Victoria Road Photo Gallery:
NH-M31 (Hume Freeway (Kilmore to Thomastown)) Craigieburn By-Pass Opening

The Hume Freeway (also known as the Hume Highway in New South Wales) is one of the most important roads in Australia, the shortest route linking the country's two largest cities - Sydney and Melbourne.

The construction and opening of the Craigieburn By-Pass is quite significant, as it by-passes a large and crowded urban area littered with traffic signals and trams. It also provides full uninterrupted length motorway / rural freeway access from the NSW-Vic Border to the Melbourne metropolitain area, a distance of 291 kilometres.

The 17km Craigieburn Bypass, linking the Hume Freeway near Mt. Ridley Road at Craigieburn, to the Metropolitan Ring Road at Thomastown, opened to traffic on Tuesday 20th December 2005.

The Federal Minister for Local Government, Territories, and Roads, Mr Jim Lloyd and the Victorian Minister for Transport, Mr Peter Batchelor officially opened the fully completed $306m Craigieburn Bypass at a community event held on the Bypass.

The Craigieburn Bypass is now the premier gateway to Melbourne from the north. It will reduce travel times, provide fuel savings to motorists and the freight industry, reduce traffic congestion, enhance road safety on the Hume Highway, and remove traffic from local roads such as High Street, Thomastown and Epping.

Construction started on the bypass in May 2002. The first four kilometres of the bypass from the Metropolitan Ring Road, at Thomastown to Cooper Street, Epping were opened to traffic in December 2004.

• Start Date: May 2002
• Completion Date: 20 December 2005
• Cost: $306 million, funded by the Australian Government

National Highway, M31 is designated with the VicRoads Internal Number of 1550

Total Length (Vic):	291 km
Route Numbers:
Information courtesy of Rob Tilley & VicRoads.