THE Wallan–Whittlesea Road, yet another local carriageway rotting quicker than granddad’s teeth, has once again become a symbol of bureaucratic brilliance.
Instead of fixing the potholes large enough to host a family of wombats, we’ve been blessed with the presence of not one, not two, but three trucks big enough to tow the Titanic, crawling along, painting fresh white lines over crumbling bitumen. Because nothing says “job well done” quite like a shiny stripe on a surface that resembles a lunar landscape.
There they were, locals lined up in their cars, watching paint dry, literally, while trapped behind the last of these mechanical behemoths. The irony was thick enough to fill a pothole.
Once upon a time, roadworks were scheduled with some respect for the public. Crews worked through the night or during off-peak hours, aiming to minimise disruption. These days? Road closures, detours, and gridlock are the norm. The convenience of the public now ranks somewhere below a wet sandwich on the Department of Transport’s list of priorities.
It’s the same story everywhere – rail lines shut, power cut, and chaos unleashed. All seemingly timed for when the most people are affected. One might think the goal isn’t maintenance, but misery.
So yes, thank you to whoever decided that a fresh coat of white paint was the urgent priority for a road that’s disintegrating under our tyres. Nothing like cosmetic surgery on a corpse to make us all feel better. If only someone at VicRoads could be bothered to look past the pretty lines and notice the gaping holes underneath.
And if you think that’s bad, try catching the train. The Seymour line, supposedly a vital regional link, is now a punchline. Constant closures, endless bus replacements, and schedules that would make a Swiss railway planner weep.
The line has become the state’s favourite toy for upgrades, yet somehow it only ever seems to get worse. Passengers have swapped timetables for therapy sessions as they endure yet another temporary shutdown that drags on for months.
It all paints a pretty bleak picture of modern infrastructure management, a world where appearance trumps substance and inconvenience is just part of the deal.
No wonder one is left wondering if anyone in charge actually drives these roads or rides these trains. Maybe when the next round of “upgrades” rolls through, someone might remember that the purpose of public works is to serve the public, not to test their patience to breaking point.
But then that’s just my opinion.