List of road routes in New South Wales

Road routes in New South Wales assist drivers navigating roads in urban, rural, and scenic areas of the state. Today all numbered routes in the state are allocated a letter (M, A, B or D) in addition to a one- or -two digit number, with 'M' routes denoting motorways, 'A' routes denoting routes of national significance, 'B' routes denoting routes of state significance, and 'D' for Detour routes of a major motorway. The route system includes the officially designated highways, urban and intercity motorways and arterial roads, and important cross-state roads that have not been declared highways.

History

Route numbers have been allocated to New South Wales' roads since 1954, with the introduction of National Routes across all states and territories in Australia, symbolised by a white shield with black writing; National Route 1 ('Highway 1') was one of the best-known numbered nation routes, likely due to its fame for circumnavigating the continent.

To supplement the National Route number system, three Ring Roads were introduced to Sydney in 1964, symbolised by a blue circular shield with white writing and a dotted outline. These lasted 10 years before their decommissioning in 1974.

In 1973 Freeway Routes were introduced to complement the state's National Routes and Sydney's Ring Roads, symbolised by blue rounded shields with white writing crowned by red crests as well, in an imitation of the American Interstate shield. Most of these routes were not signed as extensions opened, or were replaced with other routes in the years following, and while not officially decommissioned, virtually all signage of these routes were removed in 1992.

In 1974 the National Highway network was defined, which allowed some existing National Routes to be upgraded to National Highways. These were marked with the same shield design as the National Routes, except for their gold-on-green colouring and the word NATIONAL added across the top. The new State Routes system was also introduced in 1974, symbolised by blue rounded shields with white writing – much like the Freeway Routes, except without the red crests – and replaced Sydney's Ring Roads. Scores of other State Routes were designated across New South Wales, marking out urban arterial routes and secondary rural highways.

In 1992–1993 Sydney's Metroad system was introduced, symbolised by white hexagonal shields with blue writing, indicating Sydney's major radial and circumferential arteries. These routes subsumed many of the city's existing State Routes and also urban portions of National Routes and National Highways. A second, smaller allocation of Metroads were rolled out in 1998–9.

In 2013 the state replaced its entire system of National Routes, National Highways and Metroads with an alphanumeric route numbering system. Many existing numbered routes were allocated a letter (M, A, B or D) in addition to its number, with 'M' routes denoting motorways, 'A' routes denoting routes of national significance, 'B' routes denoting routes of state significance, and 'D' routes acting as motorway detours. Instead of shields, route numbers are displayed as yellow text on green rectangular backgrounds outlined in white, and has now – with the exception of Tourist Routes and a State Route or two – become the sole route numbering system in the state. The changeover to alphanumeric routes was announced in March 2013 and signs were updated between May and December 2013, either by removing old "shield" coverplates installed on newer signs, or installing new alphanumeric coverplates on old shielded signs, although some road projects (like Westlink M7 in 2005) or major highways (like Hume Highway from 1997) were allocated or converted to alphanumeric routes before the general change-over in 2013; these are noted. In 2020, the styling of the markers was modified to remove the white border, aligning with the design for all other states and territories except the ACT.

Alphanumeric routes

M routes Transport for NSW define M routes as "motorway standard roads". In practice, this means roads allocated an M route are usually at least dual-carriageway motorways or high standard rural highways with at least two lanes in each direction. Unlike other states, New South Wales route allocations do not use a different background colour to designate a toll-road: routes attracting a toll are specifically marked.

Route Component roads From Via To Length NotesM1Pacific MotorwayNSW/QLD border Woodburn Highway 1 route:– continues north as along Pacific Motorway into QLD eventually to Eight Mile Plains– continues south as along Pacific Highway to BeresfieldNote: uncertainty still exists over which parts are officially classified Pacific Motorway or Pacific HighwayWoombahGlenugieDirty Creek KororaRaleighWarrell CreekEungai CreekThrumsterBeresfieldWahroonga Highway 1 route:– continues north as along Pacific Highway to Thrumster– continues south as along Pacific Highway to ArtarmonArtarmonMascot Highway 1 route through Sydney:– continues north as along Pacific Highway to Wahroonga– continues south as along General Holmes Drive to Waterfall– tolled on Sydney Harbour Tunnel (southbound only), Eastern Distributor and Military Road E-ramp.Princes MotorwayWaterfallOak Flats Highway 1 route:– continues north as along Princes Highway to Mascot– continues south as along Princes Highway to NSW/VIC borderM2Baulkham HillsArtarmon – continues north as along (Old) Windsor Road to Windsor– tolledM4LapstoneRozelle – continues east as along the Anzac Bridge to Sydney– eastern end extended from Strathfield to Haberfield when it opened in 2019, and once again to Rozelle in 2023– tolled east of the Church St exit at Parramatta M5Prestons MascotTolled separately between Moorebank and Beverly Hills (M5 South-West), and on M5 EastM7Westlink M7PrestonsBaulkham Hills – allocated upon opening in 2005– tolledM8WestConnex M8Beverly HillsArncliffe St PetersRozelle – allocated upon opening in 2020– tolled – Extended to Leichhardt as part of the M4-M8 link in January 2023 and once again to Rozelle in November 2023M11NorthConnexWahroongaWest Pennant Hills – allocated in August 2023– tolledM12M12 Motorway (Sydney)Westlink M7, Cecil HillsWestern Sydney AirportNorthern Road, Luddenham – route number used in government planning documentsM15Hunter ExpresswayLower Belford Cameron Park – allocated upon opening in 2014– continues north as along New England Highway to NSW/QLD border– continues east as along Newcastle Link Road to NewcastleM23Federal HighwayYarraNSW/ACT borderContinues west as along Federal Highway into ACT eventually to MajuraM31PrestonsNSW/VIC borderContinues south as along Hume Freeway into VIC eventually to Melbourne

A routes Transport for NSW define A routes as "routes of national significance". A routes are numbered between 1–49.

Route Component roads From Via To Length NotesA1Pacific HighwayWoodburnWoombah Highway 1 route:– continues north as along Pacific Motorway to NSW/QLD border– continues south as along Pacific Motorway to ThrumsterNote: uncertainty still exists over which parts are officially classified Pacific Motorway or Pacific HighwayGlenugieDirty CreekKororaRaleighWarrell CreekEungai CreekThrumsterBeresfield Highway 1 route:– continues north as along Pacific Motorway to Eungai Creek– continues south as along Pacific Motorway to Wahroonga– concurrencies: with along New England Highway from Hexham to Beresfield; with along John Renshaw Drive through BeresfieldPacific HighwayWahroongaArtarmon Highway 1 route:– continues north as along Pacific Motorway to Beresfield– continues south as along Gore Hill Freeway to Mascot– concurrency with along Pacific Highway from Roseville to ChatswoodMascotWaterfall Highway 1 route:– continues north as along General Holmes Drive to Artarmon– continues south as along Princes Motorway to Oak FlatsOak FlatsNSW/VIC border Highway 1 route:– continues north as along Princes Motorway to Waterfall– continues south as along Princes Highway into VIC eventually to TraralgonA2WindsorSeven HillsContinues east as along M2 Hills Motorway to North RydeA3Mona ValeBlakehurstA4RozellePyrmontSydney – continues west as along Western Motorway to Lapstone through the Rozelle Interchange– originally spanned City West Link (now ) until extensionA6CarlingfordHeathcoteA7Pennant Hills RoadWest Pennant HillsPennant HillsWahroongaNot allocated: planned for Pennant Hills Road once NorthConnex opened, but it was believed / concurrency would confuse motorists on which toll to pay: was left as isA8Mona ValeNorth SydneyA9WindsorCampbelltownA11Pacific HighwayWahroongaArtarmonPartially allocated, halted after NorthConnex opened in 2020, then decommissioned; some signs were converted to but changed back to A15New England HighwayNSW/QLD borderLower Belford – continues north as along New England Highway into QLD eventually to Redbank– continues east as along Hunter Expressway to Cameron Park– concurrency with along Oxley Highway from Bendemeer to TamworthCameron ParkNewcastle West – allocation rerouted from New England Highway, Pacific Highway and Industrial Drive (replaced by ) to current route (replacing ) when Hunter Expressway opened in 2014– continues west as along Hunter Expressway to Lower Belford– concurrency with along Newcastle Road from Jesmond to LambtonA20Sturt HighwayNSW/VIC borderTarcutta – continues west as along Sturt Highway into VIC via Mildura, and into SA eventually to Adelaide– concurrency with along Olympic Highway from Moorong to Wagga WaggaA22LiverpoolUltimoA25Barton HighwayYassMurrumbatemanNSW/ACT borderContinues south as along Barton Highway into ACT eventually to CanberraA28Edmondson ParkWahroongaConcurrency with along Old Windsor Road, Briens Road and James Ruse Drive from Northmead to North ParramattaA31Hume HighwayBerrimaNSW/VIC borderDecommissioned: signage along Hume Highway (from Berrima to the border) progressively allocated from 1997 as it wasn't a gazetted motorway; however, classification for M routes changed by the time Holbrook bypass opened, replaced by in 2013A32NSW/SA borderLapstoneContinues west as along Barrier Highway into SA eventually to GawlerA34LiverpoolNewtownA36Princes HighwayUltimoKogarahA37SandgateBennetts Green – re-aligned through Shortland from Sandgate/Wallsend Roads to current alignment when second northern section of Newcastle Inner City Bypass opened in 2014– concurrency with along Newcastle Road from Jesmond to LambtonA38North RydeDee WhyConcurrency with along Pacific Highway from Chatswood to RosevilleA39Newell HighwayNSW/QLD borderNSW/VIC border – continues north as along Gore Highway into QLD eventually to Toowoomba– continues south as along Goulburn Valley Highway into VIC eventually to Shepparton– concurrencies: with along Mid Western Highway from Caragabal to West Wyalong; with along Burley Griffin Way from Beckom to ArdlethanA40Seven HillsRozelleConcurrency with along Cumberland Highway from Northmead to North ParramattaA41BathurstTable TopConcurrency with along Sturt Highway from Wagga Wagga to MoorongA43GretaHalloranAllocation extended west along New England Highway, Pacific Highway and Industrial Drive (replacing ) when Hunter Expressway opened in 2014A44Emu PlainsHaberfield – eastern end extended along Parramatta Road and Wattle Street from Strathfield to Haberfield (replacing ) when M4 East motorway opened in 2019– to be extended further east (currently replacing ) as stages of the M4 East motorway project are completedA46Cameron ParkNewcastle WestDecommissioned, allocation replaced by when Hunter Expressway opened in 2014A48Illawarra HighwaySutton ForestAlbion ParkA49Central Coast HighwayDoyalsonKariong

B routes Transport for NSW define B routes as "routes of state significance". B routes are numbered between 51 and 99, with the sole exception of Monaro Highway (allocated to remain consistent across state lines).