Ask Phoebe: The shocking truth behind naming of gully

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New motorway to follow route of 1924-commissioned power line

Why is Transmission Gully in Wellington so named, please? Gail Filmer, Whangaparaoa.
The very helpful team at Transpower say that it would seem likely that Transmission Gully was named after the transmission line that passes through the gully.

That line, operating at 110,000 volts (or 110 kV), was commissioned in 1924 and was the main conduit of electricity transmission to Wellington for more than 20 years.

Originally connecting the Mangahao hydroelectric generation station near Levin to a substation that used to overlook Wellington Harbour in Khandallah, the line is now used to provide the Kapiti region with electricity.

The line today terminates at Takapu Rd. Incidentally, to make way for the new highway through this region, this part of the transmission line (between Transpower's Pauatahanui and Paraparaumu substations) will be completely removed, so without the line in evidence for passing motorists, perhaps its name in the future will change too.

Do motorists turning right from Mt Albert Rd into Owairaka Rd, where there is an island, still have to give way to traffic coming from the opposite direction to turn left, or is this considered merging traffic where the person turning left gives way? Maybe a give way sign there would remove any doubt. Owen Loomes Snr, Auckland.

Traffic turning right at this intersection, in the absence of any signage to the contrary, must give way to left-turning traffic.

This is a basic rule that has been in place for two and a half years, and by now we should all be well aware of it.

Can you please give us an update on the progress of the Waikato Expressway? Robyn Smith, Tuakau.

The Waikato Expressway will provide 102km of continuous divided four-lane highway and reduce the length of State Highway 1 by 6km. It will provide a further 12km of new or upgraded links and a new bridge over the Waikato River north of Hamilton. When completed, it will reduce journey times between Auckland and the Waikato by an estimated 35 minutes.

By the time the expressway is finished (in 2019), there will be a four-lane highway from the Bombay Hills to south of Cambridge.

The expressway is being constructed in several sections, some of which (Pokeno and Mercer, Ohinewai, Ngaruawahia, Te Rapa and Tamahere) are completed and open.

Of the rest, here is the proposed timetable:

Longswamp section of 5.9km: Being investigated and designed. Target opening late 2018.

Rangiriri section of 4.4km: Under construction. Opens late 2016.

Huntly section of 15.2km: Finalising consenting process, construction due to begin 2015. Target opening 2019.

Hamilton section of 21.8km: Being investigated and designed. Target opening 2019.

Cambridge section of 16km: Under construction. Opens late 2016.