In the 1990s and early 2000s, Victoria’s roads were considered the best among the eastern states, which made sense given its higher population density, as it has the nation’s second-largest population occupying a relatively small landmass.
I lived in Canberra from 2003 to 2006, working at the Australian Treasury. We drove between Canberra and Melbourne multiple times a year. And the difference in road quality was very noticeable. As soon as we crossed the border into Victoria at Albury, the road quality improved significantly.
Fast forward to today, and the situation has reversed. My family regularly drives between Melbourne and Port Macquarie, or Melbourne and the Gold Coast, to visit friends and family and to holiday. We have made the trip at least 10 times over the past decade.
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