Get Moving: Why not a movable barrier on NW Motorway?

Q: The other day we were crawling home on the Northwestern Motorway when my girlfriend said, "Why can't they make a movable barrier to create an extra lane for peak times like they do on the Harbour Bridge?" There is already a concrete barrier all the way to the Te Atatu offramp, so why can't that be altered to make it movable? There is often hardly anyone going the other way.

* Greg Trounce, Henderson.

A: Terry Brown of Transit, the "they" that you refer to, says this type of "tidal flow system", where there is an imbalance between the volumes of traffic on the two sides of a motorway, will have to be considered when plans are being drawn up for that length of the Northwestern. However, Mr Brown says that this current lopsidedness may reduce as the improved Upper Harbour Highway draws more traffic, allowing traffic flows in both directions on the Northwestern to even out. If so, the need for movable barriers would decrease. They're thinking about it, though.

Q: Are there any plans to adjust the phasing of the lights at the Pakuranga Rd-Ti Rakau Drive intersection? I believe that Pakuranga Rd, which carries the bulk of the traffic in the morning from the eastern suburbs, should get priority here to help clear it.

* Russ Jackson, Pakuranga.

A: Manukau City Council is in the throes of a study of Ti Rakau Drive and its traffic problems, and this intersection will be part of it. The queuing capacity for left-turning traffic here is also under investigation. We all know that you should not cross double yellow lines when overtaking. Is it legal to cross them when turning right into a group of shops or an access road?

* L. Slee, Howick.

A: The Road Code says you may cross a solid yellow no-passing line to get to a driveway or side road or the like, as long as it is safe to do so.

Q: Is there any move to put a clearway along the left side of Ladies Mile between Umere Cres and Morrin St? In the mornings a lot of the congestion there is caused by cars parking on that side of the road.

* Jacqui Nassau, Panmure.

A: Short answer? No. Ladies Mile is single lane each way. A clearway would encourage two lanes of traffic and the road simply isn't wide enough for that. Also, residents of Ladies Mile would then be faced with having to pull out from their driveways into two undefined lanes of traffic.