Get moving: While to wait for motorway link road

By PHOEBE FALCONER

Q. Can you tell me whatever happened to the proposed Whau River crossing? What good is a new road from the airport to Pt Chevalier with this existing bottleneck? - Don White, Birkenhead.

A. I'm guessing you mean the Avondale extension, as it's called, which will be the final link in connecting State Highway 20, the Southwestern Motorway, to State Highway 16, the Northwestern Motorway, thus giving us a western ring route around Auckland. Two options are being evaluated, via either Waterview or the Rosebank peninsula, and both have significant environmental and social effects. A decision is expected within the next five years, with a completion date in (wait for it) 2016-2017. We may have to learn to live with bottlenecks for a while longer.

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Q. Ever since they changed from two to four lanes on Oteha Valley Rd the speed limit has been "temporary 50km/h", down from the original 80km/h. As this was done well over six months ago, how long is this so-called temporary speed limit going to be in place? - Harvey Gadd, Torbay, Kevin Crossley, Coatesville, Carly Duncan, Browns Bay (to name but three).

A. I would like to know the answer to this one too, but repeated inquiries of North Shore City Council have brought no response. Watch this space.

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Q. Recently the cycle lane on the left side of Carrington Rd heading towards Mt Albert was resurfaced. What was previously a fairly smooth ride with rough seal is now undulating and lumpy. How did they manage to do this, and are there any plans to fix it? A Reader, Pt Chevalier.

A. The work was done in Carrington Rd to fix ponding of water. Because of the width of the strip to be resurfaced, a paving machine couldn't be used, so the sections were hand-laid. The result is the undulations. There are no plans to fix it.

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Q. I am doing my bit and leaving my much-loved but misunderstood SUV at home so that I can bike to work. Could you please tell me when Manukau Rd from Greenwoods Corner to Newmarket is going to be resurfaced? The cracks right across the road are 20cm wide and 10cm deep. Mark Kershaw, One Tree Hill.

A. Auckland City is aware of Manukau Rd's poor surface and remedial work has been programmed. The section between Corbett-Scott and Greenlane East will be done this summer, and from Corbett-Scott to Domett next summer. But don't relax just yet - see answer to the question above.



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