Victoria has the highest density of highways of any state in Australia due to its historical, population and economic reasons. Unlike any mainland states there is no "empty centre" in Victoria, i.e. apart from the Victorian Alps, settlements and towns are found all over the state.
The highways generally radiate from Melbourne and other major cities and rural centres with secondary roads interconnecting the highways to each other.
Functions of these highways include freight (intra and interstate), personal travel and tourism and most routes have higher traffic than most other states. Highways such as Hume Highway, Western Highway and Princes Highway have some of the heaviest traffic in Australia.
Many of the highways are built to freeway standard ("M" freeways), while most are generally sealed and of reasonable quality.
Victorian highway naming is straightforward. Most are generally named after the geographical regions and features, cities, towns and settlements along the way. Some are even more straightforward e.g. Western and Northern highways which radiate westwards and northwards from Melbourne. Notable exceptions include some interstate highways and some metropolitan highways.
The numbering system is based on 'ring and spoke' system. The 'ring' highways (highways that circle Victoria) numbers are given in the multiple of hundreds e.g. Henty Highway (200), Murray Valley Highway (400) and Great Alpine Road (600) make the outermost ring. Midland Highway (300) and Maroondah Highway (300) is the inner ring.
The spokes generally inherit their original National Route numbers. Otherwise, east-west aligned highways are given even numbers and north-south are given odd numbers. Highways and primary roads are given numbers in multiple of tens. Other roads are given other numbers which indicate their general alignment.
This is the list of highways in Victoria, Australia. It covers 40 highways.
In addition, several metropolitan roads have been given highway designation, mainly in Melbourne. For details see List of Melbourne highways
See also
