Western Highway (Victoria)
Template: Infobox several high-level roads / maintenance / AU -NA
States:
Victoria
The Western Highway is a highway in Victoria, Australia. It runs over a length of 435 kilometers in a northwest-southeast direction from the border with South Australia and the capital of Victoria, Melbourne. Parts of the Western Highway is also known as Western Freeway and Ballarat Road.
The Western Highway is part of the road link between metropolitan Melbourne and Adelaide and is considered the second most traveled road in Australia. It connects the densely populated region in south-eastern Australia with Southern and Western Australia.
Course
The Western Highway starts at the border between South Australia and Victoria. It is the continuation of the Dukes Highway, which leads coming from the direction of Adelaide to the border near the town of Bordertown.
From the border of the Western Highway runs initially in an easterly direction. After about 100 kilometers, the city Dimboola is reached. Dimboola is a gateway to the Little Desert National Park.
From Dimboola the Western Highway runs in a southeasterly direction and reached after 36 kilometers, the city Horsham. Horsham is an important junction of several highways in western Victoria. In addition to the Western Highway to the Wimmera Highway and the Henty Highway pass through the town. The golf course at Horsham was awarded as the best in Victoria.
South-west of Horsham happened the Western Highway to the Grampians National Park, which is known to cater to the surrounding countryside for its flora and fauna as well as numerous vantage points that impressive views. On the way to Stawell and Ararat several roads branch off from the Western Highway, leading to the Grampians National Park and the main town of Halls Gap. Also on this stretch is southeast of Horsham the Giant Koala Tourist Complex to see. This consists of the walk-in, 14 -meter-high Giant Koala from bronze and fiberglass and an accompanying Pub.
After the Western Highway has passed the area of the Grampians, he reached the city of Ballarat, about 110 kilometers northwest of Melbourne. Ballarat was in the 1850s and 1860s, the center of the gold rush in Victoria and place the Eureka Stockade. Today Ballarat is known for its many historic buildings in the city. In the area around Ballarat the Sunraysia Highway, Glenelg Highway and the Midland Highway meet on the Western Highway.
From the Western Highway Ballarat is considered Western Freeway and is a four-lane expressway. Most places along the route happens to be detours.
In the suburbs of Melbourne to the Western Freeway ends and finds its continuation in the Ballarat Road. This forms the last part of the Western Highway. This part of the Western Highway is a busy arterial road of Melbourne, three lanes in each direction. There are numerous intersections and junctions, as well as a partial parallel tram line. Parts of this section of the Western Highway is currently being rebuilt as a freeway to allow in the future more fluid traffic and reduce congestion for local residents. The Ballarat Road and therefore the Western Highway ends at the junction with the Geelong Road about 5 kilometers west of the center of Melbourne.
Gallery
Giant Koala at Horsham
The Balconies in the Grampians National Park
Western Highway in Ararat
- Street in Victoria