Length:

419 km

Termini:

Eastern: Western Ring Road (M80), Derrimut

Western: VIC-SA Border

Miscellaneous:

Continues as A8 (Dukes Highway) 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, Miners Rest, Mitchell Park, Mount Rowan, Wendouree, Invermay, Invermay Park, Ballarat North, Nerrina, Brown Hill, Warrenheip, Leigh Creek, Bungaree, Wallace, Gordon, Ballan, Myrniong, Pentland Hills, Merrimu, Bacchus Marsh, Hopetoun Park, Melton West, Melton, Melton South, Rockbank, Caroline Springs, Deer Park and Derrimut

Current: M8 A8

Multiplexed with: B200 B240

Former: M8 A8 8 8

Road Authority Internal Classification: ¹

1520 (Derrimut to Leigh Creek)

1520 (Warrenheip to Burrumbeet)

6520 (Leigh Creek to Warrenheip)

6520 (Burrumbeet to SA Border at Serviceton)

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² As such it falls under The National Land Transport Network funding from the Federal Government, which has since been superseded the AusLink scheme. The route is a mix of divided and undivided highway and also freeway standard roadway.

The M8 designation runs from the beginning of the dual carriageway at Buangor and runs through to the interchange with Western Ring Road (M80) at Deer Park. The A8 designation 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.

B200 (Henty Highway), for 3 km, Horsham.

B240 (Wimmera Highway), for 300 m, Horsham.

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

1997: Ballarat Bypass opens to traffic. NH8 converted to A8 / M8. ⁴

August 2006: Construction commenced on the Western Highway - Deer Park Bypass interchange at Ravenhall / Caroline Springs. ²

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 eliminate 20 intersections. ²

August 2007: Construction commenced on Leakes Road interchange. ²

December 2007: Traffic switched onto the new Western Highway - Deer Park Bypass interchange at Ravenhall / Caroline Springs. ²

18 August 2008: Interchange with new bridge and interchange ramps at Leakes Road in Rockbank opens to traffic. ²