You are really lucky to find a Ford dealership that does what they are supposed to do! I owned a Ford and maps were only updated once in the 4.5 years I owned it.
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I do have to ask/remind them to do it when I drop my car off though⌠just to be sure.
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longggg time since I last posted in a once favourite thread
Not sure if itâs been mentioned, but Sydney and Perthâs first âsmart freewayâ were fully activated last month and some months ago (respectively).
In Sydney, M4 both ways (a bulk of the âmiddleâ section, sort of east of Penrith but just west of central Parramatta):
https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/m4/index.html
In Perth, Kwinana Fwy northbound (between Canning Hwy and Narrows Bridge):
https://smartfreeways.wa.gov.au
Bringing these cities gradually in-line with Brisbane (already aspects on multiple freeways, most recent/modern of which is on the Bruce Hwy at the Brisbane end) and of course Melbourne (advanced network-wide which set-up a lot of the foundation framworks via VicRoads/AustRoads/ARRB for RMA, Qld Roads and WA Main Roads).
Both new Sydney and Perth systems include:
Ramp metering, overhead lane signs (variable speeds and ability to close via a red âXâ and white âarrowsâ), overhead and local arterial road electronic message boards including travel times/conditions, new PTZ full 360 degree full CCTV coverage, associated in-ground traffic detectors and data stations every few hundred metres to operate the systems including automated incident detection and associated communications and electrical conduits, pits and cabinets). As well as necessary changes to physical road surfaces (widening/lengthening/re-aligning/re-surfacing and marking) and new signage.
I believe VicRoads are still using them, known in the official Melway as metropolitan route numbers [the blue shields] (Melbourneâs iconic road map book - which sadly nobody would use now replaced by GPS and Google Maps also digital), but more importantly is used by ESTA (Victoriaâs Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority) and the Department of Transport (which VicRoads now falls under) as the official road map interface on their systems.
But for more outer suburbs, some have been removed and/or replaced, such as the Moorooduc Hwy MR â11â blue shield for âC784â (which was like a connecting Frankston-Flinders Rd or something). As route 11 of course became âM11â Peninsula Link when the Mornington Peninsula Fwyâs missing link opened 8 years ago in 2013 - the rest of the old freeway north section through Aspendale Gardens/Chelsea and south section through Mt Martha, Safety Beach and Dromana was also re-badged as âM11â (like the Moorooduc Hwy which turned into the Frankston Fwy or Morn Pen Fwy) also used to carry the MR â11â blue shield.
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Interesting. Iâm surprised theyâre only just now doing it.
I notice Perth still call them freeways rather than motorways.
My understanding is that a road is not a freeway anymore when it introduces ramp metering. A freeway should have free-flowing entry ramps.
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I think thatâs a bit of a stretch.
So is ramp metering a new thing in some states? Brisbane has had it for at least 30 years on the M3 (formerly SE Freeway).
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Ramp metering was only introduced in Victoria in the last decade. It was first added to Monash Freeway followed by Citylink. It was gradually added to other freeways as they were expanded.
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well from my understanding from here in VIC: a freeway is 110 kmh a highway is 100khm and ramp metering is a tollway
I donât think any of that is right. A tollway is where there is a toll. The difference between a motorway (freeway) and a highway is generally whether or not there is at-grade intersections.
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As you suggest, motorway and freeway is used interchangeably. Many rural freeways in Victoria still have at-grade intersections despite a 110km/h speed limit
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I live in VIC and what I said I do believe is correct. freeways here in vic are 110kms and highways are 100kms
Sorry but youâre not correct.
The Monash Freeway for example is only 100kmh.
There are many examples of where freeways are less than 110kmh including also the Princess Freeway.
The speed limit has absolutely nothing to do with whether it is designated a freeway or highway. It is generally to do with the standard of the road including at-grade intersections. Although there are exceptions as pointed out where a rural freeway may still have a few at-grade intersections.
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ok i then aplogise. i always thought and seen that freeways were 110kms but iam sorry
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Itâs not a problem. And generally youâre right that most freeways do have 110kmh limits.
I also doubt there would be any Highways in Victoria with a speed limit over 100kmh, so generally youâre right there too. Although in Queensland for example there are 2 lane sections of the Bruce Highway and a few others that have a 110kmh limit.
Also Queensland is a lot stricter about calling a road a motorway (or freeway) if there are at-grade intersections. Victoria and NSW tend to be a be more lax and allow a few at-grade intersections and still call it a motorway or freeway, but in Queensland if itâs got at-grade intersections itâs not called a motorway or freeway, and is not designated an M road, but rather an A. Just to confuse things further there is a huge length of the Bruce Highway from Brisbane to Gympie (about 160km) that is motorway standard all the way (4 to 6 lanes, no at-grade intersections, and signed the M1) thatâs still called the Bruce Highway, rather than the Bruce Motorway. This is mainly for historical reasons though.
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In Victoria itâs based on whether a road is urban or rural.
Urban freeways are typically signposted at 100km/h, although 80km/h is now more common where an emergency lane has been removed (see: CityLink/Tullamarine Freeway, Calder, sections of the Monash IIRC). âSmart motorwaysâ all have variable speed limits, too. (The only exception that comes to mind is the Metropolitan Ring Road between Plenty Road and Greensborough Bypass, which was previously 90km/h but has since been reduced to 80km/h.)
Urban highways are a mixed bag - the default speed limit in built-up areas is 50km/h, with urban roads anywhere from 60km/h-90km/h depending on local conditions. Rural highways regardless of route number are generally signed at 100km/h, although again this varies on local conditions.
Rural freeways are generally 110km/h, with some freeways slowing to 100km/h or 80km/h at at-grade intersections
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The term motorway has been used in Sydney for almost 30 years, taking over from freeway. It has nothing to do with ramp metering. The F4 became the M4 in the early 1990s. Of course, people still used the old names for many years after.
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Perth only just got it with the Smart Freeways upgrade, however the base infrastructure to support it (the induction loops underneath the road) has been installed for almost a decade across most of the Freeway / Highway network.
Similar in Perth - Reid, Roe & Tonkin Hwyâs have only a few at-grade intersections left at this stage but are all freeway standard for a significant majority of their length.
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It surprises me how rare 110km/h limits are in Victoria - would be good to make up for the extended 80km/h sections by going the 110 more frequently without needing to be really far from the city.
I havenât driven there much, but I get the impression that NSW and Queensland use them a bit more frequently?
I suppose people like the round number, but 100 is quite low for motorways comparatively to other countries with similar infrastructure quality, especially here where the speed limits are so strict.
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The road I really want renamed is the M5, haha. Surely the motorway section from Springfield to Legacy Way can be called the Centenary Motorway?
When I visited Tasmania, I was surprised to see the predominant speed limit for their highways and arterial roads is 110km/h.
Also by the way, is RMS NSW still thinking of introducing exit numbers to their motorways?
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I just drove through a bit of SA & Vic, and thereâs plenty of single carriageway in SA with a 110 km/h limit (which was a surprise for someone used to driving in NSW), and so I did notice dramatically less 110 km/h in Vic compared to SA, probably still less than in NSW (but it didnât appear to be dramatically less).