Great Western Highway - Route Number Changes

Route Number Changes

Before the North Strathfield-Mays Hill and Huntingwood-Emu Plains sections of the then Western Freeway were joined by the construction of the missing link from Mays Hill to Huntingwood, the section of the highway between Reservoir Road, Huntingwood and Russell Street, Emu Plains was signposted as national route 32. When Metroads were introduced, the highway east of North Strathfield and the full length of the Freeway were designated as Metroad 4. The section of highway from Wattle St to the Liverpool Rd became unnumbered following the opening of the final stage of the City-West Link, so that Metroad 4 commenced under freeway conditions at Anzac Bridge, joining the Harbour Bridge and Cross-City Tunnel.

From the introduction of the Metroads until the opening of the M5 East (General Holmes Drive to King Georges Road) in 2001, the part of the highway between Railway Square and the Hume Highway was designated as part of Metroad 5. When the M5 East was completed, the Metroad 5 designation was assigned to the freeway; those parts of the highways (both Great Western/Hume Highway) which had been part of Metroad 5 were now given over to a logical continuation of State Route 31 east beyond Metroad 3, from Centenary Drive into the city.

From North Strathfield to Russell Street, Emu Plains the highway is now state route 44 (as is the section of Russell Street from the Highway to the M4).