Road routes in the Northern Territory of Australia assist drivers navigating roads throughout the territory, by identifying important through-routes. The Northern Territory's National Highways are the main routes connecting Darwin to the adjacent states of Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia. National Routes spur off the National Highways, and are other routes of national importance, while the remaining significant routes are designated as State Routes.

According to the Roads & Maritime Services, the Northern Territory has begun converting their numbered routes to alphanumeric routes, with a "progressive replacement" scheme that sees alphanumeric route markers introduced only when signs are replaced. The table below has a list of most signed alphanumeric routes.

Alphanumeric routes Below are the existing alpha numeric routes as of November 2020. Even though the Northern Territory has been converting to alphanumerics for more than two decades, only four routes are fully signed, and a former State Route 23 that is missing a letter in all of its signs and just says "23". Signage in the Northern Territory is very inconsistent. For example C24 in not signed at the Stuart Highway junction but signed further into the route. Most signs were like this and as such very few routes have been signed in the Northern Territory.

Roads of National Significance (A routes)

A-Routes are major roads that link major destinations like Stuart Highway which connects Darwin to Adelaide. Route Component roads From To Length NotesA1WA–NT border (near Keep River National Park)743 km (462 mi)Continues east to Daly Waters as 2,834 km (1,761 mi)Partially signed as alphanumeric route ; spur section connecting to Darwin. Note that this is a separate route from the A1 that goes from WA to Daly WatersA3Petermann, Northern TerritoryWatarrka National Park161 km (100 mi)Partially signed as A3A4UluruErldunda244 km (152 mi)Partially signed as B4A15Tiger Brennan DriveTivendaleHoltze6.7 km (4.2 mi)A21Kakadu58.4 km (36.2 mi)A36Mount Bundey, Northern TerritoryMcMinns LagoonPartially signed as alphanumeric route A36/B36A87SA–NT border (near Kulgera)2,834 km (1,761 mi)Has been partially signed as A87

Roads of State Significance (B routes)

B routes are routes that connect major settlements in the State but not eligible for A Rotes due to Road quality. Route Component roads From To Length NotesB1Qld–NT border (near Wollogorang Airport)380 km (236 mi)Continues north from Daly Waters as National Highway 1 Has been partially signed as B1B6Watarrka National ParkAlice Springs325 km (202 mi)Partially signed as B6B11Cape Crawford375 km (233 mi)See hereB20MatarankaRoper Bar206 km (128 mi)Partially signed as alphanumeric route B20B21Kakadu150.6 km (93.5 mi)B23Adelaide RiverHayes Creek, 65 km (40 mi)Partially signed as 23 - It seems that the B is missing. Also there are no more State Route 23 signs, all of them have been replaced.B30BlackmoreCoomalie CreekB34NoonamahCox Peninsula79.5 km (49 mi)Partially signed as alphanumeric route B34B36Kakadu National ParkMount Bundey, Northern TerritoryPartially signed as alphanumeric route A36/B36B96Duncan Road, Nicholson, WADelamereHas been fully signed Partially unpaved

Routes of Minor significance (C routes)

These are essentially roads that link minor settlements or areas that aren't eligible for an A or a B route. Route Component roads From To Length NotesC5WA–NT border (near Tanami)1,035 km (643 mi)Partially signed as C5 Partially unpavedC12Qld–NT border (near Tobermorey)Signs on the Alice Springs Golf Club Facebook page shows a C12 signC16Lake Woods251 km (156 mi)See hereC24663 km (412 mi)Signage very inconstant Partially unpavedC80Victoria Highway ( south-east of Timber CreekBirdumHas been fully signed Partially unpaved

National Highways and Routes There are three national highways and one current existing national route in the Northern Territory. +Current and former National Highways and Routes RoutePlanned alphanumeric route Component roads From To Length NotesRoutes that haven't been replaced with an Alphanumeric RouteNational Highway 66A2 or

A66Tennant CreekQld–NT border (near )754 km (469 mi)Routes that have been replaced with an Alphanumeric RouteNational Highway 1A1WA–NT border (near Keep River National Park)743 km (462 mi)Mostly signed as alphanumeric route A1 Continues east from Daly Waters as B12,834 km (1,761 mi)Mostly signed as alphanumeric route A1; spur section connecting to DarwinNational Highway 87A87SA–NT border (near Kulgera)2,834 km (1,761 mi)Mostly signed as A87 instead of National Highway 87National Route 1B1Qld–NT border (near Wollogorang Airport)380 km (236 mi)Continues north from Daly Waters as A1. Has been partially signed as B1.Fully decommissioned National Routes Former RouteReplaced alphanumeric routeComponent roadsFromToLengthNotesNational Route 80C80BirdumVictoria Highway ( south-east of Timber CreekHas been fully signed Partially unpavedNational Route 96B96 To NicholsonDelamereDuncan Road, Nicholson, WAHas been fully signed Partially unpaved

State Routes State routes are numbered based on their position in the territory, generally increasing in number from south to north.

Route Planned Alphanumeric Replacement Component roads From To Length NotesRoutes that haven't been replaced with an Alphanumeric RouteState Route 2B7Larapinta Drive, Larapinta Drive, 156 km (97 mi)State Route 12B12Qld–NT border (near Tobermorey)State Route 14C14Plenty Highway, Qld–NT border (near Alpurrurulam)561 km (349 mi)UnpavedState Route 28B28Robin FallsWadeyeNot signed at all Routes that have been replaced with an Alphanumeric RouteState Route 3A3Lasseter HighwayWatarrka National Park161 km (100 mi)Partially signed as A3State Route 4B4ErldundaUluru244 km (152 mi)Partially signed as A4/B4C4UluruWA–NT border (near Kaltukatjara)189 km (117 mi)State Route 5C5WA–NT border (near Tanami)1,035 km (643 mi)Partially signed as C5State Route 6B6Watarrka National ParkAlice Springs325 km (202 mi)Partially signed as B6State Route 8B8Arltunga Historical Reserve, 90 km (56 mi)State Route 11B11375 km (233 mi)State Route 16C16Lake Woods251 km (156 mi)State Route 20B20MatarankaRoper Bar206 km (128 mi)Partially signed as alphanumeric route B20State Route 23 – decommissionedB23Adelaide River Hayes Creek, 65 km (40 mi)Partially signed as 23. However you will no longer be able to see a SR23 sign in the NT.State Route 24C24663 km (412 mi)Signage very inconstant. Partially signed as C24.State Route 30B30Coomalie CreekBlackmorePartially SignedState Route 34B34NoonamahCox Peninsula 79.5 km (49 mi)Partially signed as alphanumeric route B34

See also

List of highways in the Northern Territory

References