- Approximately 151,000 kilometres of roads open for general traffic (from major freeways to minor local roads) and a further 50,000 kilometres of other minor roads and tracks in parks and forests.
- The 22,400 kilometres of freeways and arterial roads managed by VicRoads are valued at around $21 billion.
- The Victorian arterial road network carries more than 460 million tonnes of freight and provides for around 50 billion kilometres of travel per annum.
- Almost all goods in the metropolitan area and more than 80 per cent of goods in country Victoria are transported by road.
- Much of the $270 billion Victorian economy, including tourism, depends on the efficient and effective management of the roads.
- Efficient freight routes and links are essential to reduce the costs of transport to local and overseas markets.
The management, maintenance and development of Victorian roads is shared between VicRoads, municipal councils, Transurban, Connect East and the Department of Sustainability and Environment and other Government organisations depending on the type of road.
| Type of road |
Responsible Authority |
Freeways
- approximately 880 kilometres (excluding tollways)
|
VicRoads |
Freeways (tollways)
- Melbourne CityLink (22 kilometres)
- Eastlink (39 kilometres)
|
|
Arterial roads* (urban areas)
|
Operational responsibility, including inspection, maintenance and repair of road infrastructure;
- Through traffic lanes - VicRoads
- Other (including service roads, pathways and roadside areas) - municipal councils
Coordination responsibility, including consents for road and infrastructure works and road closures - VicRoads |
|
Arterial roads* (non-urban areas) |
Operational responsibility (not including pathways) - VicRoads
Coordination responsibility - VicRoads
|
|
Municipal roads and other roads
- Municipal roads - 129,000 kilometres
- Non-arterial State roads and minor roads and tracks - 50,000 kilometres
|
- Municipal councils for municipal roads
- Department of Sustainability & Environment and others, including Parks Victoria, for non-arterial State roads and minor roads and tracks
|
* approximately 21,500 kilometres (total for urban and non-urban areas)
Funding for Victoria’s road network comes from Federal, State and Local Government sources, except for tollways which are funded by the private owners and operators.
The Road Management Act 2004 established the framework for the management of public roads in Victoria. Under the Act, each road authority is required to keep a Register of Public Roads.
The majority of Victoria's traffic is carried on freeways and arterial roads. These roads link activity centres in rural and metropolitan areas providing a safe, efficient and integrated road transport system for the economic and social benefit of the community. VicRoads arranges for freeways (excluding tollways) and arterial roads to be upgraded and constructed as necessary to accommodate changes in population size and location, and increased road use for freight, business and private travel.
You can search for freeways and arterial roads anywhere in Victoria using the Maps of declared roads.
Victoria’s route number signs are used on freeways and arterial roads throughout rural areas.
Section 14 of the Road Management Act 2004 includes the following principles that VicRoads must consider prior to declaring a road to be a Freeway or Arterial Road, and further sets out the form of notice and procedures that apply to such a declaration.
VicRoads must consider if the road:
a. Provides a principal route for the movement of people and goods:
- between major regions of the State; or
- between major centres of population or between major metropolitan activity centres; or
- to major transport terminals; or
- across or around cities; or
b. Is a major route for public transport services; or
c. Has State-wide economic or tourism significance; or
d. Provides necessary connections between arterial roads.