Get moving: Long wait for upgrade to offramp

Q: How long do motorists on the Northwestern Motorway have to wait for improvements to be made at the Lincoln Rd and Te Atatu Rd exits? At both of these there is only a single lane off-ramp leading to a dual lane road, which causes a backlog as cars try to get off. Peter Robinson, Te Atatu Peninsula.

A: Quite a while, I'm afraid. Transit's 10-year plan, issued last year, makes provision for upgrades to the Te Atatu westbound off-ramp and surrounding roads, to relieve congestion. Design work is scheduled to begin next year, and the completion forecast is 2011. There is no such plan for the Lincoln Rd offramp, although a bus lane has been mooted.

Q: On the Harbour Bridge, variable message signs provide information such as "Lanes 4 and 5 closed". But with big sweeping bends and on-ramps it is sometimes difficult to determine which lane you are in. Would it not be possible to mark the lanes with painted numbers so drivers know where they are? Arthur Kemp, Titirangi.

A: Transit restricts markings on the roadway to lane dividing lines. Any other markings such as lane numbering would confuse us, apparently. Messages that motorists need to be aware of, such as open and closed lane symbols, are displayed on overhead gantries or static signs.

Q: Why are there no numbers on the exits south of the State Highway 1 and 2 interchange? Edward Johnston, Auckland.

A: Exit numbering applies to motorways only. Beyond the interchange, SH1 is part of the Waikato Expressway, and SH2 is just that, a state highway.

Q: When approaching the Newmarket Viaduct southbound the extreme left lane ends at the start of the viaduct, which results in traffic congestion as the fourth lane tries to merge with traffic in the third. When will Transit correct this problem? John Street, Epsom.

A: Construction to widen the Newmarket Viaduct, which will allow for four southbound lanes, is expected to start in 2008-2009 and take about three years.