Get moving: Jumping queues

By PHOEBE FALCONER

Q. Every day motorists queue in the correct left-hand lane in Gillies Ave to access the northbound onramp, and every day some drivers whiz up the right-hand lane and force their way into the left lane just before the onramp. Whilst they may save 15 minutes of their precious time, it does nothing for my blood pressure. Would yellow lines on the roadway between Alpers Ave and the onramp help, do you think? - Dave Mitchell, Torbay.

A. It may help in this situation, Dave, but it would also prevent legitimate moves from the right lane to the left. There seems to be little that can be done to prevent impatience and lack of consideration for others, and Gillies Ave is not the only queue-jumping black-spot. I don't know how you would stop it. Education?

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Q. After all the hype from the North Shore City Council about the building of the Esmonde Rd interchange, when will we actually see it being done? What year is it supposed to be finished? - G. Ashton, Albany.

A. The contract for the work has now been let, and work begins early next year. The interchange is expected to be finished by late 2006, at a cost of $38 million. To find out more and get progress reports you can visit the North Shore Busway Project.

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Q. Can you tell me when the Northwestern Motorway by Te Atatu will be widened to three lanes? - John Miller, Avondale.

A. The six-laning, as it's called, (three each way) from Te Atatu to Royal Rd is due to start in 2011, all being well, and will take at least three years. Ultimately the Northwestern Motorway will be six lanes all the way to Westgate.

* Correction: An item on resealing the Carrington Rd cycle lane said Auckland City had no plans to fix the resultant undulations, but I was wrong. The council has spoken to the contractor with a view to having the lane relaid more smoothly.


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