RE: smart freeways/motorways / managed freeways/motorways / freeway/motorway management systems
Looks like RMS NSW have decided to adopt their own system based on their states own world renowned SCATS system and it will connect to the traffic light and detector systems on arterial roads joining the M4. But have utilised VicRoads’ handbooks/schematics/analytical research in some of their own technical publications, as well as other organisations/companies as aforementioned in my post yesterday and Main Roads WA and probably Qld Roads.
Whereas looks like Perth have opted to follow VicRoads’ a lot more closely.
Money/government budgets (and changing government plans) would be a major factor I’d say, as well as lack of research and planning in the field (something VicRoads have been pushing for decades now - ITS “intelligent transport systems”).
Same in Victoria (VicRoads religiously go by the term), you’ll never hear a born and bred Victorian use the term ‘motorway’.
Don’t think so (look at basically the entire Melbourne freeway network now - ramp metering).
It was actually first introduced on the Eastern Fwy outbound at Bulleen Rd some 20+ years ago, then the Calder Fwy outbound at Keilor Park Drive soon after and a few more ramps on the Eastern Fwy inbound around Burke Rd and the Monash Fwy inbound at Wellington Rd, Ferntree Gully Rd, Blackburn Rd, Forster Rd, Toorak Rd and outbound at Warrigal Rd, Huntingdale Rd, Forster Rd and Blackburn Rd. Remnants (old cabinets/light pedestals/traffic lights and induction loops are still visible at these sites within the active newer technology/system).
Well put, correct.
I’ve seen some of Perth’s road technology via Google Maps street view, looks like they use the Sensys wireless traffic detectors now (for the smart freeway) and have in some other parts for some years now too (when some freeway data stations/loops have needed upgrading or in other suburbia - think I’ve seen some far down on the Kwinana Fwy in its more rural section past Mandurah and towards Bunbury.
[quote="Techster, post:790,
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?
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Funny you should mention the M5. I had to look it up to be sure but it actually has officially changed to the Centenary Motorway. Not sure if the signs have all been changed and traffic reports certainly haven’t got the memo, but the maps on TMR refer to it as the Centenary Motorway.
What I can’t ascertain though is whether the Western Freeway still exists or if it has now also been rebranded to Centenary Motorway. If the Western Freeway still exists it’s the only “freeway” left in Qld.
True. I can almost forgive the signage but what bugs the heck out of me is the traffic reports getting it wrong. Surely TMR could at least keep them informed. Eg. A lot of traffic reports still call the M3 from Eight Mile Plains to the City the M1. Drives me mad.
NSW does have this, but only on major highways in less populated areas, such as the Mitchell/Barrier Hwy west of Dubbo or parts of the Newell Hwy near Narrabri or Narrandera.
Same in Victoria (VicRoads religiously go by the term), you’ll never hear a born and bred Victorian use the term ‘motorway’.
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It used to be like that in Brisbane too when they first changed to motorways from freeways in the 90s. But gradually most people changed and you rarely hear people say freeway now. The catalyst I think were the new motorways like the Gateway and Logan that were called motorways from the start in the 90s.
now by what i have seen the m road that leads from adelaide to melbourne just near beaufort it goes to 110khm to just near Warrenheip, Victoria where it leads to 80 khhm then 100 then a litle bit down the road it goes back to 110
and how the majority of the a roads here in vic are single carrigeway and mostly 100khms ( i think is where i was getting confused on the freeway and hight way thing
like how the m road system here in vic is dual carrigeway and these roads are built to freeway standards . im guessing thats why the m8 is now called the m8 freeway
And for some reason the M15 in the Hunter region is called the Hunter Expressway instead of motorway/freeway. The signs on entries and exits refer to it as a freeway though.
Freeway is confusingly still used in Sydney for some roads - the Warringah Freeway (which was originally the Warringah Expressway) and its northern connection the Gore Hill Freeway. They are part of the M1 motorway which continues south as the Sydney Harbour Tunnel, Cahill Expressway, Eastern Distributor, Southern Cross Drive and General Holmes Drive.
Combined with the proposed Beaches Link, this will create a 20km long S curve through Sydney’s northern suburbs, mostly underground. I think the design could have been better, with Beaches Link directly joining Western Harbour Tunnel and intersecting with Warringah Freeway at (or close to) right angles.
Sadly not uncommon on the US interstate system during winter, but normally this is something you’d see during a blizzard (there is so, so many youtube videos that pop-up every year of people filming truck after truck crashing into a pile-up - very haunting) - albeit I suspect this is an area of Texas that is not at all used to icy roads.
