Ask Phoebe: Pedestrian barriers removed for taking departing Alice to port

The largest sections of the Alice, the TBM which helped excavate the twin tunnels at the Waterview Connection.

The pedestrian crossings in Sandringham Rd in and near the village have been dug up yet again. Was there a problem with the installation, or some other reason? Hazel Jones, Sandringham.

The barriers around the crossings were removed so the 270 tonne main drive, which is the heaviest section of Alice, the tunnel-boring machine (TBM) from Waterview, could be moved to the port.

The main drive was shifted on the back of a 48-axle, double-width trailer, pulled by three tractor units with another one behind to give it an extra push. The convoy made its way along Sandringham Rd, through Mt Eden and Grafton to the port. The journey took three hours to complete.

The erector, which is the widest part of the TBM, has also been moved to the port for shipment, as has the screw conveyor, the longest piece.

The TBM has finished its work in New Zealand and the parts will be returned to the manufacturer, Herrenknecht, in Germany.

I am waiting on a response from the Transport Agency on payment for the return of Alice.

We have recently purchased an 11m bus that has been converted to a motorhome. Occasionally we need to park in busy shopping areas and the options for parking the bus are limited. My question relates to the legality of using bus stops for short-term parking. Are private buses permitted to use these stops? Along the same lines, what about the use of bus lanes at traffic lights? Brian Jones, Auckland.

No, I'm afraid not. Only passenger-licensed buses on scheduled services may use marked bus stops. Otherwise you risk a fine or having your vehicle towed. Similarly, you may not use bus lanes at traffic lights or in any other situation.

Clarification: Tuesday's column stated that airport shuttle buses may use bus lanes. Vehicles such as tour buses, airport shuttle taxis and taxi vans may also use the busway provided they have authorisation from the Transport Agency and/or Auckland Transport.

There are large flax bushes growing alongside the pedestrian/cycle path from Maioro St to Hillsborough Rd. In some places, the flax covers at least a third of the path. The flax flowers reach even further and are at head height for pedestrians and cyclists. Whose responsibility is it to maintain the flax bushes so they are not covering the pathway? The pedestrian/cycle path across the lower part of Mount Roskill is maintained beautifully, but not anywhere else! Tony Smith, Auckland.

The flaxes on either side of this cycleway are maintained by Auckland Council. They have now been added to the same maintenance programme as the cycleway across the lower part of Mount Roskill and will be attended to shortly.

Maintenance requests can be logged by phone at Auckland Council on (09) 301 0101.

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