List of road routes in New South Wales (numeric)

Road routes in New South Wales assist drivers navigating roads throughout the state, as roads may change names several times between destinations, or have a second local name in addition to a primary name. New South Wales previously used an older, numerical shield-based system (which this article focuses on) until 2013, when it was completely replaced (except for Tourist Routes) with a newer, alphanumeric system.

New South Wales implemented the federally-issued National Routes system between 1954 and 1955, using white-and-black shields highlighting interstate links between major regional centres; some of these routes were later upgraded into National Highways using green-and-gold shields when the National Roads Act was passed in 1974.

Sydney's initial shield system was the Ring Road system, with three routes rolled out in 1964. These were eventually replaced by a specialised Freeway Routes system in 1973, and a state-wide shield-based numbering scheme, allocating blue-and-white shields across Sydney in 1974, numbered to fit around existing National Routes, with separate allocations for rural New South Wales, the Hunter (Greater Newcastle) and Illawarra (Greater Wollongong) regions; this system received sporadic updates throughout the 1990s and 2000s. These were augmented by the Metroad system in 1992–93, with its blue-on-white hexagonal shields identifying major routes through Sydney, with additional routes added through the late 1990s.

The new alphanumeric system, introduced in 2013, has now replaced the previous scheme across the entire state. It consists of alphanumeric routes, a one-to-three digit number prefixed with a letter (M, A, B, or D) that denotes the grade and importance of the road, and (apart from Tourist Routes) is now the state's only road route numbering system.

Some routes, in part or in their entirety, may have been made obsolete by the alphanumeric designation: these replacement routes are noted but not listed in full here. Some also may follow older alignments or routes later changed even after the new system was introduced, and are included here for the sake of completion. Roads are described in either a west–east or north–south alignment.

National Routes 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 New South Wales receiving routes in 1954. 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 COSRA (Conference of State Road Authorities), held between 1953 and 1954: once each state road authority agreed to the scheme, it was rolled out federally.

In 1954, the Hume Highway was trialled as National Route 31, chosen due to its prominence as a transport corridor connecting Australia's largest cities (Sydney and Melbourne). Soon after, other National Routes across the state were allocated. Selected routes were later upgraded into National Highways when the National Roads Act was passed in 1974.

New South Wales' National Routes were initially replaced within the boundaries of Sydney with the Metroad system in 1992–93, and eventually replaced entirely across the state by the alphanumeric system in 2013: each route was converted to an alphanumeric route number, rendering the previous shields redundant. Many National Routes across New South Wales were renumbered during the conversion, while some others were not replaced at all and became unsigned.

Route Component roads From Via To Length NotesNational Route 1Pacific Highway (I) (Tweed Heads section)NSW/Qld borderNSW/Vic borderReallocated along Tweed Heads bypass when it opened in 1992, later replaced by when Tugun Bypass opened in 2008, renamed Gold Coast Highway in 2009Progressively reallocated along Pacific Motorway sections as they opened, replaced by /Construction of Sydney–Newcastle Freeway sections bypassing Pacific Highway built between Berowra and Ourimbah between 1964 and 1973 (old alignments eventually allocated in 1979), entire freeway replaced by in 1974 (and progressively extended at both ends until 1998) – re-aligned through North Sydney from Pacific Highway to Berry/Arthur/Mount Streets (one-way southbound) and Pacific Highway (one-way northbound) when the Warringah Freeway opened in 1968;– re-aligned through central Sydney from Pacific and Bradfield Highways, York and George Streets, Broadway, City Road, King Street and Princes Highway to York Street (one-way southbound) and Clarence Street (one-way northbound) in 1972;– re-aligned through central Sydney from York/Clarence and George Streets to Western Distributor, Harris Street and Broadway in 1986;– re-aligned through central Sydney from Harris Street to Wattle/Fig Streets (one-way northbound) and Harris Street (one-way southbound) when the Fig Street Connection opened in 1990;– re-aligned through northern, central and southern Sydney from Pacific and Bradfield Highways, Western Distributor, Wattle/Fig/Harris Streets, Broadway, City Road, King Street and Princes Highway, to current alignment when Gore Hill Freeway and Sydney Harbour Tunnel opened in 1992;– replaced by in 1993Progressively reallocated along Princes Motorway sections as they opened, replaced by /AlternativeNational Route 1AsquithHornsbyAlternative route through Hornsby (east of railway line): allocated 1975, replaced by when Sydney-Newcastle Freeway extended to Wahroonga in 1989Princes HighwayWaterfallDaptoFormer route through Wollongong: allocated 1975, replaced by in 1989National Route 15New England HighwayNSW/Qld borderHexham – replaced by in 1974 – concurrency with along Oxley Highway from Bendemeer to TamworthNational Route 16Murray Valley HighwayEustonNSW/Vic borderDecommissioned in 2013, now unallocatedNational Route 18Snowy Mountains HighwayMount AdrahStony Creek – replaced by – concurrency with along Monaro Highway from Cooma to Steeple FlatNational Route 20Sturt HighwayNSW/Vic borderTarcutta – replaced by in 1992– concurrency with along Olympic Highway from Moorong to Wagga WaggaNational Route 23Federal HighwayYarraNSW/ACT borderReplaced by in 1974Monaro HighwayNSW/ACT borderNSW/Vic border – replaced by – concurrency with along Snowy Mountains Highway from Cooma to Steeple FlatNational Route 24Mid-Western HighwayHayBathurst – replaced by: from Hay to Cowra; from Cowra to Bathurst– concurrency with along Newell Highway from West Wyalong to CaragabalNational Route 25Barton HighwayYassMurrumbatemanNSW/ACT borderAllocated when road sealing and upgrades completed in 1956, replaced by in 1974National Route 31Hume HighwayHaberfieldNSW/Vic border – re-aligned through Camden when Camden bypass opened in 1974– replaced along Hume Highway from Casula to the border by in 1974, allocation from Haberfield to Casula left as – replaced from Haberfield to Chullora, and from Liverpool to Casula, by when allocated in 1993, unallocated otherwise– replaced from Warwick Farm to Casula by (replacing ), and from Chullora to Warwick Farm by , when Casula bypass opened in 1994– replaced from Haberfield to Chullora by (replacing ) when M5 East Motorway opened in 2001– replaced by: from Haberfield to Warwick Farm; from Warwick Farm to PrestonsNational Route 32NSW/SA borderLapstone – allocation originally along entire length of Great Western Highway and Parramatta Road through Sydney to Ultimo– progressively reallocated along M4 Motorway as sections opened (older allocations along Great Western Highway replaced by )– truncated to Emu Plains, and replaced along M4 Motorway by , in 1992– truncated further back to Lapstone when M4 Motorway extension opened in 1993– replaced by National Route 34Oxley HighwayNevertirePort Macquarie – replaced by from Coonabarabran to Port Macquarie, unallocated otherwise– concurrency with along New England Highway from Tamworth to BendemeerNational Route 37Kamilaroi HighwayBourkeWillow Tree – allocated in 1974 from Narrabri to Willow Tree, western end extended to Bourke in 1999 – replaced by: from Bourke to Walgett; from Narrabri to Willow Tree; unallocated otherwiseNational Route 38Gwydir HighwayWalgettSouth Grafton – allocated in 1962 from Collarenebri to South Grafton, western end extended to Walgett in 1993 – replaced by National Route 39Newell HighwayNSW/Qld borderNSW/Vic border – allocated in 1962, replaced by in 1992– concurrencies: with along Mid-Western Highway from Caragabal to West Wyalong; with along Burley Griffin Way from Mirrool to ArdlethanNational Route 41Olympic HighwayCowraTable Top – allocated in 1974, replaced by – concurrency with along Sturt Highway from Wagga Wagga to MoorongNational Route 43Balranald-Tooleybuc RoadBalranaldTooleybucNSW/Vic borderDecommissioned in early 2000s, allocation never properly signed as parts of it were not initially sealedNational Route 44Bruxner HighwayTenterfieldWest BallinaAllocated in 1974, replaced by National Route 46Carnarvon HighwayNSW/Qld borderMungindiMoreeAllocated in 1997, decommissioned in 2013, now unallocatedNational Route 48Illawarra HighwaySutton ForestAlbion Park RailAllocated in 1974, replaced by National Route 52NSW/ACT borderQueanbeyanNSW/ACT border – allocated in 1974– re-aligned through Queanbeyan from Uriarra Road and Crawford Street (and Norse Road in ACT) to current alignment (eliminating level crossing with Bombala railway line) in 1982– replaced by Kings HighwayNSW/ACT borderBatemans Bay – allocated in 1974, replaced by National Route 55Castlereagh HighwayNSW/Qld borderGilgandra – allocated in 1974 from Walgett to Gilgandra, northern end extended to NSW/Qld border in 1983– replaced by National Route 58Riverina HighwayDeniliquinNSW/Vic borderAllocated in 1974, replaced by from Deniliquin to Albury, unallocated otherwiseNational Route 71Mitchell HighwayNSW/Qld borderNynganReplaced by National Route 75Cobb HighwayWilcanniaNSW/Vic borderReplaced by National Route 79NSW/Qld borderNSW/Vic borderReplaced by between NSW/Qld border and Curlwaa: while allocation originally continued into Victoria, detours to terminate in Buronga

National Highways 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 New South Wales' National Highways were declared in 1974 and their shields converted in the following years, with National Highways 20 and 39 later declared in 1992.

Like National Routes, New South Wales' National Highways were also replaced with the alphanumeric system, introduced across the state in 2013: each route was converted to an alphanumeric route number, with all keeping their number during the conversion.