Seriously, it’s been what, 2 years, 3 years and already huge pot holes are appearing, long rumble lines where the bitumen is falling apart, patching needed in so many places, bouncy uneveness …
What is happening to road making in Canberra?  The Baldwin Dr/Maribynong Ave intersection cost a bomb to be made worse by the most stupidly designed traffic island in history, [...]

ACT Policing is now targeting road safety amongst heavy vehicle drivers and transport companies as part of Operation AUSTRANS.
The operation is a joint effort across national police, transport and safety agencies which began yesterday (May 20) and will finish on June 16 2013.
Traffic Operations Sergeant Rod Anderson explained that although police include heavy vehicle drivers [...]

Rioters
Anyone know what the deal is with Gungahlin Drive between Well Station Drive and Sandford Street citybound? There’s been a few mornings this week where its gotten to be like there is a bottleneck like there was when the GDE was one lane – only once you crawl to the lights at Sandford Street, [...]

There are plenty of road surfaces appearing on the Southside (e.g. Gowrie, Fadden, Chisholm) with the new, cheap, loose gravel on tar method of re-surfacing.
This is a noisy surface that increases tyre road noise, produces a poor ride especially with firm sports suspension and this is a surface that leaves loose gravel for weeks/months. [...]

This just in…
It’s about time we lobby the ACT Government to widen our bike paths!! How can we be expected to fit our cars in these piddling ½ sized lanes? In peak times there is an obvious need for the average motorist to bypass the law abiding losers waiting patiently for a variety of reasons, [...]

Browsing through the Federal Budget papers I came across this item, which left me scratching my head:
‘$300,000 for Ramp Metering on the Tuggeranong Parkway/Cotter Rd interchange’
Like 99.9% of the population, I had no idea what ramp metering was, let alone why the Commonwealth would pay for it or why it was needed at the Cotter [...]

Rioter Reprobate just sent us this confusing set of images.
These photos were taken outside Pizza Capers Mawson, just near the Woolies.
Approaching the carpark off Mawson Pl, there is a road into the carpark but there are two No Entry signs preventing entry. OK… but once in the carpark, there are another two signs [...]

When will the madness of the ACT’s road surfacing programme end. Everyone I talk to is unhappy with the spray seal /  chip seal used yet the programme rolls on, this time in Mawson and Phillip. For those of you that live in Mawson, they seem to have done a particularily poor job as there are loose stones [...]

This morning’s commute took me past two examples of terrible resurfacing; one on the bike path and one on the road.  The first is on the  bit of bike path that runs from Cook/Aranda to LBG, running parallel with both Bindubi Street and William Hovell Drive.  That path is one of the best things about [...]

The magic of FOI presents a list of the red light and speed cameras in the ACT and how much money they’ve raked in.
Northbourne Avenue and Antill Street seems very popular.
Any highlights for you dear reader?

So it’s not exactly Canberran (or even Australian) news, however arguing about cyclists on the road is one of Canberra’s favourite hobbys, so we think it fits.
Carlton Reid is releasing a free e-book later this year called “Roads Were Not Built for Cars“.
I expect all of us to pick up a copy when it’s released [...]

The recent spate of resealing of Canberra’s roads highlights the incompetence of our Government and their cheaply paid contractors.
Gone are the days where they would spend some time and effort properly resealing a section of road – digging it up, laying a proper road-base, then sealing it with a nice mix of asphalt and tar, and finally finishing it [...]

Chief Minister Gallagher has let it be known the Majura Parkway construction is underway.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese today joined ACT Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher to turn the sod on this critical road infrastructure project which will provide a continuous freeway link between the Federal Highway and Monaro Highway.
“Assessed and recommended [...]

It doesn’t take much looking to find “exciting” roadworks anywhere in Canberra. What I can’t help but notice is that when these works are finished, they all look tacked on and cheap. Then there is quality of build which is usually average to poor.
Cases in point are the new merge lane from Parkes Way to [...]

The ACT has recorded its 12th fatality after a man involved in a collision yesterday morning was declared deceased in hospital late this afternoon (Wednesday, December 19).
The 35-year-old man was driving a Toyota Camry southbound when it collided with a flatbed truck at the intersection of the Federal Highway and Majura Road yesterday morning (Tuesday, [...]

A while ago my wife and I each had a near miss head on accident with the same car while travelling on the Monaro Highway.
We were in saparate cars travelling to Royalla, the traffic was light & we were not in a hurry. My wife was a minute ahead & out of sight. As I [...]

My email box overfloweth with readers contributions of bad parking and traffic behaviour. Let’s take a looksie.

1. A reader who wishes to stay anonymous gave us this:
Evening of the 13/12/12, one driver put on a special show at UC

2. Jon gave us this approach to a pedestrian crossing:
On one of the first nice days in [...]

Roads ACT Director Tony Gill is explaining that with the Spofforth Street speed pillows directing traffic every other way in Holt he’s going to try and figure out what’s going on there:
The ACT Government recently completed a post-construction evaluation of the effectiveness of the speed cushions on Spofforth Street in Holt, Director, Roads ACT, Tony [...]

Territory and Municipal Services have posted an intriguing warning that they’re installing traffic lights on the roundabout at the intersection of Drakeford and Isabella Drives:
The ACT Government wishes to advise motorists and other road users that there will be changed traffic conditions on Isabella Drive, westbound, at the roundabout intersection with Drakeford Drive between 7.30 [...]

Territory and Municipal Services are asking for members of the public to self select as a “focus group” on the duplication of Gundaroo Drive:
Gungahlin residents and other interested stakeholders are invited to participate in a focus group session to discuss the duplication of Gundaroo Drive.
“Carrying up to 12,500 vehicles a day, Gundaroo Drive provides [...]

Liberal leader Zed Seselja is telegraphing his promises to the engineers.
The high and hazy “Infrastructure Canberra” is once again held out as a universal panacea, but he’s also promising:
“We would also inject an extra $125 million to fast-track and upgrade Canberra’s roads, bringing the total roads and parking capital works budget to $700 million.

It’s very clear Canberra drivers don’t know what Shared Zones are. I’ve witnessed more than a few close calls, including very often between the National Library and Questacon where drivers barrel through at speed, failing to give way.  Today one driver slammed on the brakes and proceeded to gesture frustration at those crossing the road.
So [...]

The Motorists have unleashed ten separate motoring and transport policies.
Let’s get through them then.

1. Roads and alternative transport
The Motorist Party recognises the automobile: car, truck, four wheel drive, bus or motorcycle, as the primary mode of transport as it is the most convenient method for ACT residents.
2. Public transport
The Motorist Party recognises the need [...]

Going southbound on the Monaro today I noted that the speed limit as you come off of the bridge over the Molonglo that the speed limit now goes from 60 to 90, and not 80.
I also noticed that going through the newly opened southbound section of the highway across Fyshwick, that the speed limit [...]

There is a lot of news disseminated here about changes to traffic conditions due to road works, what you don’t get to find out though is that they might do something silly like stop traffic during peak hour.
“They can do all the road works, curvy roads and 40 signs they like, but they will never make us as slow as a [...]

Motorists are advised that Brindabella Road and Mt Franklin Road through to Bulls Head have now been reopened. This means that the only section of road closed due to snow is Bendora Road. Residents wanting to experience the snow first hand are, however, strongly encouraged to consider visiting an established snow recreation area, such as [...]

If you thought the traffic lights weren’t syncing up as they should it turns out Territory and Municipal Services are having a spot of bother:
The ACT Government wishes to advise motorists and other road users that the ACT traffic light network is currently experiencing some technical problems.
Individual intersection traffic lights are operating as per normal [...]

So, with the recent discussions surrounding the fatal crash in Chifley, and the eating of pie while driving in conversation, I have been left again with the thought, ‘What can be done?’
In the end, I thought that might be something to throw over to everyone, and see what ideas are out there.
To help kick this [...]

Having this morning had the news that logging was about to kick off for the Majura Parkway it’s a relief to hear Simon Corbell has called in the proposal (bypassing endless objections by the inevitable objectors).
(Which does rather make one wonder what the planning process is for)
“The Majura Parkway project is a vital project which [...]

ACT Policing in co-operation with NSW Police will continue to conduct high-visibility patrols on major arterial roads in and out of Canberra as part of Operation Snow Safe this winter.
From the start of the NSW snow season on Friday 8 June, police have been focusing on speeding, drink-driving and driver fatigue as motorists travel to [...]

What’s the story with Canberra (international) Airport’s cobblestone (brick) loop road for dropping off passengers.
It’s been bad for a while, but on my last trip, some of the road surface was in such a mess, a puncture wasn’t out of the question.
Anyone else consider it’s in need of some repair work?

This in from Territory and Municipal Services:
The ACT Government wishes to advise motorists and other road users that Sunshine Crossing has been reopened.
Angle Crossing remains closed. People are urged to respect the closure which is sign-posted.