Route 40, Melbourne

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

State (Bell/Springvale) Highway

Formerly along Springvale Road
Length	57 km
General direction	West-South
From	Tullamarine Freeway, Strathmore
via	Coburg, Preston, Heidelberg, Bulleen, Doncaster, Nunawading, Glen Waverley, Springvale, Chelsea Heights
To	Nepean Highway, Edithvale
Allocation	Heidelberg - Bulleen: (duplex with ) Templestowe Lower - Doncaster: (duplex with ) Doncaster - Donvale: (duplex with )
Major Junctions	Pascoe Vale Road Sydney Road Rosanna Road Eastern Freeway / EastLink Whitehorse Road Burwood Highway Monash Freeway Princes Highway Westall Road Mornington Peninsula Freeway for full list see Major intersections

Route 40, or the Bell / Springvale State Highway is the second longest urban highway in Melbourne (behind the Princes Highway) linking Tullamarine Freeway and the Nepean Highway, allotted metropolitan route .

The highway experiences considerable congestion, particularly at Nunawading railway crossing where traffic jams can last for considerable periods on weekdays. In addition, several other level crossings are located along the highway, in Edithvale, Springvale, Nunawading, Preston and Coburg. The only grade separation is in Heidelberg at present.

The road itself varies in capacity over its length between three-laned dual carriageways and two-way single carriageways. Many junctions such as the Nepean Highway, Princes Highway, Monash Freeway, Eastern Freeway, Hume Highway and Tullamarine Freeway contribute to traffic volumes along Route 40.

[edit] Alternate names

There are a variety of street names along the route, many of which are familiar to motorists and used on radio traffic updates, including:

Bell Street (from Strathmore to Heidelberg)
Banksia Street (within Heidelberg)
Manningham Road (from Bulleen to Doncaster)
Williamsons Road (within central Doncaster)
Doncaster Road (from Doncaster to Donvale)
Mitcham Road (within Donvale)
Springvale Road (from Donvale to Chelsea Heights)
Edithvale Road (formerly Springvale Road) (from Chelsea Heights to Edithvale)