1 August 2013

3D chalk art in Civic reminds us of Canberra's worst roads

| Barcham
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3d chalk art

Coming back from the city just now I stumbled across this awesome piece of art outside the Canberra Centre, and stumbled into a discussion with the NRMA about why it was there.

The NRMA are getting signatures and quotes from Canberrans on how they felt about the roads around the ACT. These names and quotes alongside the results of their recent survey would then be presented to the Government.

According to their survey of over 10,000 motorists, the most frustrating and dangerous roads in the ACt are (in order):

1. Kings Highway
2. Barton highway
3. Monaro Highway
4. Parkes Way
5. Gundaroo Drive

ACT motorists also voted that poor road surfaces, not enough lanes, and narrow lanes were their biggest concerns.

if you’d like to have your say, or just see the awesome chalk art, head out now. They’re in the underpass of the Canberra Centre that sits between Supabarn and the Gym.

Go check it out.

Tent
I will admit the reason I approached this tent is that usually when I see it it has a sausage sizzle underneath.

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Interesting to see that road surfaces are the biggest concern.

Unlike most other states, we seem to get a much poorer quality chipseal here with very few asphalt roads. The half fix, well less than 1/4 fix of Wentworth Ave was also laughable and the only reason that is asphalt is they can’t use chip to seal intersections.

The noisy, coarse seal should be more of an issue come the next ACT election. Surely others are fed up of the tyre roar and stone chips in their car?

Barcham said :

RB78 said :

c_c™ said :

Ironically the people taking the most notice were the motorists wondering why the hell a favourite shortcut was blocked. Nice one NRMA.

Scotts Crossing, a shortcut? Not as long as that crossing is there. I avoid driving down there unless the shops are closed.

This.

The only reason to ever drive down that street during the day is if you really need to pull over and take a nap but can’t find a carpark. You could probably manage a good 10 minute power-nap there without anyone getting suspicious as to why your car hasn’t moved.

I really don’t know what you are talking about. I go through this crossing many times during the week, including the busy lunch time period, and never had I needed to wait more than 30 seconds to get past the pedestrian crossing.

funbutalsoserious said :

Is this the same NRMA that has been ripping off Canberran’s off with the CTP insurance prices?

No, it isn’t. That’s NRMA Insurance, part of the Insurance Australia Group.

This is NRMA Motoring and Services.

Since 2000 the two have been separate entities both operating under the NRMA brand.

funbutalsoserious6:37 am 02 Aug 13

Is this the same NRMA that has been ripping off Canberran’s off with the CTP insurance prices?

Kings Highway isnt a bad road, its just badly designed and meanders all over the place and has multiple turns and curves for no apparent reason. Thus frustrating.

Parkes Way isnt a bad road, it just banks up for about 2km every single evening.

So they are definitely frustrating roads. Perhaps not ‘bad’ roads as the artwork suggests

Was all hosed off about 4pm with a high pressure hose. Seemed pointless.

I assumed the NRMA was staging it to remind everyone how good roads are – everyone likes roads, driving on roads, parking on roads – and how terribad the light rail idea is – people might confuse us with Melbourne and start doing hook turns.

Blen_Carmichael6:04 pm 01 Aug 13

c_c™ said :

Walked past this at lunch time, there were all of two people looking at it and some very disinterested NRMA reps standing around.

And so they should be disinterested.

On another note, I am nominating the crossing on that street the most likely place for the next pedestrian fatality. Have it controlled by traffic lights, a trainee police officer, even a lollipop lady – but don’t leave it as it is.

Barcham said :

RB78 said :

c_c™ said :

Ironically the people taking the most notice were the motorists wondering why the hell a favourite shortcut was blocked. Nice one NRMA.

Scotts Crossing, a shortcut? Not as long as that crossing is there. I avoid driving down there unless the shops are closed.

This.

The only reason to ever drive down that street during the day is if you really need to pull over and take a nap but can’t find a carpark. You could probably manage a good 10 minute power-nap there without anyone getting suspicious as to why your car hasn’t moved.

Taxi drivers use it to take a left back onto Cooyong St, avoiding 2 other sets of lights and two other ped crossings.

Delivery vehicles frequently use the loading zones and dock area.

Armoured vehicles use it to stock the ATMs upstairs.

fromthecapital said :

The demandbetterroads campaign is either ill informed or disingenuous about road funding.

I agree, all but one of those roads are just fine.

I have never understood why Gundaroo Drive was never made dual carraigeway from the start. Inconvenient? Yes. Dagerous? Not really.

Anybody driven the Bobyan road on a LWE with car loads of people heading fishing or camping at warp speed? Now that can be downright scary.

RB78 said :

c_c™ said :

Ironically the people taking the most notice were the motorists wondering why the hell a favourite shortcut was blocked. Nice one NRMA.

Scotts Crossing, a shortcut? Not as long as that crossing is there. I avoid driving down there unless the shops are closed.

This.

The only reason to ever drive down that street during the day is if you really need to pull over and take a nap but can’t find a carpark. You could probably manage a good 10 minute power-nap there without anyone getting suspicious as to why your car hasn’t moved.

nsn said :

I stand corrected. Of course the Kings Highway does pass through the ACT!

And that little bit of the Kings Highway is of the highest quality stretch of road that highway has… Funny about that.

fromthecapital3:57 pm 01 Aug 13

The demandbetterroads campaign is either ill informed or disingenuous about road funding.

thatsnotme said :

nsn said :

The Kings Highway is not in the ACT.

There is actually a part of the Kings Highway that passes through the ACT. Not a large part, and I’m sure that the survey results aren’t based on the little bit that is in the ACT.

The same’s true for the Barton Highway, and to a lesser extent the Monaro Highway. Perhaps the list should be ‘Roads that ACT residents use a whole lot’.

I stand corrected. Of course the Kings Highway does pass through the ACT!

c_c™ said :

Walked past this at lunch time, there were all of two people looking at it and some very disinterested NRMA reps standing around.

Ironically the people taking the most notice were the motorists wondering why the hell a favourite shortcut was blocked. Nice one NRMA.

Awww, now I feel sorry for it…it looks cool. If I was in Canberra, I’d go and have a look

nsn said :

The Kings Highway is not in the ACT.

There is actually a part of the Kings Highway that passes through the ACT. Not a large part, and I’m sure that the survey results aren’t based on the little bit that is in the ACT.

The same’s true for the Barton Highway, and to a lesser extent the Monaro Highway. Perhaps the list should be ‘Roads that ACT residents use a whole lot’.

The Kings Highway is not in the ACT.

More yowie plates than not however

What,no mention of Wentworth Ave??

c_c™ said :

Ironically the people taking the most notice were the motorists wondering why the hell a favourite shortcut was blocked. Nice one NRMA.

Scotts Crossing, a shortcut? Not as long as that crossing is there. I avoid driving down there unless the shops are closed.

Walked past this at lunch time, there were all of two people looking at it and some very disinterested NRMA reps standing around.

Ironically the people taking the most notice were the motorists wondering why the hell a favourite shortcut was blocked. Nice one NRMA.

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