Melton Highway
Encyclopedia
Melton Highway links Melbourne
's outer north-western suburbs of Melton
and Taylors Lakes
(western Keilor as the old name suggests); it has a Victorian route designation of
(
previously).
and Calder Freeway
and provides the most direct route between Ballarat
and Melbourne's airports and northern suburbs bypassing busy western suburbs. Increase in traffic has seen the road upgraded with many overtaking lanes, and increasing residential levels at the Sydenham
end has seen duplication of another carriageway and reconstruction of the railway crossing just north of Sydenham (Watergardens) station.
The road commences at the Melton exit from the Calder Freeway
and travels through suburban developments, until reaching paddock land for the last stretch into Melton. The road passes Watergardens railway station, a Metlink
train terminus, Watergardens Town Centre
and a number of housing estates. The road generally has a speed limit of 70 km/h around built up areas. After the last housing developments this gradually rises to 80, 90 and then 100 km/h through farm/paddock land and goes back to 80 km/h at Melton, with it turning from a four-lane road to a two-lane road with overtaking spots. The road can be a little hazardous at night due to irregular traffic.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
's outer north-western suburbs of Melton
Melton, Victoria
Melton is an outer-suburban city of Melbourne Victoria, Australia located 35 km east from Melbourne's central business district. It is the administrative centre for the Shire of Melton Local Government Area. At the 2006 Census, the Shire of Melton had a population of 35,490...
and Taylors Lakes
Taylors Lakes, Victoria
Taylors Lakes is a suburb 23 km north-west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Brimbank. At the 2006 Census, Taylors Lakes had a population of 16,555....
(western Keilor as the old name suggests); it has a Victorian route designation of
(Route
It connects the Western FreewayWestern Freeway
Western Freeway or Western Expressway may mean:In roads:*Western Freeway , Virginia, United States*Western Freeway , Australia*Western Freeway, Brisbane, Australia*Western Freeway , India...
and Calder Freeway
Calder Freeway
Calder Freeway is a freeway linking Melbourne to Ravenswood South in Victoria, Australia, superseding stretches of the Calder Highway. Originally just a short spur of the Tullamarine Freeway linking to the Calder Highway in Keilor in suburban Melbourne, it has been extended in phases to Ravenswood...
and provides the most direct route between Ballarat
Ballarat, Victoria
Ballarat is a city in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately west-north-west of the state capital Melbourne situated on the lower plains of the Great Dividing Range and the Yarrowee River catchment. It is the largest inland centre and third most populous city in the state and the fifth...
and Melbourne's airports and northern suburbs bypassing busy western suburbs. Increase in traffic has seen the road upgraded with many overtaking lanes, and increasing residential levels at the Sydenham
Sydenham, Victoria
For other places called Sydenham, see Sydenham .Sydenham is a suburb 25 km north-west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Brimbank. At the 2006 Census, Sydenham had a population of 9644....
end has seen duplication of another carriageway and reconstruction of the railway crossing just north of Sydenham (Watergardens) station.
The road commences at the Melton exit from the Calder Freeway
Calder Freeway
Calder Freeway is a freeway linking Melbourne to Ravenswood South in Victoria, Australia, superseding stretches of the Calder Highway. Originally just a short spur of the Tullamarine Freeway linking to the Calder Highway in Keilor in suburban Melbourne, it has been extended in phases to Ravenswood...
and travels through suburban developments, until reaching paddock land for the last stretch into Melton. The road passes Watergardens railway station, a Metlink
Metlink
Metlink, formerly The Met, is the marketing body and umbrella brand for public train, tram and bus transport operators in Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.-Responsibilities:Metlink is responsible for the promotion of travel by public transport...
train terminus, Watergardens Town Centre
Watergardens Town Centre
Watergardens Town Centre is a super regional shopping centre and homemaker complex located twenty-four kilometres north-west of Melbourne primarily in the suburb of Taylors Lakes and partially in the suburb of Sydenham, served by Watergardens railway station...
and a number of housing estates. The road generally has a speed limit of 70 km/h around built up areas. After the last housing developments this gradually rises to 80, 90 and then 100 km/h through farm/paddock land and goes back to 80 km/h at Melton, with it turning from a four-lane road to a two-lane road with overtaking spots. The road can be a little hazardous at night due to irregular traffic.