Road Photos & Information: Victoria
Western Freeway and Western Highway (M8 / A8)
Ballarat to Derrimut
Statistics:
- Length:
- 419 km (Ballarat to Derrimut: 84 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:
- Bungaree, Wallace, Gordon, Ballan, Myrniong, Pentland Hills, Merrimu, Bacchus Marsh, Hopetoun Park, Melton West, Melton, Melton South, Rockbank, Caroline Springs, Deer Park and Derrimut
Route Numbering:
- Current: M8
- Former: M8 8 8
- Road Authority Internal Classification: 1
- 1520 (Derrimut to Leigh Creek)
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2 As such it falls under The National Land Transport Network funding from the Federal Government, which has since been superseded the AusLink scheme.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.
History:
- 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
Click or tap here for the former alignment between Ballarat and Deer Park
Ballarat to Derrimut (Melbourne)
Fingerboard & NH8 Sign Assembly:
Old style fingerboards and obsolete NH8 shield at the junction with Black Swamp Rd in Bullarook. December 2006.
Image © Rob Tilley
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Bungaree approaching Bungaree-Creswick Rd (C291). December 2006.
Image © Rob Tilley
AD Sign:
Advance directional sign at Bungaree for the Bungaree-Wallace Rd interchange, December 2006.
Image © Rob Tilley
AD Sign:
Advance directional sign at Wallace for the Bungaree-Wallace Rd interchange, December 2006.
Image © Rob Tilley
Bungaree-Wallace Road Interchange:
Eastbound at Wallace through the Bungaree-Wallace Rd interchange. December 2006.
Image © Rob Tilley
RD Sign:
Eastbound reassurance directional sign after the Bungaree-Wallace Rd interchange at Wallace, December 2006.
Image © Rob Tilley
Moorabool Road Interchange:
Eastbound through the Moorabool Rd interchange at Gordon, December 2006.
Image © Rob Tilley
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign facing eastbound off ramp at the Moorabool Rd interchange in Gordon, December 2006.
Image © Rob Tilley
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign facing northbound traffic at the Moorabool Rd interchange in Gordon, December 2006.
Image © Rob Tilley
NEW Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign on the on ramp from Halletts Way, Darley, October 2019.
Image © Paul Rands
NEW Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Darley, approaching Bacchus Marsh-Gisborne Rd (C704), October 2019.
Image © Paul Rands
NEW Bacchus Marsh-Gisborne Road:
Western Fwy (M8) at the Baccus Marsh-Gisborne Rd (C704) interchange, Darley, October 2019.
Image © Paul Rands
NEW Lerderderg River:
Western Fwy (M8) crossing Lerderderg River at Darley, October 2019.
Image © Paul Rands
NEW Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Bacchus Marsh approaching Bacchus Marsh Rd (C802), October 2019.
Image © Paul Rands
NEW Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Bacchus Marsh approaching Bacchus Marsh Rd (C802), October 2019.
Image © Paul Rands
NEW Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Bacchus Marsh approaching Bacchus Marsh Rd (C802), October 2019.
Image © Paul Rands
NEW Bacchus Marsh Road Eastern Interchange:
Western Fwy (M8) at the Bacchus Marsh Rd (C802) Eastern Interchange, Bacchus Marsh, October 2019.
Image © Paul Rands
NEW Hopetoun Park Road:
Western Fwy (M8) at Hopetoun Park, passing under Hopetoun Park Rd, October 2019.
Image © Paul Rands
NEW Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Melton West, approaching Coburns Rd (C801), October 2019.
Image © Paul Rands
NEW Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Melton West, approaching Coburns Rd (C801), October 2019.
Image © Paul Rands
NEW Coburns Road Interchange:
Western Fwy (M8) at the Coburns Rd (C801) interchange, Melton, October 2019.
Image © Paul Rands
NEW Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign near Station Rd at Melton for the interchange with Melton Hwy (C754) and Ferris Rd, October 2019.
Image © Paul Rands
NEW Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Melton for the interchange with Melton Hwy (C754) and Ferris Rd, October 2019.
Image © Paul Rands
NEW Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Melton for the interchange with Melton Hwy (C754) and Ferris Rd, October 2019.
Image © Paul Rands
NEW Melton Highway and Ferris Road Interchange:
Western Fwy (M8) at the Melton Hwy (C754) and Ferris Rd interchange, Melton, October 2019.
Image © Paul Rands
NEW Melton Highway and Ferris Road Interchange:
Western Fwy (M8) at the Melton Hwy (C754) and Ferris Rd interchange, Melton, October 2019.
Image © Paul Rands
NEW Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on the off ramp to Melton Hwy (C754) and Ferris Rd, Melton, October 2019.
Image © Paul Rands
NEW Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the end of the off ramp to Melton Hwy (C754) and Ferris Rd (unnumbered) at Melton, October 2019.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Melton, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
Services AD sign at Melton, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Service Centre:
Western Fwy (M8) at Rockbank at the service centre, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Rockbank approaching Leakes Rd, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Rockbank approaching Leakes Rd, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Leakes Road:
Western Fwy (M8) at the Leakes Rd interchange, Rockbank, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Rockbank, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Rockbank approaching Hopkins Rd (C702), August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Rockbank approaching Hopkins Rd (C702), August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Hopkins Road:
Western Fwy (M8) at Hopkins Rd (C702) interchange at Rockbank, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Hopkins Road:
Western Fwy (M8) at Hopkins Rd (C702) interchange at Rockbank, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Rockbank, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Welcome To Melbourne:
Tourism based welcome sign at Rockbank, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Ravenhall approaching Ballarat Rd (MR8), August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Ballarat Road:
Western Fwy (M8) at the Ballarat Rd (MR8) interchange, Ravenhall, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at the Ballarat Rd (MR8) interchange at Ravenhall, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Ballarat Road:
Western Fwy (M8) at the Ballarat Rd (MR8) interchange, Ravenhall, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Ballarat Road:
Western Fwy (M8) at the Ballarat Rd (MR8) interchange, Ravenhall, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Christies Road:
Western Fwy (M8) as it passes under Christies Rd at Ravenhall, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Ravenhall approaching Robinsons Rd, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Ravenhall approaching Robinsons Rd, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Robinsons Road:
Western Fwy (M8) at the Robinsons Rd interchange, Ravenhall, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Derrimut approaching Western Ring Rd (M80), August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Mount Derrimut Road:
Western Fwy (M8) as it passes under Mt Derrimut Rd at Derrimut, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Derrimut approaching Western Ring Rd (M80), August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
End M8:
Eastern terminus of Western Fwy (M8), at the interchange with Western Ring Rd (M80) at Derrimut, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Derrimut (Melbourne) to Ballarat
Fitzgerald Road:
Western Fwy (M8) at the Fitzgerald Rd interchange at Sunshine West, July 2009.
Image © Tim Cole
Ferris Road:
Ferris Rd at Melton South at the Western Fwy (M8) interchange, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Melton approaching Coburns Rd (C801), August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Melton approaching Coburns Rd (C801), August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Coburns Road:
Western Fwy (M8) at the Coburns Rd (C801) interchange at Melton, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Coburns Road:
Western Fwy (M8) at the Coburns Rd (C801) interchange at Melton, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign at Melton, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Clarkes Road:
Western Fwy (M8) as it passes under Clarkes Rd, Melton West, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Brookfield approaching Hopetoun Park Rd, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Djerriwarrh Creek:
Western Fwy (M8) at Brookfield approaching Djerriwarrh Creek, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Hopetoun Park approaching Hopetoun Park Rd, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Hopetoun Park Road:
Western Fwy (M8) at the Hopetoun Park Rd interchange, Hopetoun Park, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Hopetoun Park Road:
Western Fwy (M8) at the Hopetoun Park Rd interchange, Hopetoun Park, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign on Western Fwy (M8) at Hopetoun Park, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Hopetoun Park approaching Bacchus Marsh Rd (C802), August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Hopetoun Park approaching Bacchus Marsh Rd (C802), August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Bacchus Marsh approaching Bacchus Marsh Rd (C802), August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Bacchus Marsh Road:
Western Fwy (M8) at the Bacchus Marsh Rd (C802) interchange at Bacchus Marsh, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Reassurance Directional Sign:
Distance sign on Western Fwy (M8) at Bacchus Marsh, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Bacchus Marsh approaching Bacchus Marsh-Gisborne Rd (C704), August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Bacchus Marsh approaching Bacchus Marsh-Gisborne Rd (C704), August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Bacchus Marsh-Gisborne Road:
Western Fwy (M8) at the interchange with Bacchus Marsh-Gisborne Rd (C704) at Bacchus Marsh, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Bacchus Marsh on the off ramp to Bacchus Marsh-Gisborne Rd (C704), August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Bacchus Marsh-Gisborne Road:
AD style sign facing the off ramp to Bacchus Marsh-Gisborne Rd (C704) at Bacchus Marsh, August 2015.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign for the Moorabool Rd interchange at Gordon, December 2006.
Image © Rob Tilley
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign on the Moorabool Rd interchange in Gordon. December 2006.
Image © Rob Tilley
2 VIC Government, VicRoads.