A new investigation by 9 News has confirmed what many commuters already suspected: the state of our roads is worsening, and Melbourne’s West is bearing the brunt of the decay.
According to data from the RACV and our own Snap Send Solve data, the rapid growth in the western suburbs is outstripping road infrastructure, leading to a significant spike in vehicle damage and driver frustration.
The RACV revealed that Tarneit has officially topped the list for flat tyre breakdowns, closely followed by Truganina and Point Cook. While not every flat tyre is caused by a road defect, potholes are increasingly to blame.
Makarla Cole from the RACV warned that the impact isn't just a minor inconvenience:
"The reality is even a small pothole can cause significant damage to the steering, suspension, and tyre."
Our CEO, Danny Gorog, joined the 9 News segment to share the latest figures from the Snap Send Solve community. Over 20,000 potholes have been Snapped across Victoria in the past 12 months, a 13% increase compared to 2024.
The surge is most dramatic in the western suburbs, where ongoing development and heavy traffic are putting unprecedented strain on the network. Danny noted that while councils manage local streets, approximately 30% of these reports are for state-maintained roads, which are often the high-volume arterials connecting these growing hubs.
While the Department of Transport and Planning points to a $976 million maintenance blitz, the data shows that hazards are appearing faster than they can be fixed.
Check out the full segment below.
