Length:

432 km

Termini:

Eastern: Elizabeth St (NH31 and unnumbered) and Peel St (NH31) (Haymarket Roundabout), Parkville

Western: VIC-SA Border, Serviceton

Miscellaneous:

Continued as National Highway 8 in South Australia

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Serviceton, Lillimur, Kaniva, Nhill, Salisbury, Kiata, Gerang Gerung, Dimboola, Wail, Pimpinio, Dahlen, Horsham, Green Lake , Dadswells Bridge, Deep Lead, Stawell, Great Western, Ararat, Buangor, Beaufort, Trawalla, Burrumbeet, Mitchell Park, Miners Rest, Mount Rowan, Wendouree, Invermay, Invermay Park, Ballarat North, Nerrina, Brown Hill, Warrenheip, Leigh Creek, Bugaree, Wallace, Gordon, Ballan, Myrniong, Pentland Hills, Bacchus Marsh, Hopetoun Park, Brookfield, Melton West, Melton, Rockbank, Caroline Springs, Burnside, Ravenhall, Deer Park, Ardeer, Albion, Sunshine North, Braybrook, Maidstone, Footscray, Flemington, North Melbourne and Parkville

Current: M8 A8 8 60 83

Multiplexed with: 79 35 83 107 130

Former: 8 8

General Information:

National Highway 8 once linked Melbourne westward with Adelaide. However once the Statewide Route Numbering Scheme was introduced in 1998, the route was truncated with the introduction on M8 and A8 outside the metropolitan Melbourne area. With the introduction of the Deer Park Bypass (M8) the importance of the route diminished, and part of the route was eventually changed to Metropolitan Route 8.

The route passes through commercial, industrial and residential areas and is a mix of divided and undivided roads, with tramlines traversing the route along Racecourse Rd at Flemington and North Melbourne, and also along a small section of Ballarat Rd at Footscray.

The Melbourne section of the Western Highway was shown in the 1969 Melbourne Transportation Plan as part of the F12 Freeway corridor.

NR79, for 2 km, between North Melbourne and Parkville.

MR35, for 2 km, between Kensington and Footscray.

MR83, for 4 km, between Parkville and Footscray.

SR107, for 3 km, Horsham.

SR130, for 600 m, Horsham.

1858-59: Construction of Djerriwarrh Creek Bridge, a sandstone bridge constructed over the Djerriwarrh Creek at Long Forest and Melton West. ¹

1960: Original Djerriwarrh Creek Road Bridge on Western Highway bypassed by a concrete bridge. ²

1963: Djerriwarrh Creek Bridge was restored. ¹

1994: Construction of the Ballarat Bypass (Western Freeway) commences. ³

1997: Ballarat Bypass opens to traffic. NH8 converted to NH-A8 / NH-M8 outside metropolitan Melbourne. ⁴

August 2006: Construction commenced on the Western Highway - Deer Park Bypass interchange at Ravenhall / Caroline Springs. ⁵

February 2007: Construction begins on the 9.3 km Deer Park Bypass, from the Western Ring Road at Sunshine West to the Western Highway at Caroline Springs, when complete it will emliminate 20 intersections. ⁵

August 2007: Construction commenced on Leakes Road interchange. ⁵

December 2007: Traffic switched onto the new Western Highway - Deer Park Bypass interchange at Ravenhall / Caroline Springs. ⁵

2009: National Highway 8 renumbered to Metropolitan Route 8 in the Melbourne metropolitan area. ⁴

Click or tap here for the former alignment between South Australian Border and Parkville

SA Border to North Melbourne

Trailblazer:

National Highway 8 Trailblazer at Dimboola, September 2009. NH8 was replaced with A8 outside the Melbourne metropolitan area in 1997.

Image © Paul Rands

Trailblazer:

National Highway 8 Trailblazer near Dooen Rd and Patterson Rd, Wail, September 2009. NH8 was replaced with A8 outside the Melbourne metropolitan area in 1997.

Image © Paul Rands

Fingerboard Assembly:

Fingerboard assembly at the corner of Western Hwy and Black Swamp Rd, Bullarook, December 2006. NH8 was replaced with A8 outside the Melbourne metropolitan area in 1997.

Image © Paul Rands

North Melbourne to SA Border

Distance Sign:

Reassurance directional sign at Footscray, November 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Droop St and Farnsworth Av in Footscray, November 2005.

Image © Rob Tilley