The Managed Motorway Manuals are a series of documents, issued by VicRoads to provide guidance for the selection and design of traffic management treatments for motorway flow management.
Managed Motorway Framework
This Framework provides the rationale and supporting evidence behind the active management of Victoria's motorway (also referred to as freeway) network.
Managed Motorway Framework - March 2017 [PDF 21 Mb]
Managed Motorway Design Guide
The Managed Motorway Design Guide provides guidance and rationale to practitioners in relation to the infrastructure, tools and systems used to facilitate and manage operations on motorways in Victoria. The guidance applies to all motorways (freeways and tollways) whether managed by VicRoads or private road operators.
The Managed Motorway Design Guide outlines the approach used by VicRoads to manage traffic operations on motorways, particularly in urban areas, in a manner that targets optimised flows, sustained productivity and safe operating outcomes. The science and evidence underpinning the VicRoads approach is presented to assist practitioners and decision makers in identifying scope requirements for new and upgraded Managed Motorways. The provision of infrastructure and tools outlined in the guide provides motorway operators with the ability to effectively manage regular and unexpected traffic conditions across a managed network of urban motorways.
Volume 1 – Managed Motorways – Role, Traffic Theory and Science
- Part 1 – Introduction to Managing Urban Motorways
- Part 2 – Traffic Theory Relating to Urban Motorways
- Part 3 – Motorway Capacity Guide [PDF 4.8 Mb]
- Part 4 – Road Safety on Urban Motorways
- Part 5 – Linking Investment and Benefits Approach
Volume 2 – Managed Motorways Design Practice
We will continue to add each document for download as they become available.
Standard drawings for Managed Motorway and Freeway Ramp Signals can be found in VicRoads standard drawings for roadworks.
Motorway Design Volume Guide
The Motorway Design Volume Guide has been reviewed and forms part of the Managed Motorway Design Guide. The guide can be found in Volume 1, Part 3 – Motorway Capacity Guide.
The Motorway Capacity Guide provides guidance on the Maximum Sustainable Flow Rates for motorways within large metropolitan cities with very high traffic demands spread over extended peak periods which usually lead to regular occurrence of congestion. These rates should be used as design volumes for future motorway projects.
Freeway Ramp Signal Handbook
The Freeway Ramp Signal Handbook has been revised and updated to form part of the Managed Motorway Design Guide, Volume 2, Parts 2 and 3.
The Managed Motorway Design Guide provides new planning and design information for mainline carriageway design that incorporates the managed motorway approach, entry ramp traffic signals for arterial road and motorway to motorway ramps, an overview of the coordinated ramp signals system, the introduction of new operational tools for managing exit ramps and guidance for the provision of supporting infrastructure and systems.
The guide standardises ramp signals design to ensure that drivers experience consistent and clear guidance, and that ramp signals are effective in controlling entry ramp traffic.
Managed Freeway Handbook for Lane Use Management, Variable Speed Limits and Traveller Information
The Managed Freeway Handbook for Lane Use Management, Variable Speed Limits and Traveller Information is VicRoads primary reference for planning, designing and operating lane use and incident management, variable speed limits and traveller information tools on freeways.
This Handbook provides principles and standards for:
- lane use and incident management
- variable speed limits
- traveller information tools.
The tools documented in this handbook assist in improving safety and operation, and keeping motorists informed about travelling conditions. They are particularly beneficial in relation to managing:
- incidents and other events
- roadworks
- periods of congestion.
The tools combine with access control using coordinated freeway ramp signals to manage freeway flow and achieve high levels of safety, efficiency and reliability. In the interests of uniformity, other Victorian road authorities are encouraged to apply the requirements of this handbook to freeways/tollways under their control.
Managed Freeway Guidelines
The Managed Freeway Guidelines have been superseded by Volume 2, Part 1 of the Managed Motorway Design Guide [PDF 3.2 Mb]