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| M8 A8 | Western Freeway & Western Highway (M8 / A8) - Ballarat To Deer Park |
Statistics:
Route Numbering:
General Information:
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.
History:
Click here for photos of former alignments between Ballarat and Deer Park.
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Fingerboard & NH8 Sign Assembly: Old style fingerboards and obselete NH8 shield at the junction with Black Swamp Rd in Bullarook. December 2006. Image © Rob Tilley |
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Fitzgerald Road: Western Fwy (M8) at the Fitzgerald Rd interchange at Sunshine West, July 2009. Image © Tim Cole |
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Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Bungaree approaching Bungaree-Creswick Rd (C291). December 2006. Image © Rob Tilley |
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Ferris Road: Ferris Rd at Bacchus Marsh at the Western Fwy (M8) interchange, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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AD Sign: Advance directional sign at Bungaree for the Bungaree-Wallace Rd interchange, December 2006. Image © Rob Tilley |
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Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Melton approaching Coburns Rd (C801), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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AD Sign: Advance directional sign at Wallace for the Bungaree-Wallace Rd interchange, December 2006. Image © Rob Tilley |
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Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Melton approaching Coburns Rd (C801), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Bungaree-Wallace Road Interschange: Eastbound at Wallace through the Bungaree-Wallace Rd interchange. December 2006. Image © Rob Tilley |
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Coburns Road: Western Fwy (M8) at the Coburns Rd (C801) interchange at Melton, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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RD Sign: Eastbound reassurance directional sign after the Bungaree-Wallace Rd interchange at Wallace, December 2006. Image © Rob Tilley |
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Coburns Road: Western Fwy (M8) at the Coburns Rd (C801) interchange at Melton, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign: AD sign for the Moorabool Rd interchange at Gordon, December 2006. Image © Rob Tilley |
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Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Melton, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Moorabool Road Interchange: Eastbound through the Moorabool Rd interchange at Gordon, December 2006. Image © Rob Tilley |
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Clarkes Road: Western Fwy (M8) as it passes under Clarkes Rd, Melton West, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign facing eastbound off ramp at the Moorabool Rd interchange in Gordon, December 2006. Image © Rob Tilley |
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Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Brookfield approaching Hopetoun Park Rd, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign facing northbound traffic at the Moorabool Rd interchange in Gordon, December 2006. Image © Rob Tilley |
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Djerriwarrh Creek: Western Fwy (M8) at Brookfield approaching Djerriwarrh Creek, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Melton, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Hopetoun Park approaching Hopetoun Park Rd, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign: Services AD sign at Melton, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Hopetoun Park Road: Western Fwy (M8) at the Hopetoun Park Rd interchange, Hopetoun Park, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Service Centre: Western Fwy (M8) at Rockbank at the service centre, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Hopetoun Park Road: Western Fwy (M8) at the Hopetoun Park Rd interchange, Hopetoun Park, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Rockbank approaching Leakes Rd, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign on Western Fwy (M8) at Hopetoun Park, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Rockbank approaching Leakes Rd, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Hopetoun Park approaching Bacchus Marsh Rd (C802), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Leakes Road: Western Fwy (M8) at the Leakes Rd interchange, Rockbank, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at Hopetoun Park approaching Bacchus Marsh Rd (C802), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Reassurance directional Sign: Distance sign at Rockbank, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Bacchus Marsh approaching Bacchus Marsh Rd (C802), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Rockbank approaching Hopkins Rd (C702), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Bacchus Marsh Road: Western Fwy (M8) at the Bacchus Marsh Rd (C802) interchange at Bacchus Marsh, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Rockbank approaching Hopkins Rd (C702), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign on Western Fwy (M8) at Bacchus Marsh, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Hopkins Road: Western Fwy (M8) at Hopkins Rd (C702) interchange at Rockbank, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Bacchus Marsh approaching Bacchus Marsh-Gisborne Rd (C704), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Hopkins Road: Western Fwy (M8) at Hopkins Rd (C702) interchange at Rockbank, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Bacchus Marsh approaching Bacchus Marsh-Gisborne Rd (C704), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Rockbank, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Bacchus Marsh-Gisborne Road: Western Fwy (M8) at the interchange with Bacchus Marsh-Gisborne Rd (C704) at Bacchus Marsh, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Welcome To Melbourne: Tourism based welcome sign at Rockbank, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Bacchus Marsh on the off ramp to Bacchus Marsh-Gisborne Rd (C704), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Ravenhall approaching Ballarat Rd (MR8), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Bacchus Marsh-Gisborne Road: AD style sign facing the off ramp tp Bacchus Marsh-Gisborne Rd (C704) at Bacchus Marsh, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Ballarat Road: Western Fwy (M8) at the Ballarat Rd (MR8) interchange, Ravenhall, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on the Moorabool Rd interchange in Gordon. December 2006. Image © Rob Tilley |
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Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Supplemental AD sign at the Ballarat Rd (MR8) interchange at Ravenhall, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Ballarat Road: Western Fwy (M8) at the Ballarat Rd (MR8) interchange, Ravenhall, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Ballarat Road: Western Fwy (M8) at the Ballarat Rd (MR8) interchange, Ravenhall, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Christies Road: Western Fwy (M8) as it passes under Christies Rd at Ravenhall, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Ravenhall approaching Robinsons Rd, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Ravenhall approaching Robinsons Rd, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Robinsons Road: Western Fwy (M8) at the Robinsons Rd interchange, Ravenhall, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Derrimut approaching Western Ring Rd (M80), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Mt Derrimut Road: Western Fwy (M8) as it passes under Mt Derrimut Rd at Derrimut, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Derrimut approaching Western Ring Rd (M80), August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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End M8: Eastern terminus of Western Fwy (M8), at the interchange with Western Ring Rd (M80) at Derrimut, August 2015. Image © Paul Rands |
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| Click here for the continuation of M8 between Ballarat & Stawell | ||||
1 VicRoads
2 Victorian Department of Transport
Last updated: 12-Jun-2017 16:56
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