Get moving: Spaghetti Junction revamp to be finished by late 2006

Q: When will each stage of the Spaghetti Junction motorway revamp be completed? Tom Robinson, Waterview.

A: The Grafton Gully project, which is part of this, has been completed. The Central Motorway Junction (CMJ) project involves links between the Northern and Northwestern Motorways, the Northern Motorway and the port, safer onramps and offramps, and extra motorway lanes. Stage one is finished, but stage two has been extended to include an upgrade of the Southern Motorway between the Cook St offramp and the Hobson St onramp. It is scheduled for completion at the end of next year.

Q: Why is there a temporary 80km/h speed restriction on the Newmarket Viaduct in both directions between Gillies Ave and Market Rd now that stage one of the CMJ project is finished? Have the construction workers forgotten to collect their signs? Jonathan Spencer, Ellerslie.

A: No, they know they're there. The restriction is under discussion by Transit, and may stay in place until the Viaduct is upgraded. This is in the 10-year plan, but not any time soon. There hasn't been an accident where a car has gone over the side of the viaduct since the late 1960s, so it can't really be said to be a safety issue. Hopefully a decision will be made soon.

Q: After major roadworks or realignments, old white lane markings are often left behind. Unfortunately the black material used to remove them leaves lines on the road which, in certain angles of light or rain, make it difficult to distinguish between new and old markings. Is it possible to get rid of this potentially dangerous problem? Marsden Stanton, Castor Bay.

A: Transit says that white lines are usually blasted off rather than painted over, which leads to a difference in road surface and thus the problem described. One solution is to resurface the road, which is expensive. Instead, Transit has upgraded the specifications so that contractors will use a thermoplastic marking system, which includes glass beads to better reflect light and make new markings easier to distinguish.

Q: Bicycles are a real hazard on the road. One is fine, but cyclists will insist on riding two or more abreast and chatting. Doesn't the law state that they must ride in single file? Jenny Goldbert, Beach haven.

A: No. The law says that cyclists may ride two abreast except when passing something, including another bike, when they must ride in single file. There is no law against chatting.