I can remember using the expression 'just like a bought one' as if a commercial product was better than a home made one.
Here roads are usually referred to by a name (with a 'the'), even when they have a number. The major motorways in Sydney are usually referred to as the M4, M5, M7 and so on, and now that major roads in NSW have been given M, A and B road numbers some of them are referred to by their number. Near the Queensland border what had been the Pacific Highway (Highway 1), but has now been upgraded to motorway standard (dual carriage way, limited access) is now mentioned in traffic reports as the M1 Pacific Motorway. In the UK roads are routinely referred to by their letter and number designator, so the main road north from London is 'the A1'.