob Tilley			Broadford-Wandong Road: Hume Fwy (M31) at the interchange with Broadford-Wandong Rd at Clonbinane, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Epping-Kilmore Road: Hume Fwy (M31) at Wandong, at the Epping-Kilmore Rd (C729) interchange, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands			Broadford-Wandong Road: Hume Fwy (M31) at the interchange with Broadford-Wandong Rd at Clonbinane, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Epping-Kilmore Road: Hume Fwy (M31) at Wandong, at the Epping-Kilmore Rd (C729) interchange, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands			Distance Sign: RD sign at Clonbinane, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: Northbound RD sign as you head along the Hume Freeway at Wandong after C729 (Road Authority Internal Number 5816) exit, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands			Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign with rest areas at Clonbinane, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Broadford-Wandong Road: Hume Fwy (M31) passing under Broadford-Wandong Rd at Waterford Park, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Wandong approaching Epping-Kilmore Rd (C729), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Exit Sign for Broadford-Wallan Road: Heading northbound as you pass through Waterford Park, 2006. Image © Rob Tilley			Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Wandong approaching Epping-Kilmore Rd (C729), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental AD Sign: Heading northbound as you pass through Waterford Park approaching the Broadford-Wallan Road interchange, 2006. Image © Rob Tilley			Epping-Kilmore Road: Hume Fwy (M31) at Wandong, at the Epping-Kilmore Rd (C729) interchange, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Exit Sign for Broadford-Wallan Road: Heading northbound as you pass through Waterford Park, 2006. Image © Rob Tilley			Epping-Kilmore Road: Hume Fwy (M31) at Wandong, at the Epping-Kilmore Rd (C729) interchange, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Clonbinane Exit: Northbound at the Broadford-Wallan Road interchange near Waterford Park, 2006. Image © Rob Tilley			Distance Sign: RD sign at Wandong, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: Northbound RD sign as you head along the Hume Freeway at Waterford Park, August 2015. Click here for a photo by Rob Tilley of this location from 2006. Image © Paul Rands			Advance Directional Sign: Service centre AD sign, Wandong, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Exit Signage: AD sign for the Stratch Creek Rd (C382) (Road Authority Internal Number 5514) exit at Sunday Creek. Northbound, 2006. Image © Rob Tilley			Arkells Lane: Hume Fwy (M31) passing under Arkells Ln, Wandong, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
	Mia Mia Road: Hume Fwy (M31) at Sunday Creek, passing under Mia Mia Rd, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of M31 between Broadford and Seymour Click here for the continuation of M31 between Wallan and Thomastown

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 21:26

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