View source for Princes Freeway

{{Short description|Freeway in Victoria, Australia}}
{{About|the freeway in Victoria|the motorway in Sydney|Princes Motorway|the freeway as a whole (except as stated below)|Princes Highway|other uses|Princes Highway (disambiguation)}}
{{About|the actual freeway that serves the respective parts of Victoria and not in between|the freeway that serves southeastern Melbourne|Monash Freeway|the freeway east of the western section|West Gate Freeway}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox Australian road 
| type         = freeway
| road_name    = Princes Freeway
| state        = vic
| image        = Princes-freeway-lara-victoria.jpg
| caption      = Princes Freeway at [[Lara, Victoria|Lara]]
| length       = 159
| length_ref   = <ref name="gmaps-west">{{google maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/-38.0545923,144.3939871/-37.8277191,144.8171313/@-37.9483176,144.5250597,11.85z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0?hl=en |title=Princes Freeway (west) |access-date=6 June 2022}}</ref><ref name="gmaps-eas">{{google maps |url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/-38.028116,145.3210747/-38.2265894,146.4627595/@-38.1455467,145.6930083,10.68z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0 |title=Princes Freeway (east) |access-date=6 June 2022}}</ref>
| est          = 
| route        = {{AUshield|VIC|M1}} {{small|(1997–present)}}
| former       = {{AUshield|NR|1}} National Route 1 {{small|(1955–1997)}}
| tourist      = {{AUshield|T|21}} Tourist Route 21<br />{{small|(Corio–Altona North)}}
| split        = yes
| section1      = Princes Freeway (West)
| direction_a1  = SW
| direction_b1  = NE
| end_a1        = {{AUshield|VIC|M1}} '''[[Geelong Ring Road]]'''<br />{{small|[[Corio, Victoria|Corio, Geelong]]}}
| end_b1        = {{AUshield|VIC|M1}} '''[[West Gate Freeway]]'''<br />{{small|[[Laverton North, Victoria|Laverton North, Melbourne]]}}
| exits1       = {{plainlist|
*{{AUshield|VIC|A10|T|21}} [[Old Princes Highway, Victoria|Princes Highway]]
*{{AUshield|VIC|C115}} Shell Parade
*{{AUshield|VIC|C109}} [[Old Princes Highway, Victoria|Geelong Road]]
*{{AUshield|VIC|C108|T|11}} Duncans Road
*{{AUshield|VIC|C109}} [[Old Princes Highway, Victoria|Princes Highway]]
*{{AUshield|VIC|C701}} Old Geelong Road
*{{AUshield|VIC|A93}} Forsyth Road
*{{AUshield|VIC|A91|VIC|B91}} Palmers Road
*{{AUshield|S|41}} Central Avenue
*{{AUshield|VIC|B77}} Old Geelong Road
*{{AUshield|S|35}} Kororoit Creek Road
*{{AUshield|VIC|M80|T|21}} [[Western Ring Road]]
*{{AUshield|S|83}} [[Old Princes Highway, Victoria|Geelong Road]]
}}
| section2      = Princes Freeway (East)
| direction_a2  = West
| direction_b2  = East
| end_a2        = {{AUshield|VIC|M1}} '''[[Monash Freeway]]'''<br />{{small|[[Narre Warren, Victoria|Narre Warren, Melbourne]]}}
| end_b2        = {{AUshield|VIC|M1}} '''[[Princes Highway]]'''<br />{{small|[[Morwell, Victoria]]}}
| exits2       = {{plainlist|
*{{AUshield|R|ALT1|C|101}} [[Old Princes Highway, Victoria|Princes Highway]]
*{{AUshield|VIC|C407}} Clyde Road
*{{AUshield|A|17|B|668}} O'Shea Road
*{{AUshield|VIC|C417}} Cardinia Road
*{{AUshield|VIC|M420|VIC|C422}} Koo Wee Rup Road
*{{AUshield|VIC|C433}} Nar Nar Goon Connection Road
*{{AUshield|VIC|C421}} Sand Road
*{{AUshield|VIC|C102}} [[Old Princes Highway, Victoria|Princes Way]]
*{{AUshield|VIC|C104}} [[Old Princes Highway, Victoria|Princes Drive]]
*{{AUshield|VIC|B460}} [[Strzelecki Highway]]
}}
| show_links   = yes
| through      = {{VICcity|Geelong|Little River|Werribee|Laverton}}, {{VICcity|Drouin|Warragul|Moe|Morwell}}
}}

'''Princes Freeway ''' is a {{convert|159|km|adj=on}} [[Australia|Australian]] [[freeway]], divided into two sections, both located in [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]], Australia. The freeway links [[Melbourne]] to [[Geelong]] in the west, and to [[Morwell, Victoria|Morwell]] in the east. It continues beyond these extremities as the [[Princes Highway]] towards [[Adelaide]] to the west and [[Sydney]] to the northeast. The freeway bears the designation M1.

The western section linking Geelong and Melbourne is an important commuter, freight and tourism route between the two cities; the eastern section links Melbourne with the [[Latrobe Valley]] and major business suburbs, namely Dandenong and Berwick. The entire freeway is one of the busiest sections of rural highway in Victoria, used by large numbers of freight and commercial vehicles and provides access to tourist attractions in central and east [[Gippsland]]. It supports Victoria's rural industries and tourism.

==Route==
The western section (also known as Princes Freeway West or Geelong Road) starts at [[Corio, Victoria|Corio]], in the northern suburbs of [[Geelong]] and heads north-east as a six-lane dual-carriageway freeway, widening to eight lanes east of Werribee, and ends at the West Gate Interchange in [[Laverton North, Victoria|Laverton]], where the [[Western Ring Road]] and the old Geelong Road can be accessed by off-ramps. This section ranges from six lanes (three in each direction) between Geelong and [[Werribee, Victoria|Werribee]], to ten lanes near the [[Western Ring Road|Ring Road]] interchange.  Between 1999 and 2003 the section from Hoppers Crossing to Geelong was progressively widened to provide a third lane in each direction, in addition to a number of other safety upgrades being completed. Following this upgrade the speed limit was lowered from {{convert|110|km/h}} to {{convert|100|km/h}} in response to the freeway's poor safety record.

The eastern section (also known as Princes Freeway East) starts from [[Narre Warren, Victoria|Narre Warren]], as a six-lane dual-carriageway freeway, narrowing to four lanes just west of Pakenham. There are also several highway-standard at-grade intersections, most notably between [[Nar Nar Goon, Victoria|Nar Nar Goon]] and [[Longwarry, Victoria|Longwarry]]. These intersections are speed limited to {{convert|100|km/h}}, with the only {{convert|110|km/h}} section on the freeway from [[Longwarry, Victoria|Longwarry]] to [[Morwell, Victoria|Morwell]]. However, traffic still travels through the towns of [[Yarragon, Victoria|Yarragon]] and [[Trafalgar, Victoria|Trafalgar]], therefore urban speed limits apply to these towns (between {{convert|60|and|80|km/h}}) where the road reverts to the Princes Highway (though planning for bypasses of these towns are underway).

The western and eastern sections are connected together through the Melbourne suburbs by [[West Gate Freeway]], [[CityLink]] tollway and [[Monash Freeway]]. These five sections of road together constitute the route '''[[M1 (Australia)|M1]]''' through Melbourne, which is part of National [[Highway 1 (Australia)|Highway 1]].

On the urban section of Princes Freeway (between [[Laverton North]] and [[Werribee]]), the standard travel time is 9 minutes: 6 minutes between the [[Western Ring Road]] and Forsyth Road, and 3 minutes between Forsyth Road and Duncans Road. The usual peak period travel time is between 12 and 18 minutes; however, in times of extreme congestion or traffic accidents, the travel time can well exceed 20 minutes.

==History==
The Maltby Bypass was Victoria's first freeway which opened on 16 June 1961, and was the first section of Princes Freeway to open.<ref name="CRB68AR">{{cite news |url=https://vgls.sdp.sirsidynix.net.au/client/search/asset/1286206 |title=Country Roads Board Victoria. Sixty-Eighth Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1981 |newspaper=Country Roads Board of Victoria |location=Melbourne |date=30 September 1981 |page=11 |publisher=Victorian Government Library Service}}</ref>

Both sections of Princes Freeway were signed National Route 1, either inheriting it when converted from older sections of [[Princes Highway]], or assigned when newly constructed to bypass a section of it. With Victoria's conversion to the newer alphanumeric system in the late 1990s, the freeway's National Route 1 designation began conversion to M1 in late 1996, and was completed in 1997.<ref name="VR97AR">{{cite news |url=https://vgls.sdp.sirsidynix.net.au/client/search/asset/1292553 |title=VicRoads Annual Report 1996-97 |newspaper=[[VicRoads]] |location=Melbourne |date=27 August 1997 |pages=13–4, 24 |publisher=Victorian Government Library Service}}</ref> Former bypassed sections of Princes Highway are generally signed as Metropolitan Route 83 or route C109 (western section), Alternative National Route 1 or designated successive routes from C101 to C104 (eastern section).

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> granted the responsibility of overall management and development of Victoria's major arterial roads to VicRoads: in 2012, VicRoads re-declared the western section as '''Princes Freeway West''' (Freeway #1500) from [[Old Princes Highway, Victoria|Corio-Waurn Ponds Road]] in [[Highton, Victoria|Highton]] to Little Boundary Road at [[Laverton North, Victoria|Laverton North]] (this definition includes [[Geelong Ring Road]],<ref name="vicreg-pfw">{{cite web |author=VicRoads |title=VicRoads – Register of Public Roads (Part A) 2015 |url=https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/-/media/files/documents/utilities/about-vr/acts-and-regulations/register-of-public-roads---part-a-v-2015.ashx?la=en&hash=116BE6FB86F506FF0B5BAFBEA45FCD6C |format=PDF |publisher=Government of Victoria |pages=21–3 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501042521/https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/-/media/files/documents/utilities/about-vr/acts-and-regulations/register-of-public-roads---part-a-v-2015.ashx?la=en&hash=116BE6FB86F506FF0B5BAFBEA45FCD6C |archivedate=1 May 2020 |url-status=live |access-date=19 October 2021 }}</ref> and in 2007, VicRoads re-declared the eastern section as '''Princes Freeway East''' (Freeway #1510) from Monash Freeway at [[Narre Warren, Victoria|Narre Warren]] to the eastern end of [[Old Princes Highway, Victoria|Princes Drive]] in [[Morwell, Victoria|Morwell]] (minus the highway section between [[Yarragon, Victoria|Yarragon]] and [[Trafalgar, Victoria|Trafalgar]]).<ref name="vicreg-pfe">{{cite web |author=VicRoads |title=VicRoads – Register of Public Roads (Part A) 2015 |url=https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/-/media/files/documents/utilities/about-vr/acts-and-regulations/register-of-public-roads---part-a-v-2015.ashx?la=en&hash=116BE6FB86F506FF0B5BAFBEA45FCD6C |format=PDF |publisher=Government of Victoria |pages=24–7 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501042521/https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/-/media/files/documents/utilities/about-vr/acts-and-regulations/register-of-public-roads---part-a-v-2015.ashx?la=en&hash=116BE6FB86F506FF0B5BAFBEA45FCD6C |archivedate=1 May 2020 |url-status=live |access-date=19 October 2021 }}</ref> VicRoads also classifies a 5km<ref name="gmaps-pfo">{{google maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/-37.7357621,148.4313822/-37.7066338,148.4686122/@-37.7190798,148.441294,14.02z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0?hl=en |title=Princes Freeway (Orbost) |access-date=6 June 2022}}</ref> stretch of road between [[Newmerella, Victoria|Newmerella]] and [[Orbost, Victoria|Orbost]] as part of Princes Freeway East, despite being a two-lane, single-carriageway road and signed as Princes Highway.<ref name="vicreg-pfe" />

In March 2010 it was announced by the State Government that trucks would be banned from the right-hand lane along a {{convert|38|km|adj=on}} section of freeway between Geelong and Melbourne. Suggestions of a ban began in 2005 but increased after the fatal 2007 [[Burnley Tunnel]] fire that killed three people.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/trucks-banned-from-freeway-lane-20100303-pj0j.html |title=Trucks banned from freeway lane |work=[[The Age]] |author=Lucas, Clay |date=4 March 2010|access-date=19 July 2010 }}</ref> The ban was put into place from 1 July 2010 between Kororoit Creek Road, Altona, and Avalon Road, Lara and covers all heavy vehicles weighing more than {{convert|4.5|t}}, except buses and caravans.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/TrafficAndRoadConditions/HowWeManageTraffic/TruckLaneRestrictions.htm |title=Truck lane restrictions : VicRoads |publisher=vicroads.vic.gov.au |access-date=19 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226130034/http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/TrafficAndRoadConditions/HowWeManageTraffic/TruckLaneRestrictions.htm |archive-date=26 February 2011}}</ref> A fine of $358 applies to those breaking the rules, the ban being a trial before a full roll-out on the other major roads in the state.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2010/06/17/183261_news.html |title=Princes Freeway truckies in right, will be in wrong |author=Craven, Jessica |date=17 June 2010 |work=Geelong Advertiser |access-date=19 July 2010 }}</ref>

==Exits and interchanges==
The road is divided in two distinct sections that do not meet, but are connected by [[West Gate Freeway]], [[CityLink]] and [[Monash Freeway]]; the western section is {{convert|46|km}}<ref name="gmaps-west" /> long, while the eastern section is {{convert|113|km}}<ref name="gmaps-eas" /> long.

===Western section===
{{AUSinttop|exit|location_ref=<ref name="gmaps-west" /><ref name="vicreg-pfw" />|length_ref=<ref name="gmaps-west" />|exit_ref=<ref name="exits">As signposted</ref>}}
{{VICint|exit
|LGAC=Hobsons Bay
|LGAspan=9
|location=Laverton North
|lspan=3
|km=0
|uspan=3
|type=trans
|exit=
|road={{AUshield|VIC|M1}} [[West Gate Freeway]] (M1){{VICcity|p=on|Melbourne}}
|notes=Northeastern terminus of freeway, continues east as [[West Gate Freeway]]
}}
{{VICint|exit
|km=none
|exit=W9
|road={{AUshield|S|83}} [[Old Princes Highway, Victoria|Geelong Road]] (Metro Route 83){{VICcity|p=on|Brooklyn|Footscray|Melbourne}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|km=none
|type=concur
|exit=W10
|road={{AUshield|VIC|M80|T|21|+|airport}} [[Western Ring Road]] (M80/Tourist Route 21){{VICcity|p=on|Ardeer|Fawkner|Greensborough}}, [[Melbourne Airport]]
|notes=Eastern terminus of concurrency; Tourist Route 21 continues north along [[Western Ring Road]]
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location=Laverton
|lspan=2
|type=incomplete
|km=3
|exit=11
|road={{AUshield|SR|35}} Kororoit Creek Road (Metro Route 35){{VICcity|p=on|Williamstown|Tarneit}}
|notes=North-eastbound exit to Kororoit Creek Road eastbound only
}}
{{VICint|exit
|type=incomplete
|km=4
|exit=12
|road={{AUshield|VIC|B77}} Old Geelong Road (B77){{VICcity|p=on|Laverton|Deer Park}}
|notes=North-eastbound exit only
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location=Altona Meadows
|lspan=2
|type=incomplete
|km=5.8
|exit=13
|road=Newland Street{{VICcity|p=on|Altona Meadows|Laverton}} 
|notes=South-westbound exit and entrance only
}}
{{VICint|exit
|type=incomplete
|km=6
|exit=13
|road=High Street{{VICcity|p=on|Altona Meadows|Laverton}} 
|notes=North-eastbound exit and entrance only
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location=Seabrook
|lspan=2
|km=7.2
|exit=14
|road=Aviation Road (south){{VICcity|p=on|Point Cook|Laverton}}<br />{{AUshield|SR|41}} Central Avenue (Metro Route 41 east){{VICcity|p=on|Laverton|Altona Meadows}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|type=incomplete
|km=8.2
|exit=15
|road={{AUshield|VIC|A91|VIC|B91}} Palmers Road (A91 north/B91 south){{VICcity|p=on|Seabrook|Point Cook}}
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance only
}}
{{VICint|exit
|LGAC=Wyndham
|LGAspan=7
|location=Point Cook
|lspan=3
|km=9.3
|exit=16
|road={{AUshield|VIC|A93}} Forsyth Road (A93 north){{VICcity|p=on|Truganina}}<br />Boardwalk Boulevard (south){{VICcity|p=on|Point Cook}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|type=incomplete
|km=11.4
|exit=17
|road={{AUshield|VIC|C109}} [[Old Princes Highway, Victoria|Princes Highway]] (C109 west){{VICcity|p=on|Werribee}}<br>{{AUshield|VIC|C701}} Old Geelong Road (C701 north){{VICcity|p=on|Hoppers Crossing}}
|notes=Westbound exit, eastbound entrance and exit only
}}
{{VICint|exit
|km=13.7
|exit=18
|road=Sneydes Road{{VICcity|p=on|Werribee|Hoppers Crossing}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location=Werribee South
|km=16.4
|exit=19
|road={{AUshield|VIC|C108|T|11}} Duncans Road (C108/Tourist Route 11 north-west, south-east){{VICcity|p=on|Werribee South|Werribee}}<br />{{AUshield|T|11}} K Road (Tourist Route 11 south) – [[Werribee Open Range Zoo]] 
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location=Cocoroc
|km=21
|exit=
|road={{AUshield|VIC|C109}} [[Old Princes Highway, Victoria|Geelong Road]] (C109 north){{VICcity|p=on|Werribee}}<br>William Thwaites Drive (east){{VICcity|p=on|Cocoroc}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location=Little River
|lspan=2
|km=29
|exit=
|road=Little River Road (west){{VICcity|p=on|Little River}}<br />160 South Road (east){{VICcity|p=on|Cocoroc}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|km=31.6
|type=incomplete
|exit=
|road=Point Wilson Road{{VICcity|p=on|Point Wilson}}
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance only
}}
{{VICint|exit
|LGAC=Greater Geelong
|LGAspan=5
|location=Lara
|lspan=5
|km=38.5
|exit=
|road={{AUshield|+|airport}} Beach Road{{VICcity|p=on|Point Wilson}}, [[Avalon Airport]]
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|km=42.2
|exit=
|road=Avalon Road{{VICcity|p=on|Lara|Avalon}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|km=45.8
|uspan=3
|type=incomplete
|exit=
|road={{AUshield|VIC|C115}} Shell Parade (C115){{VICcity|p=on|North Shore}}
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance only
}}
{{VICint|exit
|km=none
|type=concur
|exit=
|road={{AUshield|VIC|A10|T|21}} [[Old Princes Highway, Victoria|Corio-Waurn Ponds Road]]{{VICcity|p=on|North Geelong}}, [[Geelong city centre|Geelong City Centre]], {{VICcity|Queenscliff}}
|notes=Western terminus of concurrency; Tourist Route 21 continues southwest along [[Old Princes Highway, Victoria|Corio-Waurn Ponds Road]]
}}
{{VICint|exit
|km=none
|type=trans
|exit=
|road={{AUshield|VIC|M1}} [[Geelong Ring Road]] (M1){{VICcity|p=on|Colac|Warrnambool}}, {{SAcity|Mount Gambier|Adelaide}}, to {{AUshield|VIC|B100}} [[Great Ocean Road]]
|notes=Southwestern terminus of freeway, continues west as [[Geelong Ring Road]]
}}
{{jctbtm|keys=concur,incomplete,trans|exit}}

===Eastern section===
{{AUSinttop|exit|location_ref=<ref name="gmaps-eas" /><ref name="vicreg-pfe" />|length_ref=<ref name="gmaps-eas" />|exit_ref=<ref name="exits" />}}
{{VICint|exit
|LGAC=Latrobe
|LGAspan=10
|location=Morwell
|lspan=7
|type=trans
|km=0
|exit=
|uspan=2
|road={{AUshield|VIC|M1}} [[Princes Highway#Victoria|Princes Highway]] (M1){{VICcity|p=on|Traralgon|Sale|Bairnsdale|Orbost}}, to [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]]
|notes=Eastern terminus of freeway, continues east as [[Princes Highway#Victoria|Princes Highway]]
}}
{{VICint|exit
|type=incomplete
|km=none
|exit=
|road={{AUshield|VIC|C104}} [[Old Princes Highway, Victoria|Princes Drive]] (C104){{VICcity|p=on|Morwell}}
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance only
}}
{{VICint|exit
|type=incomplete
|km=2.9
|exit=
|road={{AUshield|VIC|C474}} Tramway Road (C474){{VICcity|p=on|Morwell|Churchill}}
|notes=Westbound entrance and eastbound exit only
}}
{{VICint|exit
|km=3.8
|exit=
|road={{AUshield|VIC|C456}} Monash Way (C456){{VICcity|p=on|Morwell|Churchill}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|type=incomplete
|km=5.7
|exit=
|road={{AUshield|VIC|C475}} Commercial Road (C475){{VICcity|p=on|Morwell|Churchill}}
|notes=Westbound entrance; eastbound exit only
}}
{{VICint|exit
|km=8.5
|exit=
|road={{AUshield|VIC|B460}} Commercial Road ([[Strzelecki Highway]]) (B460){{VICcity|p=on|Morwell|Mirboo North|Leongatha}} 
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|type=incomplete
|km=9.8
|exit=
|road={{AUshield|VIC|C104}} Princes Drive (C104){{VICcity|p=on|Morwell}}
|notes=Westbound exit to the north only
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location_special=Hernes Oak
|km=14.4
|exit=
|road={{AUshield|VIC|C471}} Haunted Hills Road (C471){{VICcity|p=on|Yallourn North}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location=Newborough
|km=19.5
|exit=
|road=To {{AUshield|VIC|C103}} [[Old Princes Highway, Victoria|John Field Drive]] (C103){{VICcity|p=on|Moe|Newborough}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location=Moe
|km=23.9
|exit=
|road={{AUshield|VIC|C103}} [[Old Princes Highway, Victoria|Old Gippstown Drive]] (C103){{VICcity|p=on|Moe}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|LGA-S=Baw Baw
|LGAspan=9
|location=Trafalgar
|km=32
|exit=
|road={{AUshield|VIC|C463}} Willow Grove Road (C463 north){{VICcity|p=on|Willow Grove}}, [[Mount Baw Baw]]<br />{{AUshield|VIC|C469}} Trafalgar–Thorpdale Road (C469 south){{VICcity|p=on|Thorpdale}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location=Yarragon
|km=39.4
|exit=
|road=Yarragon–Shady Creek Road (north) – Shady Creek<br />Rollo Street (Yarragon–Leongatha Road) (south){{VICcity|p=on|Leongatha|Mirboo North}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location=Darnum
|km=45.6
|exit=
|road=East–West Road/Darnum–Shady Creek Road{{VICcity|p=on|Darnum}}, Cloverlea
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location=Nilma
|km=48.7
|exit=
|road={{AUshield|VIC|C102}} Queen Street ([[Old Princes Highway, Victoria|Princes Way]]) (C102 west){{VICcity|p=on|Warragul}}, to {{AUshield|VIC|C462}} Bloomfield Road (C462){{VICcity|p=on|Noojee}}<br />Nilma–Bona Vista Road (south) – Bona Vista
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location=Warragul
|lspan=2
|type=incomplete
|km=50.6
|exit=
|road=Alfred Street{{VICcity|p=on|Warragul}}
|notes=Eastbound entrance only
}}
{{VICint|exit
|km=52.2
|exit=
|road={{AUshield|VIC|C425}} Warragul–Korumburra Road (C425){{VICcity|p=on|Korumburra|Warragul}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location=Drouin
|lspan=2
|km=57.9
|exit=
|road={{AUshield|VIC|C102}} [[Old Princes Highway, Victoria|Princes Way]] (C102){{VICcity|p=on|Drouin}}
|notes=North-westbound exit via Balfour Road
}}
{{VICint|exit
|km=64.9
|exit=
|road={{AUshield|VIC|C102}} [[Old Princes Highway, Victoria|Princes Way]] (C102){{VICcity|p=on|Drouin}}, [[Mount Baw Baw]]
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location_special=Drouin West
|km=70.1
|exit=
|road={{AUshield|VIC|C421}} Sand Road (C421){{VICcity|p=on|Longwarry|Labertouche}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|LGA-S=Cardinia
|LGAspan=17
|location=Bunyip North
|km=73.1
|exit=
|road=Abeckett Road (south){{VICcity|p=on|Bunyip}}<br />Wimpole Road (north){{VICcity|p=on|Bunyip North}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location=Bunyip
|km=75.9
|exit=
|road=Tonimbuk Road{{VICcity|p=on|Tonimbuk|Bunyip}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location=Garfield
|lspan=4
|km=78.2
|exit=
|road=Martin Road{{VICcity|p=on|Garfield North}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|type=incomplete
|km=78.8
|exit=
|road=Jefferson Road{{VICcity|p=on|Garfield}}
|notes=Westbound entrance and exit only
}}
{{VICint|exit
|km=79.5
|exit=
|road=Garfield Road{{VICcity|p=on|Garfield}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|km=79.8
|exit=
|road=Garfield North Road{{VICcity|p=on|Garfield North}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location=Tynong North
|lspan=2
|km=81.2
|exit=
|road=Brew Road (east){{VICcity|p=on|Tynong North}} and [[Gumbuya Park]]
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|km=82
|exit=
|road=Brew Road (west){{VICcity|p=on|Tynong North}} and [[Gumbuya Park]]
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location=Tynong
|km=84.4
|exit=
|road=Tynong North Road (north){{VICcity|p=on|Tynong North}} and [[Bunyip State Park]]<br />Tynong Road (south){{VICcity|p=on|Tynong}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location=Nar Nar Goon
|km=89.6
|exit=
|road={{AUshield|VIC|C433}} Nar Nar Goon Connection Road (C433 south){{VICcity|p=on|Nar Nar Goon}}<br />{{AUshield|VIC|C101}} [[Princes Highway#Victoria|Princes Highway]] (C101 west){{VICcity|p=on|Pakenham}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location=Pakenham
|lspan=2
|km=96.4
|exit=31
|road={{AUshield|VIC|M420|VIC|C422}} Koo Wee Rup Road (M420 south/C422 north){{VICcity|p=on|Koo Wee Rup|Pakenham}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|type=
|km=98
|exit=30
|road='''C695''' McGregor Road (C695){{VICcity|p=on|Rythdale|Pakenham}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location=Officer
|lspan=4
|km=101.6
|exit=28
|road={{AUshield|VIC|C417}} Cardinia Road (C417 north, no shield south){{VICcity|p=on|Cardinia|Officer}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|type=incomplete
|km=104.1
|exit=27
|road=Officer South Road{{VICcity|p=on|Officer|Officer South}}
|notes=Westbound entrance and eastbound exit only
}}
{{VICint|exit
|type=incomplete
|km=105.3
|exit=26
|road=Westbound BP Service Centre
|notes=Westbound exit and entrance only 
}}
{{VICint|exit
|type=incomplete
|km=105.9
|exit=26
|road=Eastbound BP Service Centre
|notes=Eastbound exit and entrance only
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location=Beaconsfield
|type=
|km=107.6
|exit=25
|road={{AUshield|VIC|A17|VIC|B668}} O'Shea Road (A17/B668){{VICcity|p=on|Beaconsfield|Hampton Park}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|type=incomplete
|LGAC=Casey
|LGAspan=3
|location=Berwick
|km=110.8
|exit=24
|road={{AUshield|VIC|C407}} Clyde Road (C407){{VICcity|p=on|Berwick|Clyde|Cranbourne}}
|notes=Westbound entrance and eastbound exit only due to Clyde Road upgrade<ref>{{cite web |title=Clyde Road Upgrade |url=https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/roads/clyde-road-upgrade |website=Victoria’s Big Build |access-date=18 August 2025 |language=en |date=4 January 2024}}</ref>
}}
{{VICint|exit
|location=Narre Warren
|lspan=2
|km=113.4
|uspan=2
|exit=23
|road={{AUshield|R|ALT1|VIC|C101}} [[Old Princes Highway, Victoria|Princes Highway]] (Alt National Route 1 west/C101 east){{VICcity|p=on|Narre Warren|Berwick|Dandenong}}
|notes=
}}
{{VICint|exit
|km=none
|type=trans
|exit=
|road={{AUshield|VIC|M1|+|airport}} [[Monash Freeway]] (M1){{VICcity|p=on|Melbourne|Geelong}}, [[Melbourne Airport|Melbourne]] and [[Avalon Airport]]s
|notes=Western terminus of freeway, continues northwest as [[Monash Freeway]]
}}
{{jctbtm|keys=incomplete,trans|exit}}

== Recent upgrades ==
===Pakenham Bypass===
The Pakenham Bypass was the final missing link of a continuous freeway from Melbourne to Gippsland in the East of Victoria (excluding the single sets of traffic lights in the small rural towns of Yarragon and Trafalgar). Federal and State Governments jointly funded construction of the bypass at a cost of $242 million which commenced in April 2005 and was completed on 1 December 2007.<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.abigroup.com.au/art-template-project.asp?CID=76&AID=426
 |title       = Abigroup - Pakenham Bypass
 |access-date  = 26 July 2007
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://archive.today/20070811065447/http://www.abigroup.com.au/art-template-project.asp?CID=76&AID=426
 |archive-date = 11 August 2007
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref> The 24&nbsp;km freeway which runs from Beaconsfield to Nar Nar Goon bypasses the townships of Pakenham and Officer and provides an important link between Gippsland and Melbourne.<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/bc348d5912436a9cca256cfc0082d800/996d8371a5ddab67ca257058000e5761!OpenDocument
 |title       = DoI media release - 'COMMUNITY CELEBRATES AS FIRST SOD TURNED ON THE PAKENHAM BYPASS' - August&nbsp;5, 2005
 |access-date  = 26 July 2007
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927011523/http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/bc348d5912436a9cca256cfc0082d800/996d8371a5ddab67ca257058000e5761!OpenDocument
 |archive-date = 27 September 2007
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080726092720/http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/52504 Bypass eases town traffic]</ref><ref>[http://media-newswire.com/release_1058271.html Community celebrates the completion of the Pakenham bypass]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080818140855/http://www.senews.com.au/story/52150 All go for a bypass]</ref><ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/education-news/boom-times-ahead/2007/11/23/1195753313503.html Boom times ahead - The Age paper]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930155734/http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/RoadsAndProjects/RoadProjects/SouthEaternSuburbs/PakenhamBypassProject.htm Vicroads, Pakenham Bypass]</ref>

The new section of freeway also bypassed a small section of the original Princes Freeway at Beaconsfield, which remains as a connection between Princes Highway and the freeway known as the Princes Link Highway.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maps.roadprojects.vic.gov.au/monash-freeway-upgrade/oshea-road-upgrade/|title=Monash Freeway Upgrade - O'Shea Road|website=Victoria's Big Build|access-date=17 December 2022}}</ref> The interchange between Princes Link Highway and the freeway was reconfigured as part of the O'Shea Road extension project, and was completed in 2022.

===Geelong Ring Road===
{{main|Geelong Ring Road}}
The Federal and State Government announced the construction of a new bypass extending 23 kilometres along Geelong's western outskirts from the Princes Freeway in Corio to the Princes Highway in Waurn Ponds. Drivers using the Bypass between Corio and Waurn Ponds will avoid up to 29 sets of traffic lights, with a travel time at freeway speeds of less than 15 minutes compared with the current 25–60 minute trip through Geelong.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/newsroom/news_item_archive.asp?id=602 
 |title=' FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR GEELONG BYPASS AS FIRST AUSLINK FUNDING AGREEMENT SIGNED' - 27&nbsp;May 2005 
 |access-date=26 July 2007 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829101538/http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/newsroom/news_item_archive.asp?id=602 
 |archive-date=29 August 2007 
 |url-status=dead
}}</ref>

The Federal Government allocated $186 million in funding<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.ministers.dotars.gov.au/jl/releases/2007/july/l048_2007.htm 
 |title='AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT AGREEMENT FOR GEELONG BYPASS STAGE 3' - 18&nbsp;July 2007 
 |access-date=26 July 2007 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070902151715/http://www.ministers.dotars.gov.au/jl/releases/2007/july/l048_2007.htm 
 |archive-date=2 September 2007
}}</ref> with the State Government providing the remainder, giving a total of $380 million.<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/35504bc71d3adebcca256cfc0082c2b8/5a3ccad14b7eef29ca2572420080128f!OpenDocument
 |title       = DoI Media Release - 'PREMIER INSPECTS WORKS ON SECTION TWO OF GEELONG BYPASS ' - December&nbsp;12, 2006
 |access-date  = 26 July 2007
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927010628/http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/35504bc71d3adebcca256cfc0082c2b8/5a3ccad14b7eef29ca2572420080128f!OpenDocument
 |archive-date = 27 September 2007
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref> Construction works for Section 1, between Corio and Bell Post Hill commenced in February 2006. Contracts for Section 2, between Hamlyn Heights and Fyansford, commenced in September 2006 and construction of Section 3, between Fyansford and Waurn Ponds, commenced in November 2007. All 3 stages were scheduled for completion in June 2009.

===Duplication from Geelong to Winchelsea and Colac===
West of Geelong, duplication of the Princes Highway between Waurn Ponds and Winchelsea commenced in 2011 and was to be completed by late 2014, though opened in May 2016 after substantially being delayed. Construction for the Winchelsea - Colac section is now underway (which began in early 2016), with both the Victorian and Australian governments contributing $515 million for this project. Once completed around 2018 and beyond, it will be an M standard road.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/RoadProjects/RegionalVictoriaRoadProjects/PrincesHighwayGeelongToColac.htm |title=Princes Highway – Geelong to Colac : VicRoads |access-date=2014-02-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307150849/http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/RoadProjects/RegionalVictoriaRoadProjects/PrincesHighwayGeelongToColac.htm |archive-date=7 March 2014}}</ref>

==Current upgrades==
===Duplication from Traralgon to Sale===
Since 2010, the Princes Highway between Traralgon and Sale has progressively been duplicated and upgraded to rural freeway standard. Since 2016, the duplication has been done in three stages.

The ten sections of the duplication project now complete are:
* Traralgon East, between Traralgon–Maffra Road and Stammers Road; construction began in February 2010 and opened in late 2010
* Traralgon East, between Stammers Road and Minniedale Road; construction began in July 2013 and opened in February 2015
* Traralgon East, between Minniedale Road and Sheepwash Creek Road (Stage 1); construction began in December 2016 and opened in December 2018
* Flynn, between Sheepwash Creek Road and Flynn Creek Road (Stage 3); construction began in July 2021 and opened in July 2023
* Flynn to Rosedale, between Flynn Creek Road and Cricket Street; construction began in March 2014 and opened in November 2016 
* Rosedale to Nambrok (Stage 1), between Dennison Road and Nambrok Road; construction began in December 2013 and opened in April 2015
* Nambrok (Stage 2), between Nambrok Road and Maffra–Rosedale Road; construction began in February 2017 and opened in December 2018
* Fulham (Stage 2), from Sale–Cowwarr Road to Sale–Heyfield Road; construction began in mid 2016 and opened in December 2017
* Fulham to Wurruk (Stage 1), between Sale–Heyfield Road and Wurruk;
* Wurruk to Sale; opened in late 2012

The remaining section of Stage 3, which started construction in July 2021 and expected completion in 2024 is:
* Kilmany, between Maffra–Rosedale Road and Sale–Cowwarr Road (linking Nambrok Stage 2 to Fulham Stage 2)

== Future upgrades ==
===Princes Highway East===
====Nar Nar Goon to Longwarry North upgrade====
Proposed safety and grade separation improvements, Princes Freeway East – Nar Nar Goon to Longwarry North, to be funded in future.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/DOI/DOIElect.nsf/$UNIDS+for+Web+Display/CCC3CE556495361ACA2573A80015249F/$FILE/AusLink2_PrincesHighwayEastUpgrade.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=www.doi.vic.gov.au |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080722232948/http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/DOI/DOIElect.nsf/$UNIDS+for+Web+Display/CCC3CE556495361ACA2573A80015249F/$FILE/AusLink2_PrincesHighwayEastUpgrade.pdf |archive-date=22 July 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Traralgon Bypass====
In 2009, VicRoads with Latrobe City Council completed a planning project for the Traralgon Bypass. Four options were put to the public, with Option 2 chosen as the preferred route. This route was formalised in the Latrobe Planning Scheme thereafter. In August 2017, the State Government announced $1.4 million towards further planning of the Traralgon Bypass. 

As of 2023, the bypass is dependent on additional state and federal government funding for detailed planning and construction to proceed.

===Princes Highway West===
====Winchelsea and Colac Bypass====
Bypasses of Winchelsea and Colac as well as possible duplication of the Princes Hwy from Colac to Warrnambool, to be funded in future.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/DOI/DOIElect.nsf/$UNIDS+for+Web+Display/755DE642745498FDCA2573A80015A4BF/$FILE/AusLink2_PrincesHighwayWestDup.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=www.doi.vic.gov.au |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080722230554/http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/DOI/DOIElect.nsf/$UNIDS+for+Web+Display/755DE642745498FDCA2573A80015A4BF/$FILE/AusLink2_PrincesHighwayWestDup.pdf |archive-date=22 July 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
{{stack|{{Portal|Australian Roads|Australia}}}}
* [[Freeways in Australia#Rural region 2|Freeways in Victoria]]
* [[Geelong Ring Road]]
* [[West Gate Freeway]]
* [[Monash Freeway]]
* [[CityLink|Citylink]]
* [[Highway 1 (Victoria)]]
* [[Highway 1 (Australia)]]

==References==
{{commons category|Princes Highway in Victoria, Australia}}
{{reflist}}

{{Road infrastructure in Melbourne}}
{{Road infrastructure in Geelong}}
{{Road infrastructure in Victoria}}

[[Category:Highways and freeways in Melbourne]]
[[Category:Highways in Victoria (state)]]
[[Category:Transport in Geelong]]
[[Category:Highway 1 (Australia)]]
[[Category:Transport in the City of Casey]]
[[Category:Transport in the Shire of Cardinia]]
[[Category:City of Latrobe]]
[[Category:Shire of Baw Baw]]
[[Category:Transport in the City of Hobsons Bay]]
[[Category:Transport in the City of Wyndham]]
[[Category:Transport in Barwon South West (region)]]