KEY POINTS:
What's going on with the "bridge to nowhere" in Ormiston Rd? It is currently under construction for what appears to be no purpose. Meantime, the well-used Chapel Rd bridge, on a narrow winding road, doesn't appear to have anything planned. Is Chapel Rd to be widened, or a new bridge built? Antoinette King, Botany Downs.
The Ormiston Rd bridge is due to open next year. Ormiston Rd will be the main entrance to the new Flat Bush town centre and also the main arterial road linking areas like Whitford and Clevedon.
The contract for the design of a replacement Chapel Rd bridge is about to be awarded. As well, there are plans to widen the road to four lanes and build cycle lanes. It is hoped that construction will start in 2009, subject to the usual hold-ups like funding and consents.
There is a trap for out-of-towners in the central city. Driving east along Quay St, the right hand lane in front of the Ferry Buildings has a right-turn arrow only. When unsuspecting motorists go to turn right into Queen Elizabeth Square (or whatever it's called now) they are confronted with a 'No Entry' sign high up on the corner. Locals, I guess, know the turn sign means buses only but it is very misleading. Can it be fixed or clarified please? Cath Tizard, Herne Bay.
Auckland City Council thanks you for drawing this to their attention, Dame Cath. They have been down for a look, and have decided to paint 'Buses Only' on the roadway in the right-turn lane. Seems like a sensible idea.
And another one from our former Governor-General and ex-mayor:
John St in Ponsonby is a very narrow two-way residential street which carries quite a lot of traffic. Where it meets Pompallier Tce, the footpath has been built out so the carriageway is reduced to a single lane. The result is that cars wanting to turn into John St have to wait in the middle of the road for any emerging traffic. Has any thought been given to improving this site?
Some years ago John St residents asked the council for help in reducing the speed and volume of traffic in their street, created by motorists using the street as an alternative to Ponsonby Rd. The speed humps and convergent footpaths seem to be doing the job, as there have been no crashes in the last five years as a result of the protruding footpaths. Thus, the council has no plans to change the layout here.
