Princes Highway

{{Short description|Highway in Australia}} {{about|the road classified as a highway in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia}} {{RJL|date=December 2021}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox Australian road | road_name = Princes Highway | type = Highway | state = NSW | state2 = SA | image = | caption = | length = 1898 | gazetted = November 1913 {{small|(VIC, as Main Road)}}<ref name="vicgovgaz13">{{cite web |url=https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/view.cgi?year=1913&class=general&page_num=5141&state=V&classNum=G180&id= |title=Victorian Government Gazette |date=3 December 1913 |pages=5154-5 |publisher=State Library of Victoria |access-date=4 June 2024 }}</ref><br />July 1925 {{small|(VIC, as State Highway)}}<ref name="vicgovgaz25">{{cite web |url=https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/view.cgi?year=1925&class=general&page_num=2349&state=V&classNum=G97&id= |title=Victorian Government Gazette |date=8 July 1925 |pages=2371 |publisher=State Library of Victoria |access-date=18 May 2025 }}</ref><br />August 1928 {{small|(NSW, as Main Road 1)}}<ref name="nswgovgaz28">{{cite news |title=Main Roads Act, 1924-1927 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219952359 |work=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |issue=110 |publisher=National Library of Australia |date=17 August 1928 |pages=3814–20 |access-date=1 August 2022 |archive-date=3 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803050207/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219952359 |url-status=live }}</ref> | direction_a = East | direction_b = West | end_a = '''{{AUshield|NSW|A22}} Great Western Highway'''<br />{{small|Ultimo, Sydney}} | end_b = '''{{AUshield|SA|A1}} Glen Osmond Road'''<br />{{small|Glen Osmond, Adelaide}} | through = Wollongong, Nowra, Ulladulla, Batemans Bay, Eden, Orbost, Sale, Traralgon, Melbourne, Geelong, Warrnambool, Mount Gambier, Kingston SE, Tailem Bend, Murray Bridge, Crafers | route = See Route allocation | former = See Former routes | exits = {{plainlist| *{{AUshield|NSW|M5}} East Motorway *{{AUshield|NSW|A48}} Illawarra Highway *{{AUshield|NSW|B52}} Kings Highway *{{AUshield|NSW|B72}} Snowy Mountains Highway *{{AUshield|VIC|B23}} Monaro Highway *{{AUshield|VIC|B500}} Great Alpine Road *{{AUshield|VIC|A440}} South Gippsland Highway *{{AUshield|VIC|B460}} Strzelecki Highway *{{AUshield|VIC|M780}} South Gippsland Freeway *{{AUshield|Toll|M3}} EastLink *{{AUshield|Toll|M2}} CityLink *{{AUshield|VIC|M80}} Western Ring Road *{{AUshield|VIC|A300}} Midland Highway *{{AUshield|VIC|B140}} Hamilton Highway *{{AUshield|VIC|B100}} Great Ocean Road *{{AUshield|VIC|B120}} Hopkins Highway *{{AUshield|VIC|A200}} Henty Highway *{{AUshield|SA|B160}} Glenelg Highway *{{AUshield|SA|A66}} Riddoch Highway *{{AUshield|SA|B101}} Southern Ports Highway *{{AUshield|SA|A8}} Dukes Highway }} | location =Location Princes Hwy.svg | show_links2 = Vic }}

'''Princes Highway''' is a major road in Australia, extending from Sydney via Melbourne to Adelaide through the states of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. It has a length of {{convert|1941|km}} (along Highway 1) or {{convert|1898|km}} via the former alignments of the highway,{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} although these routes are slower and connections to the bypassed sections of the original route are poor in many cases.

The highway follows the coastline for most of its length, and thus takes quite an indirect and lengthy route. For example, it is {{convert|1040|km}} from Sydney to Melbourne on Highway 1 as opposed to {{convert|870|km}} on the more direct Hume Highway (National Highway 31), and {{convert|915|km}} from Melbourne to Adelaide compared to {{convert|730|km}} on the Western and Dukes Highways (National Highway 8). Because of the rural nature and lower traffic volumes over much of its length, Princes Highway is a more scenic and leisurely route than the main highways between these major cities.

==Route== {{Moresources|section|date=December 2022}} ===New South Wales=== thumb|Princes Highway at {{NSWcity|Moruya}}. thumb|Princes Highway at {{NSWcity|Eden}}. Princes Highway starts at the junction of Broadway (Great Western Highway) and City Road in the Sydney suburb of Chippendale. City Road in fact forms the first section of the highway, and becomes King Street, Newtown, also part of Princes Highway. Where King Street ends at Sydney Park Road, Princes Highway continues in its own right.

The highway in this section is constructed as a six-lane divided carriageway, other than along King Street (four-lane undivided) and along the western edge of the Royal National Park, where it is built as four-lane dual carriageway.

The only major engineering structures along its route are the twin Tom Uglys Bridge across Georges River. The northbound bridge is of steel truss construction, opened in 1929, whilst the southbound bridge is of prestressed concrete girders, opened in 1987.

It runs through Sydney's southern suburbs (the St George area and Sutherland Shire), via Kogarah, Sutherland and Engadine to the village of Waterfall.

thumb|Princes Highway at {{NSWcity|Woonona}} thumb|Princes Highway at {{NSWcity|Bomaderry}} South of Waterfall the highway is paralleled by the {{convert|55|km|adj=on}} Princes Motorway (national route M1) to the top of Bulli Pass outside the city of Wollongong, which carries the majority of traffic. The Princes Highway then enters the northern suburbs of Wollongong and the Illawarra region via the Bulli Pass, whilst Mount Ousley Road, which is designated as part of national route 1, bypasses Wollongong's northern suburbs to meet the Princes Highway at {{NSWcity|Fairy Meadow}}, and carries inter-city traffic. Where Mount Ousley Road enters Wollongong, the Princes Motorway branches off Mount Ousley Road, and parallels the highway through the suburbs of Wollongong to {{NSWcity|Yallah}}.

The Mount Ousley Road-Princes Motorway route is the inter-city and main urban arterial through Wollongong's southern suburbs, whereas the Princes Highway acts as a local arterial.

From the interchange with the Princes Motorway at Yallah, the Princes Highway continues through the bypassed Albion Park Rail before reaching the southern terminus of the motorway at the Oak Flats interchange. From Oak Flats, the Princes Highway is dual carriageway, mostly of freeway standard, with the exception of the Kiama bends at Kiama Heights.

The highway then travels along the upgraded sections through Gerringong and Foxground before bypassing the town of Berry, where the highway follows larger gradients, compared to the flat terrain the Illawarra railway line follows immediately to the east.

Beyond Mullers Lane, Berry, the highway is a single two lane carriageway to Cambewarra Road, {{NSWcity|Bomaderry}}. Construction is underway for the duplication of the highway from Mullers Lane to Cambewarra Road and is expected to be completed in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Transport for NSW|first=N. S. W.|title=Berry to Bomaderry - Princes Highway upgrade|url=https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/berry-to-bomaderry/index.html|access-date=2021-10-10|website=Transport for NSW|language=en}}</ref>

From Cambewarra Road the highway is four lane divided through Bomaderry and {{NSWcity|Nowra}} to near the junction with Warra Warra Road in South Nowra. Duplication to dual carriageway standard of a {{convert|6|km|0|adj=on}} length south from here to Forest Road was scheduled for completion in early 2014, following a three-month cessation of work while measures were put in place to protect a hitherto unknown area of habitat of the endangered green and golden bell frog.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Work to restart at South Nowra |url=http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/newsevents/downloads/minister_releases/120322-south-nowra.pdf |work=Roads & Maritime Services |date=22 March 2012 |access-date=18 May 2012 |quote=Work was suspended in November 2011 and since then Roads & Maritime Services has been working to ensure the frogs are protected while the work is carried out, NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay said.}}</ref> Beyond this section is {{convert|4|km}} of four lane single carriageway from Forest Road to the junction with Jervis Bay Road.

From Jervis Bay Road southward the highway is mostly single two lane carriageway along the NSW South Coast, passing through Ulladulla, Batemans Bay (where the {{convert|1|km|1|adj=on}} town centre bypass is built as dual carriageway), Moruya, Narooma, then bypassing Bega and Merimbula and passing through Eden, before crossing the border at the Black-Allen Line into Victoria, {{convert|550|km}} from Sydney and {{convert|515|km}} from Melbourne.

A substandard alignment at Victoria Creek {{convert|13|km|0}} south of {{NSWcity|Narooma}} was upgraded in 2012–13, as well as the {{convert|3.5|km|adj=on}} Bega bypass. Realignments with associated new bridges are also proposed at Termeil Creek, some {{convert|30|km}} south of Ulladulla, and Dignams Creek, some {{convert|20|km}} south of Narooma. Current identified future projects are a bypass of Nowra-Bomaderry (definite route identified only for section south of Shoalhaven River), and a bypass of Ulladulla-Milton.

In 2007 the NRMA claimed Princes Highway was a dangerous road<ref>{{cite news |title=Princes Highway ignored by NSW govt: NRMA |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/06/22/1959177.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120719013625/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/06/22/1959177.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 July 2012 |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=22 June 2007 |access-date=5 February 2008 |quote=NRMA managing director Alan Evans says the highway is one of the most dangerous in the state and he is disappointed that it has been ignored.}}</ref> with ten fatalities and 729 people injured on the highway between Sydney and the state border in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |year=2007 |url=http://rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/downloads/accidentstats2006.pdf |title=Road traffic crashes in New South Wales: Statistical Statement for the year ended 31&nbsp;December 2006 |work=Crash statistics |publisher=New South Wales Road Traffic Authority |access-date=5 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080805004337/https://rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/downloads/accidentstats2006.pdf |archive-date=5 August 2008 |df=dmy-all }} (see Table 25: pages 58–59)</ref>

=== Victoria === {{see also|Princes Freeway|Old Princes Highway, Victoria}} [[File:From-Rotunda-Looking-West-Bairnsdale-Vic.jpg|thumb|right|Princes Highway is picturesque in some towns, such as Gippsland's Bairnsdale, where the median strip has been made a garden.]] In Victoria, Princes Highway follows a very long and complex route<!-- This is subjective. Change or cite. -->. The route within metropolitan Melbourne carries the original individual names of sections of Princes Highway on signage. Each road section has Princes Highway labelled in bold and the individual name in brackets, such as Dandenong Road or Geelong Road.

Apart from the routes Alt National Route 1, C101 and C109 (in the outer metropolitan areas – such as Berwick and Werribee), the M1 Freeway route intersects<!-- what does this mean? --> (Monash Freeway/CityLink/West Gate Freeway/Princes Freeway) and this carries the much higher volume of traffic, including congestion<!-- redundant --> in the peak periods, serving as the major, most direct and quickest route for Route 1 in Australia<!-- What does this mean? -->.

In Victoria the length from the South Australian border to the New South Wales border is {{convert|955|km}}. The highway passes (from east to west) through Orbost, Bairnsdale and Sale in the Gippsland region. The highway then passes through the Latrobe Valley, bypassing Morwell, Warragul and Pakenham to Dandenong and into the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Most of this section is freeway standard, with the main outstanding work being a freeway bypass of Traralgon, although the highway through Traralgon has already been built to urban dual carriageway standard.

Through much of Melbourne and its suburbs, the designation of National Route 1 is not along Princes Highway, but rather Monash Freeway, which intersects the Princes Highway on the eastern outskirts of Melbourne, then the southern link of the CityLink tollway, and then West Gate Freeway which bypasses central Melbourne. This avoids the confusing and congested arrangement of roads that is the Princes Highway in central Melbourne. The M1 include an advanced<!-- Citation required. --> freeway management system for its entire {{convert|75|km|adj=on}} urban length, between Narre Warren and Werribee. Along with freeway sensors and associated data stations, overhead lane use management system (LUMS) gantries that show speed and lane availability, electronic message boards, real-time drive time signs and arterial road real-time Information signs (before the on-ramps); there are the 64+<!-- citation required --> ramp signal and metering sites. Hence, the majority of the on-ramps are traffic light controlled, depending on the density and speed of the traffic.

Heading towards Geelong in a south-west direction, the West Gate Freeway and Geelong Road join and become the Princes Freeway. Which, unusually for an Australian inter-city freeway, carries enough traffic to merit four to three lanes in either direction (often still being congested in the morning and afternoon peaks). On the northern outskirts of Geelong, the highway reverts from freeway to three lane dual carriageway through Geelong and its suburbs, with traffic light-controlled at-grade intersections. Through Geelong the highway is often heavily congested.

With the completion of the freeway standard Geelong Ring Road during 2008–9, the M1 route follows the freeway-standard road from Winchelsea to Traralgon, without encountering any traffic lights (with the exception of Yarragon and Trafalgar, which are yet to be bypassed). The ring road rejoins the original highway at Waurn Ponds on the western edge of Geelong<!-- This paragraph doesn't flow. The first sentence is its own point. This point should be made further down the page, below or after the final paragraph in this section. The second sentence should complete the paragraph above. -->.

Within Geelong, Princes Highway starts at the junction of Princes Freeway in the northern Geelong suburb of Corio, and runs through Geelong's northern and southern suburbs via an inner-city western bypass of the Geelong City Centre, to the current Highway 1 segment of the Princes Highway at Waurn Ponds in Geelong's southern suburbs. The highway is six lane dual carriageway from Corio to Latrobe Terrace, continuing as a four-lane dual carriageway to Waurn Ponds. The 1989 re-alignment of Princes Highway (along La Trobe Terrace) provides a dual carriageway, four-lane limited access road to replace the original route along Moorabool Street in South Geelong and High Street in Belmont. Upon the completion of the final section of the Geelong Ring Road, another section of the Princes Highway was superseded in 2013 at Waurn Ponds.

After Geelong the highway heads in a generally western direction, continuing with the 'M1' designation as a dual carriageway road to Winchelsea (opened 2015). West of Winchelsea, the road is presently being reconstructed to dual carriageway standard, passing through Colac, before reaching Camperdown - ultimately reaching the port of Warrnambool. The section from Geelong to Warrnambool runs inland, and so avoids the slower, but scenic Great Ocean Road. From here, Princes Highway passes through Portland before crossing the border into South Australia. At this point the highway is {{convert|1530|km}} from Sydney, {{convert|465|km}} from Melbourne and {{convert|510|km}} from Adelaide.

=== South Australia === At Mount Gambier the highway takes a more northward tack as the coast curves to the northwest, passing the Coorong National Park. After Kingston SE, it turns inland (north) to avoid the lakes at the mouth of the River Murray. Shortly before Tailem Bend it is joined by Dukes Highway, part of the main route between Melbourne and Adelaide. The highway then turns north-west and becomes South Eastern Freeway, crosses the Murray River, bypasses Murray Bridge and continues to Glen Osmond on Adelaide's southeastern outskirts.

At this point, Princes Highway is {{convert|6|km|0}} from Adelaide and {{convert|2055|km}} from Sydney. It continues north-west via Glen Osmond Road to eventually terminate just south of the Adelaide city centre.

==History== The section of Princes Highway between West Helensburgh and Bulli Tops was the original coastal route between Sydney and Wollongong, first used in 1843.{{Citation needed|date=September 2014}} From Bulli Tops this route continued south along today's Mount Ousley Road as far south as Mount Keira Road, and then followed Mount Keira Road around the west of Mount Keira. This route replaced the inland route from Sydney via {{NSWcity|Liverpool|Campbelltown|Appin}} to Bulli Tops.

As a named route, the highway came into being when pre-existing roads were renamed as "Prince's Highway" after the planned visit to Australia by the Prince of Wales (later to become king Edward VIII and, after abdicating, the Duke of Windsor) in 1920. The original submissions in January 1920 were in order for the Prince to have the opportunity during his visit to make the trip from Melbourne to Sydney overland along the route. Different routes were considered, including the inland route via {{NSWcity|Yass}}.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1674511 |title=MELBOURNE-SYDNEY ROAD. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=24 January 1920 |access-date=8 September 2011 |page=18 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> That idea never came to fruition, due partly to the limited amount of time and the cost of upgrading the road to a suitable standard for him to undertake the trip. The Prince did, however, give his permission for the naming.<ref name="naming">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4590839 |title=PRINCE'S HIGHWAY. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=11 August 1920 |access-date=8 September 2011 |page=9 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

The highway had opening ceremonies in both New South Wales and Victoria during 1920. The first section of road from Melbourne was opened on 10 August in Warragul.<ref name="naming" /> The road from Sydney was opened in Bulli on 19 October, by the NSW Minister for Local Government, Thomas Mutch.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16871309 |title=PRINCE'S HIGHWAY. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=20 October 1920 |access-date=8 September 2011 |page=12 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

Within Victoria, the passing of the ''Country Roads Act 1912''<ref>[http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/hist_act/cra1912182.pdf ''An Act relating to Country Roads''] State of Victoria, 23 December 1912</ref> through the Parliament of Victoria provided for the establishment of the Country Roads Board (later VicRoads) and their ability to declare Main Roads, taking responsibility for the management, construction and care of the state's major roads from local municipalities. '''(Main) Gippsland Road''' was declared a Main Road over a period of months, from 10 November 1913 (Longwarry through Drouin to Warragul),<ref name="vicgovgaz13" /> 1 December 1913 (Mulgrave through Dandenong and Pakenham to Longwarry, and Warragul through Moe, Morwell and Traralgon to Rosedale),<ref name="vicgovgaz1401">{{cite web |url=https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/view.cgi?year=1914&class=general&page_num=81&state=V&classNum=G6&id= |title=Victorian Government Gazette |date=14 January 1914 |pages=91-3 |publisher=State Library of Victoria |access-date=14 June 2024 }}</ref> 2 February 1914 (Rosedale through Sale and Stratford to Bairnsdale),<ref name="vicgovgaz1403">{{cite web |url=https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/view.cgi?year=1914&class=general&page_num=949&state=V&classNum=G28&id= |title=Victorian Government Gazette |date=18 February 1914 |pages=955 |publisher=State Library of Victoria |access-date=19 June 2024 }}</ref> to 23 March 1914 (Prahran through Oakleigh and Mulgrave to Clayton);<ref name="vicgovgaz1404">{{cite web |url=https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/view.cgi?year=1914&class=general&page_num=1527&state=V&classNum=G52&id= |title=Victorian Government Gazette |date=1 April 1914 |pages=1545-6 |publisher=State Library of Victoria |access-date=20 June 2024 }}</ref> '''Orbost-Genoa Road''' from Orbost via Cann River to Genoa, and '''Swan Reach-Cunninghame Road''' from Bairnsdale via Swan Reach to Lakes Entrance, were declared Main Roads on 23 March 1914;<ref name="vicgovgaz1404" /> and lastly, '''Genoa-Eden Road''' from Genoa to the interstate border with New South Wales and Eden beyond, was declared a Main Road on 7 September 1914;<ref name="vicgovgaz1406">{{cite web |url=https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/view.cgi?year=1914&class=general&page_num=4517&state=V&classNum=G154&id= |title=Victorian Government Gazette |date=7 October 1914 |pages=4537 |publisher=State Library of Victoria |access-date=24 June 2024 }}</ref> all were renamed in August 1920.<ref name="naming" /> '''{Melbourne-) Geelong Road''' was declared a Main Road from Footscray via Werribee and Little River to Corio on 30 December 1913;<ref name="vicgovgaz1402">{{cite web |url=https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/view.cgi?year=1914&class=general&page_num=305&state=V&classNum=G16&id= |title=Victorian Government Gazette |date=28 January 1914 |pages=320 |publisher=State Library of Victoria |access-date=14 June 2024 }}</ref> '''Geelong-Colac Road''' from Geelong to Waurn Ponds, '''Geelong-Warrnambool Road''' from Waurn Ponds via Colac and Terang to Warrnambool, '''Warrnambool-Port Fairy Road''' from Warrnambool to Port Fairy, were declared Main Roads on 16 March 1914,<ref name="vicgovgaz1405">{{cite web |url=https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/view.cgi?year=1914&class=general&page_num=1527&state=V&classNum=G52&id= |title=Victorian Government Gazette |date=1 April 1914 |pages=1546-8 |publisher=State Library of Victoria |access-date=20 June 2024 }}</ref> and '''Port Fairy-Portland Road''' from Port Fairy to Portland was declared a Main Road on 16 November 1914;<ref name="vicgovgaz1407">{{cite web |url=https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/view.cgi?year=1914&class=general&page_num=5281&state=V&classNum=G174&id= |title=Victorian Government Gazette |date=25 November 1914 |pages=5287 |publisher=State Library of Victoria |access-date=25 June 2024 }}</ref> before approval was given by the Victorian executive in January 1922 to extend Princes Highway west from Melbourne through Geelong, Camperdown, Warrnambool and Portland to the South Australian border,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4711162 |title=PRINCE'S HIGHWAY. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=25 January 1922 |access-date=8 September 2011 |page=12 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> with the section of the road between Portland and the border declared a Main Road around the same time.<ref name="vicgovgaz22">{{cite web |url=https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/view.cgi?year=1922&class=general&page_num=457&state=V&classNum=G16&id= |title=Victorian Government Gazette |date=1 February 1922 |pages=466 |publisher=State Library of Victoria |access-date=10 May 2025 }}</ref>

The passing of the ''Developmental Roads Act 1918''<ref>[https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/hist_act/dra1918204.pdf ''An Act to make provision for Developmental Roads and to amend the Country Roads Acts''] State of Victoria, 4 April 1918</ref> allowed the Country Road Board to declare Developmental Roads, serving to develop any area of land by providing access to a railway station for primary producers. Prince's Highway between Lakes Entrance and Orbost was declared a Developmental Road on 3 November 1920,<ref name="vicgovgaz20">{{cite web |url=https://gazette.slv.vic.gov.au/view.cgi?year=1920&class=general&page_num=3325&state=V&classNum=G199&id= |title=Victorian Government Gazette |date=3 November 1920 |pages=3346 |publisher=State Library of Victoria |access-date=8 May 2025 }}</ref> the only section of the present alignment not already declared as a Main Road.

The passing of the ''Highways and Vehicles Act 1924''<ref>[http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/hist_act/hava1924204.pdf ''An Act to make further provision with respect to Highways and Country Roads Motor Cars and Traction Engines and for other purposes''] State of Victoria, 30 December 1924</ref> provided for the declaration of State Highways, roads two-thirds financed by the state government through the Country Roads Board. '''Prince's Highway''' was declared a State Highway on 1 July 1925,<ref name="vicgovgaz25" /><ref name="CRB12AR">{{cite news |url=https://vgls.sdp.sirsidynix.net.au/client/search/asset/1286141 |title=Country Roads Board Victoria. Twelfth Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1925 |newspaper=Country Roads Board of Victoria |location=Melbourne |date=31 December 1925 |page=3 |publisher=Victorian Government Library Service}}</ref> traversing the whole length of the state from its western boundary near Mount Gambier in South Australia, through Port Fairy, Warrnambool, Geelong to Melbourne, through Dandenong, Warragul, Sale, Bairnsdale and Orbost to the eastern boundary of the state towards Eden in New South Wales (for a total of 540 miles), subsuming the original declarations of (Main) Gippsland Road, Swan Reach-Cunninghame Road, Orbost-Genoa Road, Genoa-Eden Road, {Melbourne-)Geelong Road, Geelong-Colac Road, Geelong-Warrnambool Road, Warrnambool-Port Fairy Road and Port Fairy-Portland Road as Main Roads, and between Lakes Entrance and Orbost as a Developmental Road.

Within New South Wales, the passing of the ''Main Roads Act 1924''<ref>[http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_act/mra1924n24133.pdf ''An Act to provide for the better construction, maintenance, and financing of main roads; to provide for developmental roads; to constitute a Main Roads Board''] State of New South Wales {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811000905/http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_act/mra1924n24133/ |date=11 August 2022 }} 10 November 1924</ref> through the Parliament of New South Wales provided for the declaration of Main Roads, roads partially funded by the State government through the Main Roads Board (later Transport for NSW). Main Road No. 1 was declared along Prince's Highway on 8 August 1928, heading south from the City of Sydney through Sutherland, Wollongong, Nowra, Bateman's Bay and Eden to the southern boundary of the state towards Genoa in Victoria (for a total of 351.5 miles).<ref name="nswgovgaz28" /> With the passing of the ''Main Roads (Amendment) Act 1929''<ref>[https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/act-1929-15 State of New South Wales, ''An Act to amend the Main Roads Act, 1924-1927; to confer certain further powers upon the Main Roads Board; to amend the Local Government Act, 1919, and certain other Acts; to validate certain payments and other matters; and for purposes connected therewith.''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812065622/https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/act-1929-15 |date=12 August 2022 }} 8 April 1929</ref> to provide for additional declarations of State Highways and Trunk Roads, this was amended to State Highway 1 on 8 April 1929. Before the adoption of the "Prince's Highway" name in 1920, the road between Sydney and the border was referred to as the Coast Road.<ref name="MRB29-1AR">{{cite news |url=https://media.opengov.nsw.gov.au/pairtree_root/1d/61/1a/37/46/3f/41/de/9b/1f/a6/d4/1b/b1/b7/12/obj/Sep_1929.pdf#document/p1 |title=Main Roads Board of New South Wales Annual Report: Volume 1, number 1 |newspaper=Main Roads Board of New South Wales |location=Sydney |date=September 1929 |volume=1 |number=1 |pages=20–2 |publisher=OpenGov NSW}}</ref>

Within South Australia, roads from Adelaide to the South Australian border with Victoria were renamed by the state government in February 1922.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63702785 |title=THE PRINCE'S HIGHWAY. |newspaper=The Register |location=Adelaide |date=10 February 1922 |access-date=8 September 2011 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> At that time, the route from Adelaide was via Aldgate, Mylor, Macclesfield, Strathalbyn, and Langhorne Creek, crossing the Murray River at Wellington, then continuing along the present towns of Meningie, Kingston SE, Robe, Beachport, Millicent and Gambier Town (Mount Gambier).<ref name="News1924">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129858930 |title=PRINCE'S HIGHWAY. |newspaper=The News |location=Adelaide |date=18 October 1924 |access-date=13 February 2015 |page=9 Edition: Sporting Edition |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> By 1928, the route went through Mount Barker and Wistow to Langhorne Creek.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147207274 |title=SOUTH-EASTERN DISTRICT COUNCILS' ASSOCIATION. |newspaper=The Narracoorte Herald |location=SA |date=28 August 1928 |access-date=13 February 2015 |page=4 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> By 1935, the Princes Highway passed through Nairne and Kanmantoo,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article40053479 |title=519 Men Engaged On Road Work. |newspaper=The Advertiser |location=Adelaide |date=20 June 1935 |access-date=13 February 2015 |page=10 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Murray Bridge and Tailem Bend (now known as the ''Old Princes Highway''). That road was superseded by the South Eastern Freeway (Crafers-Murray Bridge in stages 1967–1979), Swanport Bridge (1979), finally extended from Crafers to Glen Osmond (2000). The section between Kingston SE and Millicent has also been replaced by a more direct inland route. The coastal route through Robe and Beachport is now route B101, the Southern Ports Highway.

In 1942, as part of wartime defence measures, a road was built from Mount Keira Road to {{NSWcity|Fairy Meadow}}. This route forms part of Mount Ousley Road.{{Citation needed|date=September 2014}}

The passing of the ''Roads Act of 1993''<ref>[https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1993-033 State of New South Wales, ''An Act to make provision with respect to the roads of New South Wales; to repeal the State Roads Act 1986, the Crown and Other Roads Act 1990 and certain other enactments; and for other purposes.''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811000905/http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_act/mra1924n24133/ |date=11 August 2022 }} 10 November 1924</ref> through the Parliament of New South Wales updated road classifications and the way they could be declared within New South Wales. Under this act, Princes Highway today retains its declaration as Highway 1, from the intersection with Broadway in Chippendale in Sydney, to the state border with Victoria.<ref name="nswroadsched">{{cite web |url=https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/business-industry/partners-suppliers/lgr/documents/classified-roads-schedule.pdf |title=Schedule of Classified Roads and Unclassified Regional Roads |author=Transport for NSW |date=August 2022 |publisher=Government of New South Wales |access-date=1 August 2022 }}</ref>

The passing of the ''Road Management Act 2004''<ref name="roadact">{{cite web |author=State Government of Victoria |title=Road Management Act 2004 |url=https://content.legislation.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/04-12aa062%20authorised.pdf |publisher=Government of Victoria |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018233332/https://content.legislation.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/04-12aa062%20authorised.pdf |archivedate=18 October 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=19 October 2021 }}</ref> through the Parliament of Victoria granted the responsibility of overall management and development of Victoria's major arterial roads to VicRoads: VicRoads re-declared the road in 2010 as '''Princes Highway West''' (Arterial #6500), beginning at the state border with South Australia to Geelong, then from Altona North to Parkville;<ref name="vicreg-phw">{{cite web |author=VicRoads |title=VicRoads – Register of Public Roads 2024 |url=https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/-/media/files/documents/utilities/about-vr/acts-and-regulations/head-transport-for-victoria-register-of-public-roads-231031.ashx |format=PDF |publisher=Government of Victoria |pages=922-3 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619001303/https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/-/media/files/documents/utilities/about-vr/acts-and-regulations/head-transport-for-victoria-register-of-public-roads-231031.ashx |archivedate=19 June 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=19 June 2024 }}</ref> and in 2007 as '''Princes Highway East''' (Arterial #6510), beginning at the Melbourne CBD to Narre Warren, then from Yarragon to Trafalgar, then from Morwell to the state border with New South Wales.<ref name="vicreg-phe">{{cite web |author=VicRoads |title=VicRoads – Register of Public Roads 2024 |url=https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/-/media/files/documents/utilities/about-vr/acts-and-regulations/head-transport-for-victoria-register-of-public-roads-231031.ashx |format=PDF |publisher=Government of Victoria |pages=924-6 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619001303/https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/-/media/files/documents/utilities/about-vr/acts-and-regulations/head-transport-for-victoria-register-of-public-roads-231031.ashx |archivedate=19 June 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=19 June 2024 }}</ref>

In August 2011, the stretch of the highway in South Australia between Adelaide and Port Augusta (commonly referred to as "Highway 1") was renamed Port Wakefield Highway (between Adelaide and Port Wakefield) and Augusta Highway (between Port Wakefield and Port Augusta) as part of a process to standardise the rural property addressing system across the state.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.primemovermag.com.au/news/article/highways-renamed-in-sa |title=Highways renamed in SA |work=Logistics, Trucking and Transport News – Prime Mover Magazine |access-date=17 November 2012 }}</ref>

===Timeline of significant upgrades and bypasses=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+Timeline of significant upgrades and bypasses |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2" data-sort-type="number" | Date ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Project ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | State ! scope="col" colspan="2" data-sort-type="number" | Length ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Value ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Comments ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Notes |- ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | km ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | mi |- | scope="row" | 1940 | scope="row" | Laverton deviation | scope="row" | VIC | {{convert|6|mi|km|disp=table|order=flip}} | align=right | | The construction of a deviation 6 miles in length (from Kororoit Creek Road, Altona to Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing) was commenced on behalf of the Department of the Interior. The work includes the erection of a bridge over the railway near Laverton station; the new road opened to traffic some time after 30 June 1940. |<ref name="CRB27AR">{{cite news |url=https://vgls.sdp.sirsidynix.net.au/client/search/asset/1286156 |title=Country Roads Board Victoria. Twenty-Seventh Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1940 |newspaper=Country Roads Board of Victoria |location=Melbourne |date=18 November 1940 |page=6 |publisher=Victorian Government Library Service}}</ref> |- | scope="row" | 1961 | scope="row" | Maltby By-pass Road (Werribee bypass) | scope="row" | VIC | {{convert|6.5|mi|km|disp=table|order=flip}} | align=right | A£950,000 | Opened on 16 June 1961 by the Hon. Sir Thomas Maltby {{post-nominals|country=AUS|sep=,|ED|MP}}, Minister of Public Works, the route was named the 'Maltby By-pass Road' by then Premier of Victoria, Henry Bolte {{post-nominals|country=AUS|MP}}. It was Victoria's first controlled-access highway, or 'freeway', as such roads are now generally known in Victoria. 'It is a 4-lane divided highway, 6.5 miles in route length, with no access from adjoining property or cross roads over its entire length'. |<ref>Country Roads Board Victoria. ''Forty-eighth annual report for the year ended 30th June, 1961'', Melbourne, Victoria: Government Printer, 1961. p. 20.</ref> |- | scope="row" | 1959–1962 | scope="row" | Club Terrace Loop | scope="row" | VIC | {{convert|10.25|mi|km|disp=table|order=flip}} | align=right | | Beginning in 1959, construction of the Club Terrace Loop deviation was completed in 1962, providing a completely new road diverting traffic from a 15-mile length of narrow, sub-standard road passing through the township of Club Terrace, west of Cann River |<ref name="CRB46AR">{{cite news |url=https://vgls.sdp.sirsidynix.net.au/client/search/asset/1286184 |title=Country Roads Board Victoria. Forty-Sixth Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1959 |newspaper=Country Roads Board of Victoria |location=Melbourne |date=27 November 1959 |page=21 |publisher=Victorian Government Library Service}}</ref><ref name="CRB54AR">{{cite news |url=https://vgls.sdp.sirsidynix.net.au/client/search/asset/1286192 |title=Country Roads Board Victoria. Fifty-Fourth Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1967 |newspaper=Country Roads Board of Victoria |location=Melbourne |date=12 January 1968 |page=14 |publisher=Victorian Government Library Service}}</ref> |- | scope="row" | 1959–1963 | scope="row" | North–South Motorway (Princes Motorway) | scope="row" | NSW | | | | From {{NSWcity|North Wollongong}} to {{NSWcity|West Wollongong}}, the Motorway was opened in stages, replacing Princes Highway as main north–south route | {{Citation needed|date=September 2014}} |- | scope="row" | 1964 | scope="row" | Connector road | scope="row" | NSW | | | align=right | | The road, from Mount Ousley Road to the North–South Motorway at {{NSWcity|Gwynneville}}, was opened to traffic. |{{Citation needed|date=September 2014}} |- | scope="row" | 1967 | scope="row" | Princes Highway East, near Mount Drummer | scope="row" | VIC | {{convert|5.5|mi|km|disp=table|order=flip}} | align=right | | A ceremony, sponsored by Orbost Shire Council, at Genoa, was held on 17 January 1967. |<ref>Country Roads Board Victoria. ''Fifty-Fourth Annual Report: for the year ended 30th June, 1967'', Burwood, Victoria: Brown, Prior, Anderson, 1968. p. 13</ref> |- | scope="row" | 1967 | scope="row" | South Eastern Freeway (Stage 1) | scope="row" | SA | | | align=right | | Bypassed Crafers and Stirling. |{{citation needed|date=October 2016}} |- | scope="row" | 1969 | scope="row" | Moe bypass | scope="row" | VIC | {{convert|3.8|mi|km|disp=table|order=flip}} | align=right | | A dual-lane, {{convert|24|ft|m}}-wide single carriageway has been constructed, with earthworks and grade separated structures to accommodate future duplicate pavements | <ref>Country Roads Board Victoria. ''Fifty-Sixth Annual Report: for the year ended 30th June, 1969'', Burwood, Victoria: Brown, Prior, Anderson, 1970. p. 5, 10</ref> |- | scope="row" | 1972 | scope="row" | Haunted Hills section | scope="row" | VIC | {{convert|2.6|mi|km|disp=table|order=flip}} | align=right | | Second carriageway opened between Gunn's Gully and Hernes Oak. | <ref>Country Roads Board Victoria. ''Fifty-Ninth Report: for the year ended 30th June, 1972'', Burwood, Victoria: Brown, Prior, Anderson, 1972. p. 9</ref> |- | scope="row" | 1973 | scope="row" | Road duplication | scope="row" | VIC | {{convert|4|mi|km|disp=table|order=flip}} | align=right | | Dual carriageway from East Warrnambool to {{VICcity|Allansford}}. | <ref name="CRB60AR">{{cite news |url=https://vgls.sdp.sirsidynix.net.au/client/search/asset/1286198 |title=Country Roads Board Victoria. Sixtieth Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1973 |newspaper=Country Roads Board of Victoria |location=Melbourne |date=1 November 1973 |pages=7, 24 |publisher=Victorian Government Library Service}}</ref> |- | scope="row" | 1974 | scope="row" | Rail crossing elimination | scope="row" | VIC | {{convert|0.7|mi|km|disp=table|order=flip}} | align=right | $3.8 million | Reconstruction of bridges over railway and grade separation of connecting roads (Gordon Street), Footscray | <ref name="CRB60AR" /><ref name="CRB61AR">{{cite news |url=https://vgls.sdp.sirsidynix.net.au/client/search/asset/1286199 |title=Country Roads Board Victoria. Sixty-First Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1974 |newspaper=Country Roads Board of Victoria |location=Melbourne |date=1 November 1974 |page=24 |publisher=Victorian Government Library Service}}</ref> |- | scope="row" | 1975 | scope="row" | | scope="row" | NSW | | | align=right | | Princes Highway from {{NSWcity|Waterfall}} to Bulli Tops, superseded by the opening of Southern Freeway. | {{Citation needed|date=September 2014}} |- | scope="row" | 1976 | scope="row" | Snowy River Bridge, Princes Freeway, Orbost | scope="row" | VIC | {{convert|8.4|km|disp=table}} | align=right |{{AUD}}2.4&nbsp;million | Opened by the Hon. J A Rafferty, Minister for Transport, 25 November 1976. The bridge was the first of four bridges to be built as part of the freeway bypass of Orbost.<br /> {{small|It's interesting to note the reference to a 'freeway', given that the entire bypass is a single two-lane carriageway and is not controlled access. The CRB's own definition of a freeway can be found in most of their annual reports dating back to the 1960s: 'A freeway is a road having dual carriageways with no direct access from adjoining properties and side roads. All crossings of a freeway are by means of overpass or underpass bridges, and traffic enters or leaves the freeway carriageways by means of carefully designed ramps'.}} | <ref>Country Roads Board Victoria. ''Sixty-Fourth Annual Report: for the year ended 30th June, 1977'', Burwood, Victoria: Brown, Prior, Anderson, 1977. p. 7</ref><ref>Country Roads Board Victoria. ''69th Annual Report. 1981-1982'', Kew, Victoria: Country Roads Board Victoria, 1982. p. 24</ref> |- | scope="row" | 1979 | scope="row" | Swanport Bridge | scope="row" | SA | | | align=right | | Completed the South Eastern Freeway to bypass Murray Bridge. | {{citation needed|date=October 2016}} |- | scope="row" | 1981 | scope="row" | {{VICcity|Drouin}} bypass | scope="row" | VIC | {{convert|7|km|disp=table}} | align=right | {{AUD}}12&nbsp;million | From Robin Hood to the 'existing' highway east of Drouin, with 'two lanes each direction, plus emergency stopping lanes'. Opened 12 February 1981, by the Hon. J C M Balfour, MP. | <ref>Country Roads Board Victoria. ''68th Annual Report. 1980-1981'', Kew, Victoria: Country Roads Board Victoria, 1981. p. 10</ref> |- | scope="row" | 1983 | scope="row" | {{VICcity|Berwick}} bypass | scope="row" | VIC | {{convert|7.3|km|disp=table}} | align=right | {{AUD}}19.6&nbsp;million | Opened on 14 December 1983 by the Federal Minister for Transport, the Hon. Peter Morris MP, and the Victorian Assistant Minister of Transport, the Hon. Jack Simpson MP. This road bypass was from the Princes Highway, near Hessle Road, to Pink Hill, {{VICcity|Beaconsfield}}. | <ref>Road Construction Authority Victoria, ''1st Annual Report 1983-84'', Kew, Victoria: Road Construction Authority, Victoria, 1984. p. 10</ref> |- | scope="row" | 1985 | scope="row" | {{VICcity|Warragul}} bypass | scope="row" | VIC | {{convert|9|km|disp=table}} | align=right | {{AUD}}23&nbsp;million | From the end of the Drouin Bypass to Nilma, opened on 12 December 1985 by the Federal Minister for Transport, the Hon. Peter Morris MP, and the Victorian Minister of Transport, the Hon. Tom Roper MP. | <ref name="RCA86AR">{{cite news |url=https://vgls.sdp.sirsidynix.net.au/client/search/asset/1286932 |title=Road Construction Authority of Victoria. Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 1986 |newspaper=Road Construction Authority of Victoria |location=Melbourne |date=24 November 1986 |page=7 |publisher=Victorian Government Library Service}}</ref> |- | scope="row" | 1987 | scope="row" | Road duplication | scope="row" | VIC | {{convert|9|km|disp=table}} | align=right | {{AUD}}16&nbsp;million | {{VICcity|Nar Nar Goon}} to {{VICcity|Garfield}} duplication opened 10 April 1987. | <ref>Road Construction Authority Victoria, ''Annual Report 1986-87'', Kew, Victoria: Road Construction Authority, Victoria, 1987. p. 64</ref> |- | scope="row" | 1989 | scope="row" | Road duplication | scope="row" | VIC | | | align=right | | Garfield to Bunyip River duplication completed in June 1989. | <ref>Road Construction Authority Victoria, ''Annual Report 1988-1989'', Kew, Victoria: Road Construction Authority, Victoria, 1989. p. 45</ref> |- | scope="row" | 1992 | scope="row" | {{VICcity|Morwell}} bypass | scope="row" | VIC | | | align=right | | Bypass opened to traffic in April 1992. | <ref>VicRoads. ''VicRoads Annual Report 1992-93'', Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 1993, p. 43</ref> |- | scope="row" | 1994 | scope="row" | {{VICcity|Longwarry}} section duplication | scope="row" | VIC | {{convert|7.8|km|disp=table}} | align=right | {{AUD}}25&nbsp;million | Duplication completed between Bunyip River and Robin Hood in January 1994. | <ref>VicRoads. ''VicRoads Annual Report 1993-94'', Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 1994, p. 15</ref> |- | scope="row" | 1995 | scope="row" | Road duplication | scope="row" | VIC | | | align=right | | Duplicated section between {{VICcity|Trafalgar}} East to {{VICcity|Moe}} opened in August 1995. | <ref>VicRoads. ''VicRoads Annual Report 1995-96'', Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 1996, p. 15</ref> |- | scope="row" | 1997 | scope="row" | Road duplication | scope="row" | VIC | {{convert|7|km|disp=table}} | align=right | | {{VICcity|Yarragon}} to Trafalgar duplication opened to traffic on 2 May 1997, completing a dual carriageway highway from Melbourne to Traralgon. | <ref>VicRoads. ''VicRoads Annual Report 1996-97'', Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 1997, p. 16</ref> |- | scope="row" | 2000 | scope="row" | Heysen Tunnels | scope="row" | SA | | | align=right | | The tunnel replaced Mount Barker Road (through {{SAcity|Eagle On The Hill}}), extending the Adelaide end of South Eastern Freeway from Crafers to {{SAcity|Glen Osmond}}. | {{citation needed|date=October 2016}} |- | scope="row" | 2002 | scope="row" | {{NSWcity|Oak Flats}} Interchange | scope="row" | NSW | | | align=right | | The project was opened on 29 October 2001. The interchange was designed to significantly improve traffic flow around the {{NSWcity|Albion Park}}/Oak Flats section of the Princes Highway by removing a railway level crossing and nearby traffic signals. 'The interchange also connects with Shellharbour City Council's East-West Link Road'. | <ref>Roads and Traffic Authority NSW. ''Annual report 2002'', Sydney, New South Wales: RTA, 2002. p. 38</ref> |- | scope="row" | 2002 | scope="row" | Geelong Road upgrade | scope="row" | VIC | | | align=right | | Upgrades completed from the West Gate Bridge to Lara. The Hoppers Crossing to Corio section was widened from two lanes to three in each direction, improvements to interchanges and flood management were made, and central wire rope barriers were installed. | <ref>Viseth Uch. 2007. M1 – Princes Freeway / Highway West. [ONLINE] Available at: http://mrv.ozroads.com.au/. [Accessed 21 February 2018].</ref> |- | scope="row" | 2005 | scope="row" | {{NSWcity|Kiama}} bypass | scope="row" | NSW | | | align=right | {{AUD}}179&nbsp;million | Opened to traffic on 28 November 2005. The North Kiama Bypass linked the Kiama Bypass in the south and the Princes Highway near {{NSWcity|Dunmore}} in the north. | <ref>Roads and Traffic Authority NSW. ''Annual report 2006'', Sydney, New South Wales: RTA, 2006. p. 26</ref> |- | scope="row" | 2007 | scope="row" | {{VICcity|Pakenham}} bypass | scope="row" | VIC | {{convert|20|km|disp=table}} | align=right | {{AUD}}242&nbsp;million | Opened to traffic in December 2007, funded jointly by the state and federal governments. | <ref>VicRoads. ''VicRoads Annual Report 2007-08'', Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 2008, p. 35</ref> |- | scope="row" | 2008 | scope="row" | Geelong Ring Road | scope="row" | VIC | | | align=right | | {{VICcity|Corio}} to Hamilton Highway, {{VICcity|Fyansford}} opened 14 December 2008. | <ref name="VicRoads 2009, p. 43">VicRoads. VicRoads Annual Report 2008-09. Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 2009, p. 43</ref> |- | scope="row" | 2009 | scope="row" | Geelong Ring Road | scope="row" | VIC | | | align=right | {{AUD}}380&nbsp;million | Hamilton Highway, Fyansford to Waurn Ponds opened 14 June 2009, six months ahead of schedule. The project from Corio to Waurn Ponds was funded jointly by the state and federal governments. | <ref name="VicRoads 2009, p. 43"/> |- | scope="row" | 2009 | scope="row" | Road duplication | scope="row" | NSW | | | align=right | {{AUD}}108&nbsp;million | Oak Flats to Dunmore dual carriageways opened to traffic in October 2009, completing a four-lane route between Sydney and south of Kiama. | <ref>Roads and Traffic Authority NSW. ''Annual report 2009-10'', Sydney, New South Wales: RTA, 2010. p. 26</ref> |- | scope="row" | 2013 | scope="row" | Geelong Ring Road | scope="row" | VIC | | | align=right | | Anglesea Road to Princes Highway opened to traffic in February 2013. | <ref name="VicRoads. 2013, p. 20">VicRoads. ''Annual Report 2012-13'', Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 2013, p. 20</ref> |- | scope="row" | 2013 | scope="row" | Road duplication | scope="row" | VIC | {{convert|4|km|disp=table}} | align=right | | Wurruk to {{VICcity|Sale}} duplication opened June 2013. | <ref name="VicRoads. 2013, p. 20"/> |- | scope="row" | 2015 | scope="row" | Road duplication | scope="row" | VIC | {{convert|30|km|disp=table}} | align=right | | From {{VICcity|Waurn Ponds}} to {{VICcity|Winchelsea}}. | <ref name="VR15AR">{{cite news |url=https://vgls.sdp.sirsidynix.net.au/client/search/asset/1291427 |title=VicRoads Annual Report 2014-15 |newspaper=VicRoads |location=Melbourne |date=3 September 2015 |page=13 |publisher=Victorian Government Library Service}}</ref> |- | scope="row" | 2019–2021 | scope="row" | Albion Park Rail Bypass | align=left |NSW | {{convert|9.8|km|disp=table}} | align=right | {{AUD}}630&nbsp;million |The northbound lanes of the Albion Park Rail Bypass opened on 7 August 2021. The southbound lanes of the Albion Park Rail Bypass opened on 9 October 2021, completing the 'missing link' in the high standard road between Heathcote and Bomaderry. |<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|last=Transport for NSW|first=N. S. W.|title=Albion Park Rail bypass - Princes Highway upgrade|url=https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/albion-park-rail-bypass/index.html|access-date=2021-10-10|website=Transport for NSW|language=en}}</ref> |- |2010-2024 |Road duplication |VIC |43 |26.71 | |From Traralgon to Sale. | |}

====Projects==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+List of projects on the Princes Highway in New South Wales |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Project ! scope="col" colspan="2" data-sort-type="number" | Length ! scope="col" colspan="2" | Construction ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Value ! scope="col" rowspan="2" data-sort-type="number" | Status ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Notes |- ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | km ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | mi ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | Start ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | Complete |- | scope="row" | Bulli Pass upgrade | {{convert|1.1|km|disp=table}} | | | | data-sort-value="9" | In progress |<ref name="Princes Highway Upgrades">{{cite web |url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/images/projects/south-coast/princes-highway-locality-map-large.jpg |title=Princes Highway upgrades |work=Roads & Maritime Services |publisher=Government of New South Wales |date=February 2014 |access-date=11 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/illawarra/bulli-pass/index.html | title=Bulli Pass | publisher=NSW Roads and Maritime Services | date=2017-03-14 | access-date=2019-02-26}}</ref> |- | scope="row" | Albion Park Rail bypass | {{convert|9.8|km|disp=table}} | November 2018 | October 2021 | $630 million | data-sort-value="9" | Complete |<ref name=":9" /><ref name="Princes Highway Upgrades" /> |- | scope="row" | Oak Flats to Dunmore upgrade | | | June 2007 | October 2009 | $108 million | data-sort-value="9" | Complete |<ref name="Princes Highway Upgrades" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cordellconnect.com.au/public/project/ProjectDetails.aspx?uid=395329|title=Oak Flats to Dunmore Realignment |website=Cordell Construction Projects}}</ref> |- | scope="row" | North Kiama bypass | {{convert|7.6|km|disp=table}} | November 2003 | October 2005 | $141 million | data-sort-value="9" | Complete |<ref name="Princes Highway Upgrades" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://princeshighway.org.au/06_Priority/PriorityProjects.htm#01 |title=North Kiama By-pass |work=Princes Highway Priority Projects |date=27 August 2004 |access-date=11 October 2016 |publisher=Princes Highway Taskforce }}</ref> |- | scope="row" | Kiama On and Off Ramps (Northbound and Southbound) | | | | 2008/2009 | $8 million | data-sort-value="9" | Complete |<ref name="Princes Highway Upgrades" /> |- | scope="row" | Gerringong upgrade | {{convert|7.5|km|disp=table}} | July 2012 | August 2015 | $340 million | data-sort-value="9" | Complete |<ref name="Princes Highway Upgrades" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/projects/south-coast/gerringong-upgrade/gerringong-upgrade-construction-updates-letter-june.pdf|title=Gerringong upgrade |date=June 2014 |access-date=11 October 2016 |website=Roads & Maritime Services |publisher=Government of New South Wales }}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/projects/freight-regional/princes-highway-locality-map.pdf|title=A1 Princes Highway / M1 Princes Motorway upgrades |date=May 2016|website=Roads & Maritime Services |publisher=Government of New South Wales |access-date=11 October 2016}}</ref> |- | scope="row" | Foxground and Berry bypass | {{convert|11.6|km|disp=table}} | January 2015 | June 2017 | $580 million | data-sort-value="9" | Complete |<ref name="Princes Highway Upgrades" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/foxground-berry-bypass/index.html|title=Foxground and Berry bypass|access-date=1 August 2020 |website=Transport for NSW - Roads & Maritime}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/projects/south-coast/foxground-and-berry-bypass/fbb-project-update-1503.pdf|title=Project Update|website=Roads & Maritime Services |publisher=Government of New South Wales }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/2670914/berry-bypass-imminent-homes-to-be-demolished/ |title=Berry bypass on way as homes demolished |date=3 November 2014 |access-date=11 October 2016 |website=Illawarra Mercury |last=Arnold |first=Alex }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/south-coast/foxground-berry-bypass/index.html |title=Foxground and Berry bypass|publisher=Roads and Maritime Services NSW | access-date=2019-02-19}}</ref> |- | scope="row" | Berry to Bomaderry upgrade | {{convert|11.5|km|disp=table}} | September 2018 | 2022 (estimated) | $450 million | data-sort-value="9" | In progress |<ref name="Princes Highway Upgrades" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/berry-to-bomaderry/index.html|title=Berry to Bomaderry Upgrade|access-date=1 August 2020 |website=Transport for NSW - Roads & Maritime}}</ref> |- | scope="row" | Nowra Bridge study (southbound) | | | | | | data-sort-value="9" | In planning |<ref name="Princes Highway Upgrades" /> |- | scope="row" | South Nowra upgrade – Kingorne Street to Forest Road | {{convert|6.3|km|disp=table}} | November 2011 | March 2014 | $62 million | data-sort-value="9" | Complete |<ref name="Princes Highway Upgrades" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/south-coast/south-nowra/index.html|title = South Nowra Upgrade|website=Roads & Maritime Services |publisher=Government of New South Wales }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://au.gwn7.yahoo.com/w1/news/a/-/local/11220883/work-begins-on-princes-hwy-duplication/|title = Works begins on Princes Highway duplication|website=GWN 7}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/2185121/its-official-highway-is-open/|title=It's official – highway is open |date=31 March 2014 |access-date=11 October 2016 |website=South Coast Register }}</ref> |- | scope="row" | Forest Road to Jervis Bay Road | {{convert|23.5|km|disp=table}} | | December 2008 | $23.5 million | data-sort-value="9" | Complete |<ref name="Princes Highway Upgrades" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nace.com.au/Nace-Roadworks.php|title=Princes Highway safety upgrade now complete|website = Anthony Albanese MP}}</ref> |- | scope="row" | Conjola Mountain realignment | {{convert|2.3|km|disp=table}} | September 2008 | April 2010 | $58 million | data-sort-value="9" | Complete |<ref name="Princes Highway Upgrades" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bmdconstructions.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PS-CN-Princes-Highway-Conjola-Mountain-Realignment-Stage-2-2010-20120101.pdf|title = Conjola Mountain Realignment|website=BMD Constructions}}</ref> |- | scope="row" | Burrill Lake Bridge replacement | | | | Early 2018 | $58 million | data-sort-value="9" | Complete |<ref name="Princes Highway Upgrades" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/south-coast/burrill-lake-crossing/index.html|title=Burrill Lake Bridge |website=Roads & Maritime Services |publisher=Government of New South Wales |date=2018-07-03 |access-date=2019-02-25}}</ref> |- | scope="row" | Termeil Creek realignment | {{convert|1.6|km|disp=table}} | February 2015 | Mid 2016 | $21 million | data-sort-value="9" | Complete |<ref name="Princes Highway Upgrades" /><ref name=":8"/><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/south-coast/termeil-creek/index.html|title=Termeil Creek upgrade |website=Roads & Maritime Services |publisher=Government of New South Wales | date=2017-01-23 |access-date=2019-02-25}}</ref> |- | scope="row" | Nangudga Bridge replacement | | | | December 2011 | $3.7 million | data-sort-value="9" | Complete |<ref name="Princes Highway Upgrades" /> |- | scope="row" | Victoria Creek upgrade | {{convert|3.2|km|disp=table}} | June 2011 | March 2013 | $35 million | data-sort-value="9" | Complete |<ref name="Princes Highway Upgrades" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |url=https://intranet-prod.cs.seymourwhyte.com.au/07774f50-f9ab-0131-69f4-2ddb7fe3a2b3?response-content-type=application%2Fpdf |title= Princes Highway Upgrade:Victoria Creek |date=30 July 2014 |access-date=11 October 2016 |publisher=Seymour White Constructions }}</ref> |- | scope="row" | Dignams Creek upgrade | {{convert|2.0|km|disp=table}} | Early 2017 | April 2019 | $45 million | data-sort-value="9" | Complete |<ref name="Princes Highway Upgrades" /> |- | scope="row" | Bega bypass | {{convert|3.6|km|disp=table}} | June 2012 | December 2013 | $55 million | data-sort-value="9" | Complete |<ref name="Princes Highway Upgrades" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ghd.com/global/projects/bega-bypass/ |title=Bega Bypass |website=GHD |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107084524/http://www.ghd.com/global/projects/bega-bypass/ |archive-date=7 January 2015 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mikcon.com.au/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=17:bega-bypass&Itemid=244 |title=Bega Bypass |date=2014 |access-date=11 October 2016 |publisher=Mikon }}</ref> |- | scope="row" | Pambula River Bridge replacement | {{convert|3.5|km|disp=table}} | August 2006 | March 2008 | $17 million | data-sort-value="9" | Complete |<ref name="Princes Highway Upgrades" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-06-23/new-pambula-river-bridge-set-for-construction/1784452 |title=New Pambula River bridge set for construction |date=23 June 2006 |access-date=11 October 2016 |website=ABC News |location=Australia }}</ref> |}

===Route allocation=== Princes Highway was signed National Route 1 across its entire length in 1955. The Whitlam government introduced the federal ''National Roads Act 1974'',<ref name=NRA1974>{{cite Legislation AU|Cth|num_act|nra1974151|National Roads Act 1974}}</ref> where roads declared as a National Highway were still the responsibility of the states for road construction and maintenance, but were fully compensated by the Federal government for money spent on approved projects.<ref name=NRA1974 />{{rp|S7}} As an important interstate link between the capitals of South Australia and Victoria, the parts of Princes Highway not already replaced by South Eastern Freeway between Adelaide and Tailem Bend were declared a National Highway in 1974. With all three states' conversion to their newer alphanumeric systems between the late 1990s to the early 2010s, its former route number for the most part was updated to A1 for the highway within Victoria (in 1997), South Australia (in 1998), and eventually the New South Wales section (in 2013),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/projects/key-build-programs/alpha-numeric/nsw-factsheet.pdf |title=Road number and name changes in NSW |work=Roads & Maritime Services |publisher=Government of New South Wales |date=2012 |access-date=7 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325194425/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/projects/key-build-programs/alpha-numeric/nsw-factsheet.pdf |archive-date=25 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> but with many exceptions: see below.

Due to its history of bypasses, many sections of Princes Highway today have different route allocations. These allocations, from its northern terminus in Sydney to its western terminus in Adelaide, are: {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+Route allocations on the Princes Highway |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Route<br />allocation ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Road name(s) ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Start point ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | End point ! scope="col" colspan="2" | Distance ! scope="col" colspan="2" | Cumulative<br />distance ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Notes |- ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | km ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | mi ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | km ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | mi |- | scope="row" | {{AUshield|NSW|A36}} A36 | scope="row" | City Road<br>King Street<br>Princes Highway | scope="row" | {{NSWcity|Broadway}} | scope="row" | Junction with President Avenue, {{NSWcity|Kogarah}} | {{convert|11.3|km|mi|disp=table}} | {{convert|11.3|km|mi|disp=table}} | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/-33.8846169,151.1948239/-33.9643538,151.1372743/@-33.9671167,151.1399887,17z/data=!4m4!4m3!2m1!2b1!3e0 |title=2–6 City Road, Chippendale NSW 2008 to President Avenue, Kogarah NSW 2217 |work=Google Maps |date=2016 |access-date=11 October 2016 }}</ref> |- | scope="row" | {{AUshield|NSW|A1}} A1 | scope="row" | Princes Highway | scope="row" | Junction with President Avenue, Kogarah | scope="row" | South of {{NSWcity|Waterfall}}, with exit as the Princes Highway to {{NSWcity|Helensburgh}} | {{convert|27.8|km|mi|disp=table}} | {{convert|39.1|km|mi|disp=table}} | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/-33.9646411,151.1371965/-34.1456261,150.9936021/@-34.1430451,150.9982561,16z/data=!4m4!4m3!2m1!2b1!3e0 |title=President Avenue, Kogarah NSW 2217 to Princes Highway & A1 & M1 & Princes Motorway, New South Wales |work=Google Maps |date=2016 |access-date=11 October 2016 }}</ref> |- style="background:#e5d1cb;" | scope="row" | ''undesignated'' | scope="row" | Princes Highway (superseded route) | scope="row" | South of Waterfall | scope="row" | {{NSWcity|Maddens Plains}} | {{convert|20.9|km|mi|disp=table}} | {{convert|60.0|km|mi|disp=table}} | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/-34.1460886,150.9930716/-34.2989926,150.9149098/@-34.296735,150.9231499,16z/data=!4m4!4m3!2m1!2b1!3e0 |title=Princes Motorway & Princes Highway & M1 & A1, New South Wales to Princes Motorway & Princes Highway & M1 & Lookout Walking Track, Maddens Plains NSW 2508 |work=Google Maps |date=2016 |access-date=11 October 2016 }}</ref> |- style="background:#e5d1cb;" | scope="row" | {{AUshield|NSW|B65}} B65 | scope="row" | Princes Highway (superseded route) | scope="row" | Junction with Lawrence Hargrave Drive, {{NSWcity|Thirroul}} | scope="row" | Junction with Memorial Drive, {{NSWcity|Bulli}} | {{convert|2.9|km|mi|disp=table}} | {{convert|62.9|km|mi|disp=table}} | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/-34.3228414,150.913394/-34.3372786,150.9108175/@-34.3239059,150.9112008,18z/data=!4m4!4m3!2m1!2b1!3e0 |title=136 Princes Highway, Thirroul NSW 2515 to 310 Princes Highway, Bulli NSW 2516 |work=Google Maps |date=2016 |access-date=11 October 2016 }}</ref> |- style="background:#e5d1cb;" | scope="row" | ''undesignated'' | scope="row" | Princes Highway (superseded route) | scope="row" | Junction with Memorial Drive, Bulli | scope="row" | {{NSWcity|Oak Flats}} Interchange | {{convert|34.5|km|mi|disp=table}} | {{convert|97.4|km|mi|disp=table}} | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/-34.3366895,150.9117495/-34.5739327,150.8229529/@-34.4561724,150.7986947,11.95z/data=!4m31!4m30!1m25!3m4!1m2!1d150.90075!2d-34.3587244!3s0x6b131ee725d29bef:0xfee602d8c61d67f4!3m4!1m2!1d150.8944791!2d-34.3858175!3s0x6b131931eb9d713d:0x510500f73e0864c8!3m4!1m2!1d150.8925485!2d-34.4249319!3s0x6b1319a43bfcaae7:0x7e59449dd0aa8077!3m4!1m2!1d150.8541387!2d-34.444688!3s0x6b131a041b728bdd:0xe487130e8fb7ba3c!3m4!1m2!1d150.7981273!2d-34.4880617!3s0x6b1311b07d58618d:0x8827feb14da3c841!1m0!2m1!2b1!3e0 |title=Princes Highway, Bulli NSW 2516 to National Highway 1, Oak Flats NSW 2529 |work=Google Maps |date=2021 |access-date=10 October 2021 }}</ref> |- | scope="row" | {{AUshield|NSW|M1}} M1 | scope="row" | Princes Motorway | scope="row" | South of Waterfall | scope="row" | Oak Flats Interchange | {{convert|62.3|km|mi|disp=table}} | {{convert|101.4|km|mi|disp=table}} | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/-34.1456261,150.9936021/-34.5740006,150.8229167/@-34.3625908,150.7608831,11.1z/data=!4m4!4m3!2m1!2b1!3e0 |title=M1, Helensburgh NSW 2508 to Croome NSW 2527 |work=Google Maps |date=2021 |access-date=10 October 2021 }}</ref> |- | scope="row" | {{AUshield|NSW|A1}} A1 | scope="row" | Princes Highway | scope="row" | Oak Flats Interchange | scope="row" | Black-Allan Line<br>NSW/Victorian border | {{convert|415|km|mi|disp=table}} | {{convert|516.4|km|mi|disp=table}} | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/-34.5739995,150.8229101/-37.3889571,149.677813/@-35.9794149,149.5466915,8.42z/data=!4m4!4m3!2m1!2b1!3e0 |title=M1, Croome NSW 2527 to Border Firetrail, New South Wales |work=Google Maps |date=2021 |access-date=10 October 2021 }}</ref> |- | scope="row" | {{AUshield|VIC|A1}} A1 | scope="row" | Princes Highway | scope="row" | Victorian/NSW border | scope="row" | {{VICcity|Traralgon}} | | | | | |- | scope="row" | {{AUshield|VIC|M1}} M1 | scope="row" | Princes Freeway * | scope="row" | Traralgon | scope="row" | Narre Warren | | | | | |- style="background:#e5d1cb;" | scope="row" | {{AUshield|VIC|C101}} C101 | scope="row" | Princes Highway (superseded route, Pakenham) | scope="row" | Nar Nar Goon | scope="row" | Narre Warren<br>{{small|with 'brief old-freeway', link highway at Beaconsfield}} | | | | | |- style="background:#e5d1cb;" | scope="row" | {{AUshield|R|ALT1}} Alternate National Route 1 | scope="row" | Princes Highway | scope="row" | Narre Warren | scope="row" | Southbank (at West Gate Freeway east terminus) | | | | | |- style="background:#e5d1cb;" | scope="row" | {{AUshield|S|60}} Metro Route 60 | scope="row" | Kings Way<br>King Street | scope="row" | Southbank | scope="row" | West Melbourne (Victoria Street) | | | | | |- style="background:#e5d1cb;" | scope="row" | {{AUshield|S|60}} Metro Route 60 | scope="row" | Curzon Street<br>Harker Street | scope="row" | West Melbourne | scope="row" | Parkville (near North Melbourne) | | | | | |- style="background:#e5d1cb;" | scope="row" | {{AUshield|S|60}} Metro Route 60 | scope="row" | Flemington Road | scope="row" | Parkville (near North Melbourne) | scope="row" | Parkville (near CityLink (west)) | | | | | |- style="background:#e5d1cb;" | scope="row" | {{AUshield|S|83}} Metro Route 83 | scope="row" | Geelong Road (Princes Highway) | scope="row" | Parkville | scope="row" | Laverton North | | | | | |- | scope="row" | {{AUshield|VIC|M1}} M1 | scope="row" | Princes Freeway<br>(Maltby Bypass Geelong Ring Road) * | scope="row" | Laverton North | scope="row" | Geelong (Mount Moriac) | | | | | |- style="background:#e5d1cb;" | scope="row" | {{AUshield|VIC|C109}} C109 | scope="row" | Princes Highway (superseded route, Werribee) | scope="row" | Werribee (near Point Cook and Hoppers Crossing) {{small|near Old Geelong Road}} | scope="row" | Werribee (near Cocoroc) | | | | | |- style="background:#e5d1cb;" | scope="row" | {{AUshield|VIC|A10}} A10 | scope="row" | Princes Highway (superseded route, Geelong)<br>Latrobe Terrace<br>Settlement Road<br>Colac Road | scope="row" | Corio (near Avalon) | scope="row" | Waurn Ponds<br> {{small|(near Town centre, former West alignment now Waurn Ponds Drive but ''closed'' at freeway far-west terminus)}} | | | | | |- | scope="row" | {{AUshield|VIC|M1}} M1 | scope="row" | Princes Highway | scope="row" | Geelong (Mount Moriac) | scope="row" | Colac (Colac East) | | | | | |- | scope="row" | {{AUshield|VIC|A1}} A1 | scope="row" | Princes Highway | scope="row" | Colac (Colac East) | scope="row" | Victorian/South Australian border | | | | | |- | scope="row" | {{AUshield|SA|A1}} A1 | scope="row" | Princes Highway | scope="row" | South Australian/Victorian border | scope="row" | {{SAcity|Mount Gambier}} | | | | | |- | scope="row" | {{AUshield|SA|B1}} B1 | scope="row" | Princes Highway | scope="row" | Mount Gambier | scope="row" | {{SAcity|Tailem Bend}} | | | | | |- style="background:#e5d1cb;" | scope="row" | {{AUshield|SA|B101}} B101<br>{{small|(former alt route)}} | scope="row" | Southern Ports Highway | scope="row" | Millicent | scope="row" | Kingston SE | | | | | |- | scope="row" | {{AUshield|SA|A1}} A1 | scope="row" | Princes Highway | scope="row" | Tailem Bend | scope="row" | Murray Bridge | | | | | |- | scope="row" | {{AUshield|SA|M1}} M1 | scope="row" | South Eastern Freeway/Princes Highway | scope="row" | Murray Bridge | scope="row" | Glen Osmond | | | | | |- style="background:#e5d1cb;" | scope="row" | {{AUshield|SA|B55}} B55<br>{{small|(borrowed) (White Hill – Murray Bridge East)}}<br>''undesignated''<br>{{small|(Murray Bridge East – Long Flat)}} | scope="row" | Adelaide Road/Bridge Street/Old Princes Highway (Karoonda Highway)<br>Old Princes Highway (Murray Bridge) | scope="row" | Long Flat | scope="row" | White Hill | | | | | |- style="background:#e5d1cb;" | scope="row" | ''undesignated'' | scope="row" | Old Princes Highway (Nairne, Kanmantoo, Callington (north), Monarto) | scope="row" | White Hill | scope="row" | Littlehampton<br>Mount Barker | | | | | |} {{small|*The gap between the two stages of Princes Freeway are taken up by either a series of unrelatedly named motorways (Monash Freeway, CityLink and West Gate Freeway) or largely by Princes Highway.}}

====Former routes==== Within New South Wales, Princes Highway formerly entered Wollongong as State Route 60 down the Bulli Pass and ran a largely separate route from {{NSWcity|Bulli}} and {{NSWcity|Thirroul}} through to the southern suburbs from the parallel Princes Motorway, the latter of which today is designated part of route M1.<ref>{{Citation |url=http://imagery.maps.nsw.gov.au/ |title=Spatial Information Exchange |publisher=New South Wales Land and Property Information |access-date=8 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080525224555/http://imagery.maps.nsw.gov.au/ |archive-date=25 May 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The gazetted route of Princes Highway today differs from the route of State Route 60 (and from that shown on road signs).<ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/doingbusinesswithus/downloads/lgr/reg_table_for_internet_31jan11.pdf |title=Schedule of Classified Roads and State & Regional Roads |publisher=Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales | access-date = 8 September 2011 | date = 31 January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.gazette.nsw.gov.au/pdfs/2002/25th_October.pdf |title=Roads and Traffic Authority |work=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |publisher=Government of New South Wales |date=25 October 2002 |access-date=8 September 2011 |page=9185 |volume=189}}</ref> The gazetted route was designated State Route 60 (now part of route B65, Memorial Drive) for its length, but deviated from the road that is signposted as Princes Highway between {{NSWcity|Bellambi}} and {{NSWcity|North Wollongong}}.

== Major intersections == === New South Wales === {{AUSinttop|noLGA=yes}} {{NSWint |location=Dapto |km= |type=trans |road={{AUshield|NSW|M1}} Princes Motorway – Wollongong, Sydney |notes= }} {{NSWint |location=Shellharbour |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|NSW|B65}} Shellharbour Road – Shell Cove, Shellharbour Village, Killalea Regional Park }} {{NSWint |location=Bomaderry |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|T|7}}{{AUshield|T|8}}{{AUshield|NSW|B73}} Moss Vale Rd |notes= }} {{NSWint |location=Batemans Bay |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|NSW|B52}} Kings Highway – Braidwood, Canberra |notes= }} {{NSWint |location=Bega |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|NSW|B72}} Snowy Mountains Highway – Cooma, Canberra |notes= }} {{NSWint |location= |km= |type= |road= ''New South Wales – Victoria state border'' |notes= }} |}

=== Victoria === ==== NSW Border – Morwell ==== {{AUSinttop|noLGA=yes}} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Genoa |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C617}} Mallacoota–Genoa Road - Mallacoota |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Cann River |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|B23}} Monaro Highway (B23) – Canberra |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Club Terrace |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C616}} Combienbar Road |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Orbost |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C107}} Cabbage Tree–Road |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Orbost |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C612}} Lochiel Street |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Nowa Nowa |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C620}} Bruthen–Nowa Nowa Road |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Swan Reach |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C606}} Metung Road |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Swan Reach |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C605}} Swan Reach Road |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Lucknow |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|B500}} Great Alpine Road |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Bairnsdale |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C604}} Paynesville Road |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Bairnsdale |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C603}} Service Street |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Bairnsdale |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C601}} Bairnsdale–Dargo Road |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Bairnsdale |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C106}} Bengworden Road |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Lindenow south |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C602}} Lindenow South Road |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Stratford |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C495}} Stratford–Bengworden Road |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Stratford |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C494}} Briagolong Road |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Stratford |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C105}} Stratford–Maffra Road |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Myrtlebank |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C106}} Bengworden Road |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Sale |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C492}} Maffra–Sale Road |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Sale |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C498}} Raglan Street |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Sale |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|A440}} South Gippsland Highway |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Sale |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C491}} Sale–Heyfield Road |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Rosedale |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C487}} Maffra–Rosedale Road |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Rosedale |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C488}} Rosedale–Heyfield Road |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Rosedale |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C485}} Lyons Street |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Traralgon |km= |type=trans |road={{AUshield|VIC|M1}} Princes Freeway (M1) – Melbourne |notes=Continues west as the Princes Freeway }} |}

==== Geelong – SA Border ==== {{AUSinttop|noLGA=yes}} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Geelong |km= |type=trans |road={{AUshield|VIC|M1}} Geelong Ring Road (M1) – Melbourne |notes=Continues east as the Geelong Ring Road }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location= Mount Moriac |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C135}} Cape Otway Road (C135 south)<br> - Ceres, Bannockburn {{AUshield|VIC|C111}} Devon Road (C111 north) - Moriac, Torquay |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Winchelsea |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C145}} Inverleigh–Winchelsea Road (C145) - Inverleigh |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Winchelsea |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C151}} Winchelsea–Deans Marsh Road (C151) - Lorne |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Birregurra |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C119}} Birregurra Road (C119) - Birregurra |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC=Warncoort |location= |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C152}} Warncoort–Birregurra Road (C152) - Birregurra, Lorne, Apollo Bay |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Colac east |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C146}} Colac–Ballarat Road (C146) - Ballarat |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Colac |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C154}} Queen Street (C154) - Apollo Bay |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Colac |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C155}} Corangamite Street (C155) - Lavers Hill |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Colac West |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C147}} Corangamite Lake Road (C147) - Beeac, Ballarat |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Pirron Yallock |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C163}} Timboon–Colac Road (C163) - Simpson, Timboon |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Stonyford |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C149}} Cobden–Stonyford Road (C149) - Cobden |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Camperdown |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C164}} Camperdown–Cobden Road (C164)<br> Cobden, Timboon, Port Campbell{{AUshield|C|164|C|165}} Camperdown–Lismore Road (C164/C165) - Lismore, Beaufort, Ballarat |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Gnotuk |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C173}} Darlington–Camperdown Road (C173) - Darlington |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Noorat East |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C158}} Mackinnons Bridge Road (C158) |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Terang |km= |type=concur |road={{AUshield|VIC|C156}} Terang–Mortlake Road (C156) - Mortlake, Ararat, Hamilton |notes= |nspan=2 }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Terang |km= |type=concur |road={{AUshield|VIC|C156}} Cobden–Terang Road (C156) - Cobden |notes=none }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Terang |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C168}} Ayresford Road (C168) - Peterborough, Timboon |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Allansford |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|B100}} Great Ocean Road (B100) - Peterborough, Port Campbell, Apollo Bay, Torquay |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Warrnambool |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|B120}} Hopkins Highway (B120) - Mortlake, Ararat |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Warrnambool |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C174}} Caramut Road (C174) - Caramut |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Illowa |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C177}} Southern Cross Road (C177) - Koroit, Hamilton |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Killarney |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C179}} Koroit–Port Fairy Road (C179) - Koroit |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Killarney |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C178}} Penshurst–Port Fairy Road (C178) - Penshurst, Dunkeld, Stawell |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Port Fairy |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C184}} Hamilton–Port Fairy Road (C184) - Hamilton |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Tyrendarra |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C191}} Tyrendarra–Ettrick Road (C191) - Condah, Coleraine |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Bolwarra |km= |type=concur |road={{AUshield|VIC|A200}} Henty Highway (A200 south){{VICcity|p=on|Portland}} |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Heywood |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C176}} Woolsthorpe–Heywood Road (C176) - Woolsthorpe |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Heywood |km= |type=concur |road={{AUshield|VIC|A200}} Henty Highway (A200 north) - Hamilton, Horsham, Warracknabeal, Mildura |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Drumborg |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C195}} Portland–Casterton Road (C195) - Casterton |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location=Dartmoor |km= |type= |road={{AUshield|VIC|C187}} Dartmoor–Hamilton Road (C187) - Hamilton |notes= }} {{VICint |LGAC= |location= |km= |type= |road=''South Australia – Victoria state border'' |notes= }} |}

=== South Australia (VIC Border – Adelaide) === {{AUSinttop|noLGA=yes}} {{SAint |LGAC= |location= |km= |type=trans |road={{AUshield|SA|A1}} Princes Highway (A1) – Adelaide |notes= }} |}

== See also == {{stack|{{Portal|Australian Roads|New South Wales|Australia|South Australia}}}} * Highway 1 (Australia) * Highway 1 (South Australia) * Highways in Australia * Highways in Victoria * List of highways in New South Wales * List of highways in South Australia *Princes Freeway

== References == {{reflist|30em}}

== External links == {{Commons category}} * [http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/trafficreports/southsydcameras/princes_blakehurst.html RTA Webcam Suburban Sydney] *[https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au VicRoads (Victorian road departmen)] {{Road infrastructure in Adelaide}} {{Streets of Sydney Australia}} {{Road infrastructure in Sydney}} {{Road infrastructure in New South Wales}} {{Road infrastructure in Melbourne}} {{Road infrastructure in South Australia}} {{Road infrastructure in Victoria}} {{Illawarra region topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Princes Highway}} Category:Highways and freeways in Melbourne Category:Highways in New South Wales Category:Highways in South Australia Category:Highways in Victoria (state) Category:Streets in Sydney Category:Transport in Geelong Category:Highway 1 (Australia) Category:City of Shellharbour Category:Georges River Council Category:Bayside Council Category:Transport in Barwon South West (region)