Discover Australia's Worst Road, According to Top Urban Planner - You Won't Believe Which One It Is!
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Navigating the roads of Australia can be a journey filled with beautiful coastal views, lush landscapes, and the occasional wildlife sighting. However, for every scenic drive, there's a stretch of tarmac that can leave drivers bewildered, frustrated, or downright scared. One such road has been singled out by an aspiring urban planning expert, and it's not the rugged outback track you might expect.
Sharath Mahendran, a civil engineering student with a keen eye for urban planning, has taken to social media to name and shame what he believes is the worst road in the country: Mount Ousley Road in New South Wales. With a following of 43,000 subscribers on his channel, Mahendran's critique of this infamous stretch of road has sparked a conversation among Australians about what truly makes a road 'bad'.
Mount Ousley Road, which is signed as the M1, is a major artery that many might assume fits the bill of a motorway. However, Mahendran argues that this is a facade. He points out that despite its designation, the road is plagued with tight curves, perilous at-grade intersections, and what he calls the 'most confusing interchange in the country' at Bulli Tops.
The interchange at Bulli Tops, which Mahendran describes with a mix of humor and disbelief, is a complex web where five roads converge. Adding to the chaos, there's a restaurant, a lookout, and a tourist center nestled within the interchange. It's a setup that might seem more at home in a bustling city center than on what's supposed to be a streamlined motorway.
Mahendran's 16-minute exposé, delivered with a humorous tone that has endeared him to tens of thousands of followers, delves into the history and peculiarities of Mount Ousley Road. He recounts the incremental additions to the road, including the 1964 and 1975 works that connected it to the F6 at both ends. The result is a patchwork of planning decisions that, while perhaps made sense at the time, have culminated in a driving experience that can be as confusing as it is frustrating.
The video has resonated with nearly 50,000 viewers, many of whom have shared their own bewildering experiences with Mount Ousley Road. Comments range from lighthearted jests about the road's 'betrayal' of its motorway status to more serious concerns about its impact on pedestrian and cyclist access along the escarpment.
Despite his criticisms, Mahendran does offer some concessions. He acknowledges that the Bulli Tops interchange, while baffling from a planning perspective, is fairly well-signed and not too difficult to navigate. It's a small comfort for those who must traverse this 'fake motorway' regularly.
The conversation around Mount Ousley Road is more than just a critique of one problematic road; it's a reflection on the challenges of urban planning and infrastructure development. As cities and regions grow, the decisions of the past can have lasting impacts on the safety, efficiency, and enjoyment of our roadways.
So, dear members of the Seniors Discount Club, have you had the pleasure—or perhaps the misfortune—of driving on Mount Ousley Road? What are your thoughts on what makes a road truly 'bad'? Is it the design, the signage, the condition, or perhaps the memories of a particularly harrowing commute? Share your road stories with us in the comments below, and let's navigate the conversation together. Safe travels!
Sharath Mahendran, a civil engineering student with a keen eye for urban planning, has taken to social media to name and shame what he believes is the worst road in the country: Mount Ousley Road in New South Wales. With a following of 43,000 subscribers on his channel, Mahendran's critique of this infamous stretch of road has sparked a conversation among Australians about what truly makes a road 'bad'.
Civil engineering student Sharath Mahendran has called Mount Ousley Road in NSW the ‘worst motorway in Australia’. Credit: Transport for NSW
Mount Ousley Road, which is signed as the M1, is a major artery that many might assume fits the bill of a motorway. However, Mahendran argues that this is a facade. He points out that despite its designation, the road is plagued with tight curves, perilous at-grade intersections, and what he calls the 'most confusing interchange in the country' at Bulli Tops.
The interchange at Bulli Tops, which Mahendran describes with a mix of humor and disbelief, is a complex web where five roads converge. Adding to the chaos, there's a restaurant, a lookout, and a tourist center nestled within the interchange. It's a setup that might seem more at home in a bustling city center than on what's supposed to be a streamlined motorway.
Mahendran's 16-minute exposé, delivered with a humorous tone that has endeared him to tens of thousands of followers, delves into the history and peculiarities of Mount Ousley Road. He recounts the incremental additions to the road, including the 1964 and 1975 works that connected it to the F6 at both ends. The result is a patchwork of planning decisions that, while perhaps made sense at the time, have culminated in a driving experience that can be as confusing as it is frustrating.
The video has resonated with nearly 50,000 viewers, many of whom have shared their own bewildering experiences with Mount Ousley Road. Comments range from lighthearted jests about the road's 'betrayal' of its motorway status to more serious concerns about its impact on pedestrian and cyclist access along the escarpment.
Despite his criticisms, Mahendran does offer some concessions. He acknowledges that the Bulli Tops interchange, while baffling from a planning perspective, is fairly well-signed and not too difficult to navigate. It's a small comfort for those who must traverse this 'fake motorway' regularly.
The conversation around Mount Ousley Road is more than just a critique of one problematic road; it's a reflection on the challenges of urban planning and infrastructure development. As cities and regions grow, the decisions of the past can have lasting impacts on the safety, efficiency, and enjoyment of our roadways.
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