South Gippsland Highway

"M420" redirects here. For the freeway, see South Gippsland Freeway.

South Gippsland Highway

Victoria

General information
Type| Highway
Length| 256 km (159 mi)[1]
Opened| 1933
Route number(s)|

* M420 (1998–present)
(Lynbrook–Lang Lang)
* A440 (2003–present)
(Lang Lang–Sale)
* Concurrencies:
* Metro Route 12 (1989–present)
(through Dandenong South)

Former
route number|

* B440 (1998–2003)
(Lang Lang–Sale)
* State Route 180 (1985–1998)
Entire route

Major junctions
West end|  Princes Highway
Dandenong South, Melbourne

* South Gippsland Freeway
* Western Port Highway
* Bass Highway
* Strzelecki Highway
* Hyland Highway

East end|  Princes Highway
Sale, Victoria
Location(s)
Major settlements| Cranbourne, Koo Wee Rup, Lang Lang, Korumburra, Leongatha, Foster, Yarram, Longford
Highway system

* Highways in Australia
* National Highway • Freeways in Australia
* Highways in Victoria
*   *

The South Gippsland Highway is a partially divided highway in Victoria, Australia which connects the city of Melbourne with the South Gippsland region of Victoria, ending in the town of Sale. The highway begins at Lonsdale Street (Princes Highway), Dandenong. At the Greens Road intersection, it adopts Metropolitan Route 12 until Pound Road, then continues until the South Gippsland Freeway / Western Port Highway interchange where it becomes the M420. The M420 continues through Cranbourne and Koo Wee Rup until the Bass Highway turnoff, at which point the road is then designated A440 onwards to Sale. From the Bass Highway junction, the highway is undivided. The South Gippsland Highway is the gateway from Melbourne to many attractions including Wilsons Promontory and Phillip Island as well as being an important road for farmers in Gippsland.

## Route[edit]

The highway commences in Dandenong, branching from the Princes Highway, and heads in a general south-east direction at first. It is mostly a dual carriageway with two lanes in either direction, until the Bass Highway turnoff to Phillip Island, after which it is entirely an undivided highway. It passes through the Cranbourne area, and then through or close to the Gippsland towns of Tooradin, Koo Wee Rup, Lang Lang, Nyora, Korumburra, Leongatha, Foster, Welshpool and Yarram, before heading north to rejoin the Princes Highway at Sale.

## History[edit]

The passing of the Highways and Vehicles Act of 1924[2] through the Parliament of Victoria provided for the declaration of State Highways, roads two-thirds financed by the State government through the Country Roads Board (later VicRoads). The South Gippsland Highway was declared a State Highway in 1933,[3] cobbled together from roads between Dandenong and Nyora, and between Sale and Yarram (for a total of 83 miles); before this declaration, these roads were referred to as (Main) South Gippsland Road and Sale-Yarram Road.[4] In 1939, another section between Foster through Welshpool to Yarram was added,[5] along the former Foster-Yarram Road.[6] In the 1947/48 financial year, another section between Nyora via Korumburra and Leongatha to Meeniyan was added,[7] along the former Loch-Nyora Road, Bena-Korumburra Road and Korumburra-Leongatha Roads.[5] In the 1965/66 financial year, the last section between Meeniyan and Foster was added,[8] completing its present-day alignment at this stage.

Conversion to dual carriageways at the western end began in 1975, initially between the South Gippsland Freeway and Cranbourne; a distance of 17 km.[9] The final link in the duplication of the highway between the Princes Highway, Dandenong and Bass Highway opened in the early 1990s between Princes Highway and Pound Road.[10]

The South Gippsland Highway was signed as State Route 180 between Dandenong and Sale on 13 December 1985, the first road in Victoria signed with a State Route;[11] with Victoria's conversion to the newer alphanumeric system in the late 1990s, this was replaced by route M420 between Lynbrook and Lang Lang, and B440 between Lang Lang and Sale (which was upgraded to A440 when highway upgrades along South Gippsland Highway raised the quality of the road in 2003).

### Timeline of upgrades and duplication[edit]

* 1961 – Whitelaw By-pass Road: 2.5 miles just north of Korumburra completed as a 2-lane, single-carriageway road, replacing a narrow winding route 3.5 miles long consisting of portions of Bena-Korumburra and Warragul-Korumburra Roads, eliminating two railway crossings, costing A£65,000.[12]
* 1975 – Conversion to dual carriageways at the western end began in 1975, between the South Gippsland Freeway and Cranbourne; a distance of 17 km.[9]
* 1987 – Duplication works completed on three sections. Cranbourne to Five Ways, Tooradin to Dalmore Road, and Monomeith Road to Bass Highway.[13]
* 1989 – 3 km of dual carriageways opened between Manks Road and Lynes Road, Tooradin in December 1989.[14]
* 1990 – 3 km of dual carriageways opened between Lynes Road, Tooradin and Dore Road in April 1990. At this stage, ’27 km of the planned 32 km length of duplication between Cranbourne and Bass Highway has now been completed’.[14]
* 1990/1991 – Duplication of 6 km south of Tooradin completed at a cost of $A9.9m. No exact date was given, however VicRoads Annual Reports cover the previous financial year. This completed the duplication of the highway between Cranbourne and the Bass Highway.[15] An interesting anomaly is that the kilometre lengths quoted in this annual report[15] and the previous annual report [14] do not match!
* 1991/1992 – 2.8 km duplication opened between Princes Highway and Pound Road. This was the final link in the duplication of the highway from the Princes Highway to Bass Highway, Again, no exact date was given, however VicRoads Annual Reports cover the previous financial year.[10]

### Level crossing elimination[edit]

The Gippsland railway line crossing just south of the intersection with Princes Highway in Dandenong South was removed in 3 August 2021. The contract was awarded in March 2020,[16] with construction starting in October 2020[17] on a new road bridge over the rail line on an alignment just east of the original level crossing to a new intersection with Princes Highway; construction was completed and the new alignment was opened to traffic in 3 August 2021.[18]

## Major intersections and towns[edit]

LGA| Location[1]| km[1]| mi| Destinations| Notes

|
|
|
|
|

Greater Dandenong| Dandenong South| 0| 0.0|  Princes Highway (National Alt Route 1) – Dandenong, Melbourne, Berwick, Warragul| Western terminus of highway
0.1| 0.062| Gippsland railway line
0.5| 0.31| Dandenong Bypass – Keysborough, Moorabbin|
1.8| 1.1|  Greens Road (Metro Route 12) – Mordialloc, Keysborough| Concurrency with Metro Route 12
3.3| 2.1|  Pound Road (Metro Route 12 east) – Hampton Park, Narre Warren
Pound Road West (C652 west) – Dandenong South
Dandenong South, Lynbrook, Hampton Park| 4.5| 2.8|  South Gippsland Freeway (M420) – Chadstone, City
Western Port Highway (M780) – Hastings, Flinders| Partial cloverleaf interchange; route M420 north and southeast from here
Casey| Lynbrook| 7.3| 4.5| Hallam Road – Hampton Park, Hallam
Evans Road – Lyndhurst, Cranbourne West|
Cranbourne North, Cranbourne| 10.2| 6.3|  Thompsons Road (Metro Route 6) – Carrum, Berwick|
Cranbourne| 13.8| 8.6|  Sladen Street (Mero Route 4 west, C407 east) – Frankston, Berwick|
Cranbourne, Cranbourne East| 14.8| 9.2|  Cameron Street (C404) – Narre Warren, Belgrave, Lilydale|
Devon Meadows, Clyde| 20.1| 12.5|  Clyde–Five Ways Road (C778 north) – Clyde, Berwick
Fisheries Road (south) – Cannons Creek, Pearcedale|
Tooradin, Devon Meadows, Blind Bight| 24.7| 15.3|  Baxter-Tooradin Road (C781) – Baxter, Pearcedale| Roundabout
Tooradin| 31.4| 19.5| Dalmore Road – Cardinia|
Cardinia| Koo Wee Rup| 36.4| 22.6|  Rossiter Road (C421) – Koo Wee Rup, Longwarry, to  Koo Wee Rup Road (C422) – Pakenham| Roundabout
38.9| 24.2|  Sybella Avenue (C419) – Koo Wee Rup|
Lang Lang| 45.9| 28.5|  McDonalds Track (C429) – Lang Lang, Nyora|
47.5| 29.5|  Westernport Road (C431) – Lang Lang, Drouin| Roundabout
49.7| 30.9|  Bass Highway (M420) – Wonthaggi, Phillip Island| Partial Y interchange: southbound entrance to and northbound exit from Bass Highway only
Route transition: route M420 continues south, western terminus of route A440
South Gippsland| Loch, Nyora| 60.9| 37.8|  Lang Lang–Nyora Road (C434) – Nyora, Poowong|
Loch| 68.7| 42.7| Victoria Road – Loch, to Loch-Wonthaggi Road – Almurta, Wonthaggi
Loch-Poowong Road – Poowong|
69.7| 43.3| Former South Gippsland railway line
Bena| 77.0| 47.8| Former South Gippsland railway line
Korumburra| 81.5| 50.6|  Warragul–Korumburra Road (C425) – Poowong, Warragul|
82.0| 51.0|  Korrumburra-Wonthaggi Road (C437) – Wonthaggi, Inverloch|
Leongatha| 96.3| 59.8|  Strzelecki Highway (B460 northeast) – Mirboo North, Morwell
Bass Highway (B460 southwest) – Inverloch, Wonthaggi, Phillip Island|
96.9| 60.2|  Ogilvy Street (C454) – Dumbalk|
Meeniyan| 110.0| 68.4|  Tarwin Lower (C443) – Venus Bay|
113.3| 70.4|  Farmers Road (C455) – Dumbalk, Mirboo North|
114.0| 70.8|  Meeniyan–Promontory Road (C444) – Fish Creek, Wilsons Promontory|
Foster| 134.3| 83.5|  Fish Creek–Foster Road (C445) – Fish Creek, Wilsons Promontory|
Agnes| 152.4| 94.7|  Barry Road (C447) – Agnes|
Welshpool| 156.1| 97.0|  Port Welshpool Road (C451 south) – Port Welshpool
Woorarra Road (north) – Boolarra|
Wellington| Alberton| 177.8| 110.5|  Yarram–Port Albert Road (C452) – Port Albert|
Yarram| 185.2| 115.1|  Tarra Valley Road (C484) – Tarra Valley|
187.5| 116.5|  Hyland Highway (C482) – Traralgon|
Woodside| 203.5| 126.4|  Carrajung–Woodside Road (C453) – Carrajung, Traralgon| Concurrency with route C453 over Bruthen Creek bridge
203.7| 126.6| Bruthen Creek
203.9| 126.7|  Woodside Beach Road (C453) – Woodside Beach, to  McLoughlins Road (C459) – McLoughlins Beach
Longford| 248.4| 154.3|  Seaspray Road (C496) – Seaspray, to  Garretts Road (C497) – Dutson|
249.7| 155.2|  Longford–Loch Sport Road (C485) – Golden Beach, Loch Sport| Concurrency with route C485
250.1| 155.4|  Rosedale–Longford Road (C485) – Rosedale
Sale| 255.8| 158.9|  Princes Highway – Traralgon, Bairnsdale, Orbost| Roundabout; eastern terminus of highway and route A440
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

* Concurrency terminus
* Incomplete access
* Route transition

## See also[edit]

* Australian Roads portal

* Highways in Australia
* Highways in Victoria

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c Google (10 October 2021). "South Gippsland Highway" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
2. ^ State of Victoria, An Act to make further provision with respect to Highways and Country Roads Motor Cars and Traction Engines and for other purposes 30 December 1924
3. ^ "Country Roads Board Victoria. Twentieth Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1933". Country Roads Board of Victoria. Melbourne: Victorian Government Library Service. 10 November 1933. p. 4.
4. ^ "Country Roads Board Victoria. Fourteenth Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1927". Country Roads Board of Victoria. Melbourne: Victorian Government Library Service. 30 April 1928. pp. 44, 54, 56.
5. ^ a b "Country Roads Board Victoria. Twenty-Sixth Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1939". Country Roads Board of Victoria. Melbourne: Victorian Government Library Service. 10 November 1939. pp. 4, 91.
6. ^ "Country Roads Board Victoria. Twenty-First Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1934". Country Roads Board of Victoria. Melbourne: Victorian Government Library Service. 19 November 1934. p. 66.
7. ^ "Country Roads Board Victoria. Thirty-Fifth Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1948". Country Roads Board of Victoria. Melbourne: Victorian Government Library Service. 1 November 1948. p. 7.
8. ^ "Country Roads Board Victoria. Fifty-Third Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1966". Country Roads Board of Victoria. Melbourne: Victorian Government Library Service. 4 February 1967. p. 46.
9. ^ a b Country Roads Board Victoria. Sixty-Second Annual Report: for the year ended 30th June, 1975, Burwood, Victoria: Brown, Prior, Anderson, 1975. p. 7.
10. ^ a b VicRoads. VicRoads Annual Report, 1991-1992, Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 1992, p. 39.
11. ^ "Road Construction Authority of Victoria. Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 1986". Road Construction Authority of Victoria. Melbourne: Victorian Government Library Service. 24 November 1986. p. 30,42.
12. ^ "Country Roads Board Victoria. Forty-Eighth Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1961". Country Roads Board of Victoria. Melbourne: Victorian Government Library Service. 1 December 1961. p. 21.
13. ^ Road Construction Authority Victoria. Annual Report 1986-87, Kew, Victoria: Road Construction Authority, Victoria, 1987. p. 66
14. ^ a b c VicRoads. VicRoads Annual Report, 1989-1990, Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 1990, p. 56.
15. ^ a b VicRoads. VicRoads Annual Report, 1990-1991, Kew, Victoria: VicRoads, 1991, p. 37
16. ^ "South Gippsland Highway contract awarded". Level Crossing Removal Project. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
17. ^ "Major construction progressing at South Gippsland Highway". Level Crossing Removal Project. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
18. ^ "South Gippsland Highway level crossing gone months ahead of schedule". Level Crossing Removal Project. Retrieved 10 October 2021.

* v
* t
* e

Road infrastructure in Victoria

Freeways|

* Calder Freeway
* Goulburn Valley Freeway
* Hume Freeway
* Princes Freeway (Geelong Ring Road)
* Western Freeway

Highways|

* Bass Highway
* Bellarine Highway
* Borung Highway
* Burwood Highway
* Calder Highway
* Calder Alternative Highway
* Glenelg Highway
* Goulburn Valley Highway
* Hamilton Highway
* Henty Highway
* Hopkins Highway
* Hyland Highway
* Kiewa Valley Highway
* Loddon Valley Highway
* Mallee Highway
* Maroondah Highway
* McIvor Highway
* Melba Highway
* Midland Highway
* Monaro Highway
* Murray Valley Highway
* Nepean Highway
* Northern Highway
* Omeo Highway
* Princes Highway
* Pyrenees Highway
* South Gippsland Highway
* Strzelecki Highway
* Sturt Highway
* Sunraysia Highway
* Surf Coast Highway
* Warburton Highway
* Western Highway
* Western Port Highway
* Wimmera Highway

Bypass routes|

* Old Hume Highway
* Old Princes Highway

Tourist routes|

* Great Alpine Road
* Great Ocean Road
* Murray Valley Highway
* Phillip Island Road

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