Potholes force cars off Calder Freeway as Victorian road anger rises

Drivers on Victoria's Calder Freeway faced significant disruptions Tuesday morning after encountering numerous potholes, with at least seven cars forced off the road due to damaged tires. The incidents occurred on the freeway near Gisborne, a stretch of road that has become a point of contention for local residents.

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There were people changing tyres on the side of the road; one young lady was in tears because she didn't know what to do.

Witnesses described a scene of stranded motorists lining the freeway and its off-ramps, waiting for roadside assistance. John, a resident of the Macedon Ranges, reported seeing vehicles with flat tires and described one young woman who was visibly distressed. He expressed frustration that the same pothole had reportedly been fixed only a week earlier, questioning the adequacy of the repairs.

Concerns over the state of Victoria's major highways are escalating, particularly as the state approaches an election. The recurring pothole problems are fueling public anger and highlighting what many see as insufficient road maintenance. Lanes on the Calder Freeway between Kyneton and Sunbury have been closed for two weeks due to road damage, with patching works currently underway near Mundy Road.

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The same pothole was fixed one week ago. Clearly they're not fixing them adequately.

Local mechanics are also reporting a surge in vehicles needing repairs due to pothole damage. Johnny Ravet from Seymour Tyre and Mechanical stated his workshop had serviced six cars with such damage in a single week. He recounted an incident where a car's rim alone cost $4,000 before even replacing the tire, illustrating the significant financial burden on drivers.

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They're just filling gaps, they're not actually going to the cause of the problem.

This latest hazard follows a similar incident on the Princes Freeway at Bunyip, east of Melbourne, where approximately 30 cars sustained tire damage from a pothole that was difficult to see in rainy conditions. The ongoing issues underscore a broader problem of road infrastructure maintenance in Victoria, impacting daily commutes and causing considerable expense and inconvenience for drivers.

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Just last week we had one, an Audi, travelling to Nagambie, hit a pothole and no spare tyre so it was towed in.