Local Driver Gives Up on Council, Builds Own Lane at Oak Road Intersection

Sandy Shores | Editor in Chief | Sutherland Shire Gazette

31 March 2025

After years of traffic gridlock at the Oak Road and Princes Highway intersection, one Sutherland Shire driver has taken matters into his own hands - by creating a DIY extra lane using nothing but sheer determination and complete disregard for road rules.

Eyewitnesses say Greg Mathers, a frustrated commuter from Jannali, finally snapped last Thursday after sitting through six consecutive red lights. Instead of accepting his fate like every other Shire driver, Greg made a bold move - veering onto the pedestrian footpath, weaving past a local dog walker, and executing a high-speed detour through the BP service station before rejoining the highway ahead of the traffic queue.

“It was honestly impressive,” said one onlooker. “He timed it perfectly between a mum pushing a pram and a guy filling up his Hilux. Flawless execution.”

Greg, a self-proclaimed “efficiency enthusiast,” says he was merely using “urban innovation” to solve a problem the council refuses to fix. “They keep promising an extra lane, but all we get is more traffic and the occasional ‘proposed works’ sign that disappears after three months,” he explained. “So yeah, I made my own lane. You’re welcome.”

Despite the clear illegality of his maneuver, Greg has inspired a movement, with reports of other drivers now attempting similar detours. Locals have suggested the BP should start charging a toll for “express lane access,” while one resident is pushing for the footpath to be rezoned as a dedicated “Greg Lane.”