Road Photos & Information: Victoria
Wurundjeri Way, Dudley Street, Peel Street, Royal Parade, Sydney Road and Hume Highway (Metropolitan Route 55)
Statistics:
- Length:
- 29 km
- Termini:
- Northern: Hume Fwy (M31), Craigieburn
- Southern: West Gate Fwy (M1) and Montague St (MR30), South Melbourne
- Miscellaneous:
- Declared Names: Docklands Hwy, Dudley St, Peel St, Elizabeth St, Royal Pde, Sydney Rd and Coburg-Craigieburn Rd
- Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:
- South Melbourne, Docklands, West Melbourne, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Parkville, Brunswick, Coburg, Coburg North, Hadfield, Fawkner, Campbellfield, Somerton and Craigieburn
Route Numbering:
- Current: 55
- Multiplexed with: 30 32
- Former: M31 31 31
- Road Authority Internal Classification: 1
- Arterial 5040 (West Melbourne to Melbourne)
- Arterial 5046 (Melbourne to Parkville)
- Arterial 5065 (Melbourne)
- Arterial 5550 (Coburg to Craigieburn)
- Arterial 5733 (Brunswick to Coburg)
- Arterial 5979 (Parkville to Brunswick)
- Arterial 6120 (South Melbourne to West Melbourne)
General Information:
The majority of Metropolitan Route 55 is the former Hume Highway alignment, which linked Melbourne with Sydney.
The original route started life as Sydney Road, cutting through Melbourne's northern suburbs. The route 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 found an overland route between Sydney and the infant colonial outpost of Port Phillip, the original name of Melbourne.
Since the 1960s, the road has either been duplicated, where alignments allow for it, and deviations have also been part of the upgrade process. When the Craigieburn Bypass section of the Hume Freeway opened in December 2005, the last non freeway / expressway standard section of the highway in Victoria was bypassed.
- Metropolitan Route 30, for 600 m, between South Melbourne and Docklands.
- Metropolitan Route 32, for 500 m, Melbourne.
History:
- 1914: Sydney Road declared a main road. 2
- 1928: Sydney Road renamed the Hume Highway - still a narrow two lane road. 2
- 1954: Hume Highway given Australia's first National Route number, NR31, as a trial of numbering systems.
- 1960s: Fawkner to Somerton duplication. 4
- 1961: The first 4 lane modern freeway standard section was completed in Victoria at Craigieburn.
- 1974: Hume Highway route number changed to National Highway 31, indicating it's importance and also funding by the Federal Government.
- 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. 2
- 20 December 2005: The remaining section of the 17 km Craigieburn Bypass, linking the Hume Freeway near Mt. Ridley Road at Craigieburn, to the Metropolitan Ring Road at Thomastown, opened to traffic. 5
- 2006: NH31 designation in suburban Melbourne replaced with MR55.
South Melbourne to Craigieburn
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Sydney Rd (MR55) approaching Camp Rd (MR48) and Mahoneys Rd (MR48) at Campbellfield, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Mahoneys Road & Camp Road:
Corner of Sydney Rd (MR55, Camp Rd (MR48) and Mahoneys Rd (MR48) at Campbellfield, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Mahoneys Road & Camp Road:
Corner of Sydney Rd (MR55), Camp Rd (MR48) and Mahoneys Rd (MR48) at Campbellfield, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Sydney Rd (MR55) approaching Barry Rd at Campbellfield, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Sydney Rd (MR55) approaching Cooper St (MR58) and Somerton Rd (MR35 / MR58) at Campbellfield, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Cooper Street & Somerton Road:
Corner of Sydney Rd (MR55), Cooper St (MR58) and Somerton Rd (MR35 / MR58) at Campbellfield, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Cooper Street & Somerton Road:
Corner of Sydney Rd (MR55), Cooper St (MR58) and Somerton Rd (MR35 / MR58) at Campbellfield, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Hume Hwy (MR55) approaching Potter St (C722) at Craigieburn, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Hume Hwy (MR55) approaching Potter St (C722) at Craigieburn, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Potter Street:
Hume Hwy (MR55) at the interchange with Potter St (C722), Craigieburn, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Craigieburn Road:
Hume Hwy (MR55) at the interchange with Craigieburn Rd (C722), Craigieburn, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Hume Hwy (MR55) approaching Kingswood Dr at Craigieburn, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Hume Hwy (MR55) approaching Amaroo Rd & Grand Blvd at Craigieburn, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Amaroo Road & Grand Boulevard:
Corner of Hume Hwy (MR55), Amaroo Rd and Grand Blvd, Craigieburn, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Start Freeway:
Entrance ramp to Hume Fwy (M31) and northern terminus of MR55 at Craigieburn, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Craigieburn to South Melbourne
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the corner of Dudley St (MR32 & MR55) at West Melbourne, August 2015. MR55 becomes Wurundjeri Way here. Note the incorrect NH55 shield.
Image © Paul Rands
2 Australian Government, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.
3 Wandong-Heathcote Junction Community Group.
4 Viseth Uch.
5 VicRoads.