Northern Territory: proposed alpha-numeric routes

One of the earliest signs showing an alpha-numeric route marker in the NT - Stuart Highway/Cox Peninsula Road junction. Source: Peter Renshaw, November 2009.

In 1997, the Northern Territory Minister for Transport, along with other relevant state and territory ministers, agreed the principles for the conversion to an alpha-numeric route marking system. At the time, the Department of Works stated that whilst it supported the proposals, there were no immediate plans to implement the system. Progressive implementation, through normal sign refurbishment programs, was flagged as the most likely method of implementation.

By 2004 the first few alpha-numeric signs had appeared on the Stuart Highway in Berrimah and at the junction with Coxs Peninsula Road, south of Noonamah. In recent years, further alpha-numeric signs have appeared along the Arnhem and Kakadu Highways, and at the new junction of Stuart Highway and Tiger Brennan Drive, Palmerston. As at July 2011, no single route has been fully converted.

According to the Department of Lands & Planning, the alpha-numeric routes will be implemented progressively as signs are replaced under normal sign refurbishment programs. It is not known when the conversion is likely to be complete - none of the existing National or State routes in the Territory are comprehensively signed yet, despite having being existence for over two decades.

The table below outlines the proposed route number changes, as at June 2012. It should be noted that these are preliminary only and may be subject to change before the system is fully implemented. In the main, the changes represent simply adding a prefix to the existing number, however some route numbers have been altered. In addition, a new route has been added to the system along the recently completed Tiger Brennan Drive.

Extent of signposting as at June 2012:

	Generally restricted to isolated signs in the Darwin suburban area. Signage at the new interchange with Tiger Brennan Drive is fully alpha-numeric. Some signs also appear at the Cox Peninsula Road (B34) junction.
	New signage on the recent extension from Berrimah Road to Stuart Highway only.
	New signage through Kakadu National Park shows B21.
	Several signs at the Stuart Highway junction have been coverplated with B34 route markers.
	Several new signs along the route show B36.
All other routes	Nil.

Preliminary list of proposed Northern Territory alpha-numeric routes

A Routes
	Stuart Highway (Darwin to Carpentaria Highway junction), Victoria Highway replaces National Highway Route 1
	Lasseter Highway replaces State Route 4
	Tiger Brennan Drive not previously numbered
	Stuart Highway (Carpentara Highway junction to South Australian Border) replaces National Highway Route 87
B routes
	Carpentaria Highway replaces National Route 1
	Larapinta Drive & Luritja Road replaces State Routes 3 & 6
	Namatjira Drive replaces State Route 2
	Ross Highway replaces State Route 8
	Tablelands Highway replaces State Route 11
	Roper Highway replaces State Route 20
	Kakadu Highway replaces State Route 21
	Dorat Road replaces State Route 23
	Daly River Road replaces State Route 28
	Cox Peninsula Road replaces State Route 34
	Arnhem Highway replaces State Route 36
	Barkly Highway replaces National Highway Route 66
	Buntine Highway replaces National Route 96
C routes
	Wollogorang Road (Borroloola to Queensland Border) replaces National Route 1
	Mulga Park Road not previously numbered
	Docker River Road replaces State Route 4
	Tanami Road replaces State Route 5
	Lajamanu Road replaces State Route 9
	Plenty Highway replaces State Route 12
	Sandover Highway replaces State Route 14
	Barkly Stock Route & Calvert Road replaces State Route 16
	Central Arnhem Road replaces State Route 24
	Buchanan Highway replaces National Route 80