Bucketts Way still on worst roads list

The Bucketts Way at Allworth came in at number seven on the NRMA’s 2014 list of worst roads in the State.

Almost 12,000 motorists across NSW and the ACT took part in this year’s NRMA Seeing Red on Roads survey.

The Pacific Highway again came in at number one, with motorists nominating the Coffs Harbour stretch of the notorious coastal route as the worst road in the State.

It was the second straight year the Bucketts Way has made the list.

In 2009 the Bucketts Way at Krambach was voted the ninth worst section of road in NSW.

NRMA president Kyle Loades said councils across the State were struggling to pay for the upkeep of roads.

“We know there is a huge backlog of roadworks for local councils and they aren’t to blame as they simply don’t have the money to fix them,” Mr Loades said.

“Once again, we call on governments to look at ways they can help local councils with funding local roads so they can be brought up to a satisfactory standard. 

“If this were to happen, we may not have 1700 frustrated Hunter motorists telling us what’s wrong with their local roads.”

Gloucester mayor John Rosenbaum backed up Mr Loades’ comments, but went a step further and suggested ratepayers should not have to pay for the upkeep of the Bucketts Way.

“I’d like to see the federal government take it over and make it a highway,” Cr Rosenbaum said.

“I don’t think it’s fair that it is rate-payer’s money that pays for maintenance. It’s a road of importance to the area.”

Advance Gloucester vice president Rod Williams, who has long lobbied for the road to be improved, agreed with Cr Rosenbaum’s comments.

He said he hoped to invite Mr Loades to speak at an Advance Gloucester meeting in the near future.

“It’s good that the road is getting recognition,” he said.

“Parts of the road where it has been reconstructed are not too bad. It’s the areas where the surface still needs to be reconstructed that are the real problem.”