Ask Phoebe: 'Annoying' 80km/h zone here to stay

The 80km/h zone through the Northern Motorway tunnels will be locked in by law. Photo / Greg Bowker

All the work on the tunnels on the Northern Motorway near Puhoi has long since been completed yet at the northbound and southbound entrances there are still a few signs with "80km/h - Temporary". So now you have to reduce speed temporarily from 100 to 80 to go all of 200m through the tunnel and then go back to 100 again.

Another annoying feature of this otherwise pristine landscape is an old container and a pile of concrete rubble. This is on the right-hand boundary as you travel south after the tunnels. If it can't be moved maybe some plantings to help screen it? Tony Marks, Devonport, and Roger Wells, Auckland.

The temporary signs may soon be a thing of the past as the Transport Agency works through the legal process required to make the 80km/h limit permanent in both directions.

The speed limit was originally lowered to 80 as a (then) temporary measure while improvements were being made to that section of SH1. Changing it to a permanent state is seen as a good idea because of the number of vehicles using the toll booths nearby.

When the legislation is passed, changing temporary to permanent, the "temporary" signs will be removed.

The problem with the container is not so easy to solve. It is on private land, thus the Transport Agency has no control over it and planting a screen is not a viable option.

All the concrete used in the construction of the toll road was removed and in some cases, recycled. However, there are areas near the toll road where broken natural rock from the area is being used as part of storm water control measures to prevent soil erosion. and this may be confused with concrete rubble.

Travelling north on Great South Rd, and arriving at the Redoubt Rd intersection in Manukau, there are two lanes reserved for a right turn into Redoubt. The left one of these is signposted for the Northern Motorway and the right one for the Southern. There is no indication which lane motorists should use to continue up Redoubt Rd to get to Botany and Howick (in fact, it is the left one). Are there plans for additional signage? Henry Perkins, Botany Downs.

Yes, there are. At this stage there is limited room for another destination sign on the gantry, and signs for the motorways take priority.

When all the work in this area is completed there will be a single right-turn lane on to the southbound onramp, two through-lanes for people heading east and appropriate changes to the signage.

Who has right of way on the access across a footpath to a private driveway, an entrance to a petrol station or a supermarket - the pedestrian or the vehicle? Ron Hood, Auckland.

And, in like vein, I am repeatedly nearly run down by vehicles entering or exiting businesses where the drivers seem oblivious to pedestrians. Am I correct in assuming that it is the driver's responsibility to ensure safe passage across a driveway in favour of pedestrians? Ann Morris, Epsom.

The Road Code states unequivocally that when a driver is entering or leaving a driveway, public or private, that crosses a footpath, they must give way to pedestrians using the footpath.

But, in the interests of self-preservation, it behoves pedestrians to take care when crossing driveways, especially if they are restricted by walls or buildings, as a driver's vision may also be restricted.