Ask Phoebe: Tunnel links are the way out

Johnstone's Hill tunnel. Photo / Brett Phibbs

When we go through the Johnstone's Hill tunnels on SH1 near Puhoi we cannot help wondering about the "escape tunnels". Where do they lead?

There are no obvious exits at the portals - do you have to climb to the top of the hill? Or, as seems more likely, do you merely walk through to the other tunnel?

If this is the case, what stops smoke from one tunnel following all the escapees through into the other tunnel? I hope I never have to find out, but would like to know.

Pauline Hook, Browns Bay.

The cross tunnels, which connect the main road tunnels, are there to provide emergency escape routes if either tunnel is blocked after an accident.

Each of the two main road tunnels has its own fire control system and ventilation fans in case of conflagration.

New Zealand has warrants of fitness, the UK has MoT (Ministry of Transport) tests. I've heard that the US doesn't have any similar system. What about other countries, such as France and Germany? What about Australia?

John Ormond, Onehunga.

Each state in the US is free to decide whether inspections for vehicle safety and roadworthiness are mandatory. Fewer than 20 states have such a law, although more states require emission inspections.

In France, vehicle testing has been mandatory since 1992. The first test is done when the vehicle is four years old, and tests are done every two years after that.

Germany requires safety and emission inspections every two years.

Internet browsing indicates that no states in Australia have a requirement for an annual safety check.

But if you are pulled over by police and your vehicle is deemed to be unroadworthy, you can be fined.

Who is responsible for clearways? Maioro St in New Windsor became the run-off for State Highway 20, and has a clearway on each side of road, one for morning and one for afternoon traffic.

Often vehicles are still parked in these areas in the clearway time creating traffic chaos, but a call to the city council gets "yeah we will have a look", but nothing ever happens.

It's not just Maioro where clearways are not observed, it appears to be throughout the city. Also who decides the time of a clearway?

As of now the times for Maioro (7-9am and 4-6pm) are inadequate for the volume of traffic. The clearways should be on both sides of road morning and afternoon, not just one-sided.

Allen Grainger, New Windsor.

The local authority, in this case Auckland Transport, is responsible for deciding and administering clearways.

Because of the number of clearways around the city, it is impossible to monitor them all but the folk with traffic cameras have a rota system to try to keep them clear.

Work on the new Maioro St interchange project, being undertaken by Fletcher Construction for the NZ Transport Agency, will mean a number of changes to the roading and layout in Maioro St.

Hopefully this will include an examination of the current clearway time restrictions.

The project is scheduled for completion in March next year.