You’ve heard about life in the fast lane … well, what about the skinny lane?
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Motorists using Oakhampton Road this week can be forgiven for thinking it was a one way street or that they were driving in a bike lane.
Road line marking between the turn off to Walka Water Works and the railway level crossing resulted in one side of the road being significantly wider than the other, leaving motorists bewildered.
The road had been marked with a single white line which had some Aberglasslyn-bound motorists driving with two wheels on the road and two on the grass verge.
The marking dilemma prompted a combination of anger and hilarity from motorists who voiced their opinions and videos on social media, including Bob Payne who uses the road daily.
Bob took to the road with Fairfax Media on Wednesday armed with a tape measure to see just how the width on both sides varied.
He measured the width of the Mercury’s Mazda 3 sedan (1500mm) and his four-wheel-drive (1700mm).
At its worst point on a dog-leg bend, one lane measured 1.8 metres, the other five metres.
Watch Mr Payne’s video below
A council spokesperson said the road was unintentionally line marked by a subcontractor on Monday evening with a diluted white line due to a mechanical malfunction.
“Council has since had the lines blacked out to make the road safe and is looking into whether any further removal measures need to be taken,” the spokesperson said.
Council crews were on site on Wednesday slashing grass on either side on the road.
“Even though council has now painted the white line black, the markings still stand,” Mr Payne said.
“The Aberglasslyn-bound lane is about wide enough to fit a Mini on. If you’re in a four-wheel-drive, you’ve got no chance,” he said.
The markings copped a bagging on The McKeachies Run Residents Facebook page with some members saying the road is dangerous enough.
Local residents have complained in the past about Oakhampton Road being used as a rat run.
They claim motorists who work in Maitland and live in the western suburbs use it to avoid the busy New England Highway during peak hours.
Other residents closer to the CBD have vented their frustration at the number of workers parking in their once quiet street.