Gungahlin Drive Extension has received a lot of scrutiny since its opening, and rightly so, particularly as we now witness the farce of roadworks beginning again. However, I would like to shine a spotlight on the deplorable state of the “original” Gungahlin Drive, between Barton Highway and Kosciuszko Avenue.
When driving towards Gungahlin on this so called “drive”, you really, and I mean, really, have to concentrate (as if you were driving on a NSW road!). The road is criss-crossed by seams that distract the driver, present a very uneven surface, and make centring the vehicle and identifying lane widths very difficult.
Worst of all, though, are the number of potholes, especially along the seams that run here and there across the length and breadth of the lane. After every rain, holes open up in the seam and quickly become potholes of quite frightening dimensions. On my last journey a few days ago coming home from the ANU, I counted no less that eight on a stretch of road less then two kilometres long! And this road is about to bear an even heavier load of traffic as Franklin continues to be developed apace.
Even a cursory glance at this road leads one to believe that its construction was a very dodgy job indeed. If that assessment is wrong or unfair, I would like to know why and how?
Indeed, is Gungahlin Drive worthy of the award of the most potholed-road in the ACT’s urban network? (And yes, I have contacted TAMS about the potholes – several weeks ago.)