List of road routes in South Australia

Road routes in South Australia assist drivers navigating roads in urban, rural, and scenic areas of the state. Today, all numbered routes in the state are allocated a letter (M, A or B) in addition to a one, two or three digit number, denoting different levels of significance. The route system includes officially designated highways, urban freeways and arterial roads, and other important cross-state roads that have not been declared highways.

South Australia

History

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Route numbers have been allocated to South Australia's roads since 1955, with the introduction of National Routes across all states and territories in Australia, symbolised by a white shield with black writing; National Route 1 ('Highway 1') was one of the best-known numbered national routes, due to its fame for circumnavigating the continent.

In 1974, the National Highway network was defined, which allowed some existing National Routes to be upgraded to National Highways. These were marked with the same shield design as the National Routes, except for their gold-on-green colouring and the word NATIONAL added across the top. Unlike many other states, South Australia never adopted State Routes, although it allowed two Victorian rural State Routes to cross the border and terminate in locations within 20 km of it when they were rolled out there in 1985.

In 1998, the state replaced its system of National Routes and National Highways with an alphanumeric route numbering system. Many existing numbered routes were allocated a letter (M, A or B) in addition to its number, with 'M' routes denoting freeways, 'A' routes denoting routes of state significance, and 'B' routes denoting routes of local significance. Instead of shields, route numbers are displayed as yellow text on green rectangular backgrounds, and has now become the sole route numbering system in the state. The changeover to alphanumeric routes was carried out from 1998 either by removing old "shield" coverplates installed on newer signs, or installing new alphanumeric coverplates on old shielded signs, adopting the same design as Victoria (which adopted its alphanumeric system a year previous). Trailblazers were introduced with alphanumeric routes in Adelaide's metropolitan area and the tourist areas of Victor Harbor and the Barossa Valley in 1998,[1][2] with allocations extended to cover country areas in 1999.[3] Former National Highways still retained their shield design (including NATIONAL markings) after conversion, but were modified in 2017 to remove them, bringing their design in line with the rest of the state.

Alphanumeric Routes

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All alphanumeric routes listed here are derived from the Government of South Australia's Location SA service.[4]

M routes

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Roads allocated an M route are usually at least dual-carriageway motorways or expressways, with at least two lanes in each direction. These roads keep traffic moving and are likely to have no traffic lights and higher speed limits.[5]

Route Component roads From Via To Length Notes
 
M1
South Eastern Freeway Glen Osmond Murray Bridge 69 km (43 mi) Part of Highway 1:
– western end re-aligned through Eagle on the Hill from Mount Barker Road to current alignment when freeway extension through the Heysen Tunnels opened in 2000
– continues north west as   along Glen Osmond Road beyond Adelaide
– continues east as   along Princes Highway to Tailem Bend
– allocated   in 1998, progressively being replaced by   from 2017
 
M2
Northern Expressway Gawler Hindmarsh 51 km (32 mi) Allocated in 2016 (replacing  )
Northern Connector Allocated upon opening in 2020
North–South Motorway – allocated   through Wingfield (replacing  ) when South Road Superway opened in 2014, progressively being replaced by   from 2017
– extended south to Hindmarsh (replacing  ) when Torrens to Torrens section opened in 2018
– to be extended further south eventually to Southern Expressway as further stages of the North–South Motorway are completed
– continues south as   along South Road to Southern Expressway at St Marys
Southern Expressway St Marys Noarlunga Downs 21 km (13 mi) – southern end extended from Reynella to Noarlunga Downs when second stage opened in 2001
– northern end extended from Darlington to St Marys when Darlington bypass opened in 2020
– to be extended further north eventually to North–South Motorway as further stages are completed
– continues north as   along South Road to North–South Motorway at Hindmarsh
 
National Highway M20
Northern Expressway Virginia Gawler 22 km (14 mi) Allocated upon opening in 2010, replaced by   when Northern Connector commenced construction in 2016
  Decommissioned or unsigned route

A routes

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Roads allocated an A route are main or arterial routes providing a high standard of driving conditions both across single- or dual-carriageway roads, linking to and from M roads and provide access to major towns and places of interest across metro and regional SA.[5]

Route Component roads From Via To Length Notes
 
A1
SA/WA border Medindie 1,248 km (775 mi) Part of Highway 1:
– continues west as   along Eyre Highway into WA eventually to Norseman
– discontinuous across the Adelaide city centre, partially  
– allocated   in 1998, progressively being replaced by   from 2017
Eastwood Frewville Glen Osmond 3.3 km (2 mi) – discontinuous across the Adelaide city centre, partially  
– eastern end along Mount Barker Road terminating in Crafers truncated to current alignment when South Eastern Freeway extension through the Heysen Tunnels opened in 2000
– continues east as   along South Eastern Freeway to Murray Bridge
– allocated   in 1998, progressively being replaced by   from 2017
Princes Highway Murray Bridge Swanport Bridge Tailem Bend 22 km (14 mi) – continues west as   along South Eastern Freeway to Glen Osmond
– continues south as   along Princes Highway to Mount Gambier
– allocated   in 1998, progressively being replaced by   from 2017
Princes Highway Mount Gambier SA/Vic border 18 km (11 mi) – continues west as   along Princes Highway to Tailem Bend
– continues east as   along Princes Highway into Victoria eventually to Geelong
 
A2
South Road Hindmarsh St Marys 11 km (7 mi) – allocated from Regency Park to Darlington (replacing  ) when South Road Superway opened in 2014
– northern end truncated to Hindmarsh (replaced by  ) when Torrens to Torrens section of North–South Motorway opened in 2018
– southern end truncated to St Marys (replaced by  ) when Darlington bypass of Southern Expressway opened in 2020
– continues north as   along North–South Motorway to Gawler
– continues south as   along Southern Expressway to Noarlunga Downs
 
A3
Cross Road Plympton Unley Park Glen Osmond 9.5 km (6 mi)
 
A5
Anzac Highway Keswick Plympton Glenelg 13.8 km (9 mi) Northern end truncated from Adelaide to Keswick when   City Ring Route re-aligned in 2017
 
A6
Mile End Brooklyn Park West Beach 6.9 km (4 mi) Eastern end truncated from Adelaide to Mile End when   City Ring Route re-aligned in 2017
 
A7
Hindmarsh Port Adelaide 9.9 km (6 mi)
 
A8
Dukes Highway Tailem Bend SA/Vic border 192 km (119 mi) – continues east as   along Western Highway into Victoria eventually to Beaufort
– concurrency with   along Dukes Highway from Lowan Vale to Bordertown
– allocated   in 1998, progressively being replaced by   from 2017
 
A9
Port Adelaide Elizabeth Vale 20.9 km (13 mi) Eastern end extended along Salisbury Highway and John Rice Avenue from Dry Creek to Elizabeth Vale (replacing  / ) when South Road Superway opened in 2014
 
A10
Gilberton Houghton 19.3 km (12 mi) Continues east as   along North East Road to Nurioopta
 
A11
Kent Town Salisbury Heights 25.1 km (16 mi) Northern end re-aligned from Lower North East Road terminating in Houghton (replaced by  ) to current alignment in 2021
 
A13
Darlington Victor Harbor 67.6 km (42 mi) – allocation along South Road, Salisbury Highway and John Rice Avenue terminating in Elizabeth Vale truncated to current alignment (replaced by  /  and  ) when South Road Superway opened in 2014
– concurrency with   along Victor Harbor Road through Willunga Hill
– allocated   along South Road through Wingfield in 1998, replaced by   in 2014, progressively being replaced by   from 2017
 
A14
Beverley Darlington 15.3 km (10 mi)
 
A15
Alberton Maslin Beach 45.3 km (28 mi)
  • Gray Street
  • Saltfleet Street
  • Commercial Road
  • Maslin Beach Road
Southern end extended from Hallett Cove to Maslin Beach in 2021
 
A16
Outer Harbor Houghton 37.5 km (23 mi)
Grand Junction Road Allocated   (from Regency Park to Northfield) in 1998, progressively being replaced by   from 2017
Lower North East Road Eastern end extended along Lower North East Road from Hope Valley to Houghton (replacing  ) in 2021
 
A17
Northfield Payneham Glen Osmond 13.7 km (9 mi) Allocated   in 1998, progressively being replaced by   from 2017
 
A18
Paralowie Parafield Modbury 12.5 km (8 mi)
 
A20
Gepps Cross SA/Vic border 267 km (166 mi) – continues east as   along Sturt Highway into Victoria through Mildura, and into New South Wales eventually to Tarcutta
– allocated   in 1998, progressively being replaced by   from 2017
– western end along Main North Road terminating at Gepps Cross truncated to Gawler (replaced by  ) when Northern Expressway opened in 2010, reverted to   in 2017
 
A21
Adelaide North Adelaide Adelaide 15.6 km (10 mi) Former City Ring Route, replaced by   in 2017, listed clockwise from the western corner of Adelaide city centre
 
A22
Gepps Cross Kilburn Ovingham 7.7 km (5 mi)
 
A32
Barrier Highway Giles Corner SA/NSW border 377 km (234 mi) – continues east as   along Barrier Highway into New South Wales to Nyngan
– concurrency with   along Barrier Highway through Burra
 
A52
Main North Road Gepps Cross Gawler 32 km (20 mi) Allocated when Northern Expressway opened (replacing  ) in 2010, reverted to   in 2017
 
A66
Riddoch Highway Keith Mount Gambier 210 km (130 mi) Continues south as   along Riddoch Highway to Port MacDonnell
 
A87
Stuart Highway SA/NT border Port Augusta West 928 km (577 mi) – continues north as   along Stuart Highway into NT eventually to Daly Waters
– allocated   in 1998, progressively being replaced by   from 2017
  Decommissioned or unsigned route

B routes

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Roads allocated a B route are secondary or local arterial roads, These roads link to and from A and M roads and provide access to places of interest across metro and regional SA.[5]

Route Component roads From Via To Length Notes
 
B1
Princes Highway Tailem Bend Mount Gambier 350 km (217 mi) Part of Highway 1:
– continues north as   along Princes Highway to Murray Bridge
– continues east as   along Princes Highway into Victoria eventually to Geelong
 
B10
Houghton Nurioopta 73 km (45 mi) – continues west as   along North East Road to Adelaide
– concurrencies with:   along North East Road through Chain of Ponds;   along Torrens Valley Road through Birdwood;   along Torrens Valley Road through Mount Pleasant
 
B12
Mallee Highway Tailem Bend SA/Vic border 145 km (90 mi) – continues east as   along Mallee Highway into Victoria eventually to Piangil
– concurrency with   along Mallee Highway through Pinnaroo
 
B19
Gawler Lyndoch Nuriootpa 39 km (24 mi)
 
B23
Main South Road Old Noarlunga Cape Jervis 75 km (47 mi) Route continues west over Backstairs Passage to Hog Bay Road on Kangaroo Island
Penneshaw Pelican Lagoon Kingscote 60 km (37 mi) Route continues east over Backstairs Passage to Main South Road on the South Australian mainland
 
B26
Greenhill Road Glenside Uraidla Balhannah 24 km (15 mi) Allocated in 2019
 
B27
  • Magill Road
  • Old Norton Summit Road
  • Lobethal Road
  • Mount Torrens Road
Kent Town Mount Torrens 37 km (23 mi) Allocated in 2019
 
B28
  • Fullarton Road
  • Old Belair Road
  • Upper Sturt Road
  • Waverley Ridge Road
  • Mount Lofty Summit Road
Fullarton Summertown 25 km (16 mi) Allocated in 2019
 
B29
Unley Clarendon 27 km (17 mi) Allocated in 2020
 
B31
Campbelltown Lyndoch 49 km (30 mi) Concurrency with   along North East Road through Chain of Ponds
 
B33
Stirling Strathalbyn 37 km (23 mi)
 
B34
Williamstown Myponga 109 km (68 mi) Concurrencies with:   along Victor Harbor Road through Willunga Hill;   along Torrens Valley Road through Birdwood
 
B35
  • Cricks Mill Road
  • Tungkillo Road
  • Randell Road
  • Reedy Creek Road
  • Mannum Road
  • Swanport Road
Mount Crawford Murray Bridge 63 km (39 mi) Concurrency with   along Torrens Valley Road through Mount Pleasant
 
B36
Palmer Mannum Murray Bridge North 38 km (24 mi)
 
B37
Mount Barker Delamere 126 km (78 mi) Concurrency with   along Hindmarsh Road through Victor Harbor
 
B45
  • Langhorne Creek Road
  • Ferry Road
Strathalbyn Langhorne Creek Wellington East 49 km (30 mi)
 
B55
Murray Bridge Berri 202 km (126 mi)
 
B56
Winninowie Peterborough 108 km (67 mi) Concurrencies with:   along RM Williams Way from Orroroo to Black Rock;   along Horrocks Highway through Wilmington
 
B57
Loxton Cadgee 292 km (181 mi) Concurrencies with:   along Dukes Highway from Lowan Vale to Bordertown;   along Mallee Highway through Pinnaroo
 
B64
Goyder Highway Crystal Brook Monash 266 km (165 mi) Concurrencies with:   along Barrier Highway through Burra;   along RM Williams Way through Spalding;   along Horrocks Highway through Gulnare
 
B66
Riddoch Highway Mount Gambier Mount Schank Port MacDonnell 28 km (17 mi) Continues north as   along Riddoch Highway to Mount Gambier
 
B77
  • Mallala Road
  • Old Port Wakefield Road
  • Gawler Road
  • Two Wells Road
  • Ryde Street
  • Overway Bridge Road
  • Fifteenth Street
  • Twelfth Street
Two Wells Gawler River Gawler 23.5 km (15 mi) Allocated in 2021
 
B78
Wilkins Highway Jamestown Hallett 38 km (24 mi)
 
B79
Warnertown Ucolta 104 km (65 mi) Concurrency with   along RM Williams Way from Mannanarie to Jamestown
 
B80
RM Williams Way Hawker Barinia 220 km (137 mi) Concurrencies with:   along RM Williams Way from Orroroo to Black Rock;   along Goyder Highway through Spalding;   along RM Williams Way from Mannanarie to Jamestown
 
B81
Thiele Highway Gawler Belt Morgan 115 km (71 mi)
 
B82
Quorn Gawler Belt 282 km (175 mi) Concurrencies with:   along Wilmington–Ucolta Road through Wilmington;   along Goyder Highway through Gulnare
 
B83
Lyndhurst Stirling North 292 km (181 mi) Much of this route still is signed  ;   shields still visible at Flinders Ranges Way and West Terrace intersection in Quorn
 
B84
  • Port Wakefield–Balaklava Road
  • Saddleworth Road
  • Marrabel Road
  • Curio Road
Port Wakefield Eudunda 100 km (62 mi)
 
B85
Copper Coast Highway Port Wakefield Wallaroo 58 km (36 mi)
 
B86
Yorke Highway Port Arthur Stenhouse Bay 181 km (112 mi)
 
B88
St Vincent Highway Pine Point Warooka 101 km (63 mi)
 
B89
Spencer Highway Port Pirie Minlaton 199 km (124 mi)
 
B90
Tod Highway Kyancutta Uley 176 km (109 mi)
 
B91
Birdseye Highway Elliston Cowell 198 km (123 mi)
 
B97
  • Pimba Road
  • Olympic Dam Highway
Pimba Olympic Dam 89 km (55 mi)
 
B100
Ceduna Lincoln Gap 715 km (444 mi)
 
B101
Southern Ports Highway Kingston SE Millicent 119 km (74 mi)
 
B160
Glenelg Highway Glenburnie SA/Vic border 15.3 km (10 mi) Continues east as   along Glenelg Highway into Victoria eventually to Ballarat (a Victorian B route "extended" into SA)
 
B201
  • Old Sturt Highway
  • Berri–Renmark Road
Barmera Berri Monash 16.8 km (10 mi) Former   Sturt Highway alignment

C routes

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Roads allocated a C route are major collector roads, linking local roads and streets to the arterial road network for inter-state travel.[5]

While officially gazetted C routes exist in South Australia, these are currently based on existing Victorian C routes terminating in South Australian locations just inside the SA/Vic state border, and do not exist anywhere else in the state.

Route Component roads From Via To Length Notes
 
C192
Glenelg River Road Mount Gambier Wye SA/Vic border 30 km (19 mi) Continues east as   along Glenelg River Road into Victoria to Portland
 
C198
Casterton Road Penola SA/Vic border 17.4 km (11 mi) Continues east as   along Casterton–Penola Road into Victoria to Casterton
 
C212
Edenhope Road Wrattonbully SA/Vic border 13.3 km (8 mi) Continues east as   along Edenhope–Penola Road into Victoria to Edenhope
 
C240
Wimmera Highway Naracoorte SA/Vicborder 23 km (14 mi) Continues east as   along Wimmera Highway into Victoria to Marong

R routes

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Roads allocated a R route are for ring roads, provide a path around a city, rather than travelling through it.[5]

South Australia is currently the only state in the country to use R routes. To date, there is only one R route: around Adelaide, the state's capital city.

Route Component roads From Via To Length Notes
 
R1
City Ring Route
Adelaide North Adelaide Adelaide 16.9 km (11 mi) Replaced   in 2017 on a slightly different alignment to the southwest, listed clockwise from the western corner of Adelaide city centre

Former Routes

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National Routes

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National Routes were the first type of route numbering to be attempted in Australia on a large scale, signed with a white shield and black writing (similar in shape to the shield that appears on the Australian coat of arms), with South Australia receiving routes in 1955. They highlighted the interstate links connecting major population, industrial and principal regions of New South Wales to the rest of the Australia, in a way that was readily identifiable to interstate travellers. The system was prepared by the Conference of State Road Authorities, held between 1953 and 1954: once each state road authority agreed to the scheme, it was rolled out federally.

Selected routes were later upgraded into National Highways when the National Roads Act was passed in 1974.

South Australia's National Routes were eventually replaced with the alphanumeric system, introduced across the state between 1998 and 1999: each route was converted to an alphanumeric route number, rendering the black-and-white shield redundant. Most National Routes in rural South Australia kept their number during the conversion; two exceptions were National Route 47 (which became B83), and National Route 83 (which became B80, B82 and B83).

Route Component roads From Via To Length Notes
 
National Route 1
SA/WA border SA/Vic border 1,716 km (1,066 mi) – progressively reallocated along South Eastern Freeway sections as they opened
– replaced by   from SA/WA border to Tailem Bend in 1974
Princes Highway (II) Replaced by:   from Mount Gambier to SA/Vic border;   from Tailem Bend to Mount Gambier in 1998
 
Alternate
National Route 1
Ceduna Lincoln Gap 715 km (444 mi) Allocated after road sealing and upgrades of Flinders Highway completed in 1978, replaced by   in 1999
Southern Ports Highway Kingston SE Millicent 119 km (74 mi) – former Princes Highway alignment (bypassed in 1933)
– allocated in 1978, replaced by   in 1999
  • Adelaide Road
  • Old Princes Highway
White Hill Murray Bridge Long Flat 13.2 km (8 mi) Allocated when Swanport Bridge over the Murray River opened in 1979, replaced by   from White Hill to Murray Bridge East in 1998
 
National Route 8
Dukes Highway Tailem Bend SA/Vic border 192 km (119 mi) Replaced by   in 1974
 
National Route 12
Mallee Highway Tailem Bend SA/Vic border 145 km (90 mi) Replaced by   in 1998
 
National Route 20
Gepps Cross SA/Vic border 267 km (166 mi) Replaced by   in 1992
 
Alternative
National Route 20
Old Sturt Highway Barmera Berri Monash 16.8 km (10 mi) Former   Sturt Highway alignment, replaced by   in 1999
 
National Route 32
Gawler SA/NSW border 417 km (259 mi) Replaced by   in 1998
 
National Route 47
Flinders Ranges Way Hawker Quorn Stirling North 98 km (61 mi) Replaced by   in 1998
 
National Route 56
Wilmington–Ucolta Road Winninowie Ucolta 123 km (76 mi) Replaced by   in 1998
 
National Route 64
Goyder Highway Crystal Brook Monash 266 km (165 mi) Replaced by   in 1998
 
National Route 83
The Outback Highway (Barndioota Road) Lyndhurst Giles Corner 292 km (181 mi) Replaced by   in 1998
RM Williams Way Replaced by   in 1998
Main North Road Replaced by   in 1998
 
National Route 87
Stuart Highway SA/NT border Port Augusta West 928 km (577 mi) Replaced by   in 1974
  Decommissioned or unsigned allocation

National Highways

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With the passing of the National Roads Act in 1974, selected National Routes were further upgraded to the status of a National Highway: interstate roads linking Australia's capital cities and major regional centres that received federal funding, and were of higher importance than other National Routes. These new routes were symbolised by green shields with gold writing, and the word "National" along the top of the shield. Most of South Australia's National Highways were declared in 1974 and their shields converted in the following years, with National Highway 20 later declared in 1992.

Like National Routes, South Australia's National Highways were also replaced with the alphanumeric system, introduced across the state in 1998: each route was converted to an alphanumeric route number, all keeping their number during the conversion, but also initially keeping the National green-and-gold shield design; this was eventually eliminated in 2017.

Route Component roads From Via To Length Notes
 
National Highway 1
SA/WA border Tailem Bend 1,716 km (1,066 mi) – replaced by   in 1998, being progressively replaced by   from 2017
Princes Highway (I) renamed Augusta Highway in 2011
South Eastern Freeway – progressively reallocated along South Eastern Freeway sections as they opened eventually to Murray Bridge in 1979
– replaced by   in 1998, being progressively replaced by   from 2017
Princes Highway (II) Replaced by   in 1998, being progressively replaced by   from 2017
 
National Highway 8
Dukes Highway Tailem Bend SA/Vic border 192 km (119 mi) – western end re-aligned from Tailem Bend to Coomandook through Cooke Plains in 1980
– re-aligned through Bordertown when Bordertown bypass opened in 1987
– replaced by   in 1998, being progressively replaced by   from 2017
 
National Highway 20
Gepps Cross SA/Vic border 267 km (166 mi) Replaced by   in 1998, being progressively replaced by   from 2017
 
National Highway 87
Stuart Highway SA/NT border Port Augusta West 928 km (577 mi) Replaced by   in 1998, being progressively replaced by   from 2017
  Decommissioned or unsigned allocation

State Routes (from Victoria)

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South Australia never adopted State Routes, but allowed two Victorian rural State Routes to cross the border and terminate in South Australian locations within 20 km of it when they were rolled out there in 1985; these were replaced by their Victorian equivalent alphanumeric allocations in 1998.

Route Component roads From Via To Length Notes
 
State Route 112
Glenelg Highway Glenburnie SA/Vic border 15.3 km (10 mi) Continued east as   along Glenelg Highway into Victoria eventually to Ballarat; replaced by   in 1998
 
State Route 130
Wimmera Highway Naracoorte SA/Vic border 23 km (14 mi) Continued east as   along Wimmera Highway into Victoria eventually to St Arnaud; replaced by   in 1998
  Decommissioned or unsigned route

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Metropolitan Publications". Department for Transport, Urban Planning and the Arts, Metropolitan Region. Archived from the original on 21 April 2000. Trailblazers is a new route numbering system that guides both local and visiting road users through unfamiliar areas by the most efficient routes. This brochure includes a map illustrating the 19 designated routes in the metropolitan area extending to main tourism locations of Victor Harbor and the Barossa Valley. The new signs display the route number, the name of the road being travelled on, major crossroads being approached and destinations along each leg.
  2. ^ "Where the new routes are". Department for Transport, Urban Planning and the Arts, Transport SA, Metropolitan Region. Archived from the original on 10 September 2002.
  3. ^ The Hon. Diana Laidlaw (24 June 1999). "Address to Estimates Committee B" (PDF). Hansard. House of Assembly - Estimates Committee B. Parliament of South Australia: 102. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2012. In terms of each class of output to be delivered by Transport SA in the year 1999-2000, the highlights are as follows: ... extension of the route numbering system across the rural arterial network ...
  4. ^ "Location SA Map viewer with road route layers". Government of South Australia. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e "A simpler way to navigate". Government of South Australia, Department for Infrastructure and Transport. Government of South Australia. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2022.