KEY POINTS:
I have tried, to no avail, to discover the scale and extent of the roadworks on the Te Atatu interchange. A sign warned that the work would take from October 2008 to February 2009, but what exactly is being done? Is there a website that will explain this to me? Andrew Dixon, Te Atatu.
Yes there is, but it needs some expansion. Hint - it helps to have your street map beside you (page 38 in Wises) while you're reading this.
The roadworks at the interchange are to widen and improve the various on- and offramps, and to install ramp signals.
Ramp signals are already in place on the westbound onramp, heading towards Westgate, and began operation last week.
They will also be put in on the eastbound onramps - that's towards the city - from Te Atatu South and the peninsula.
Another lane will be added to the westbound offramp from the motorway, and traffic lights where the offramp meets Te Atatu Rd will allow two left-turning lanes into Te Atatu Rd.
The loop onramp to the motorway citybound is being widened from one lane to two, and ramp signals will be installed.
A new priority lane for trucks, buses and car-poolers is being added to the citybound peninsula onramp. Traffic lights will control entry to the onramp, as well as access to Te Atatu Rd from the eastbound offramp. The free left turn that exists from the eastbound offramp to the Peninsula will stay.
All this is being co-ordinated with Waitakere City's planned improvements to Lincoln Rd and Te Atatu Rd.
It seems a lot to be done by early next year, but it seems to me that these projects generally finish on time.
The website to visit is www.nzta.govt.nz/rampsignalling This site will be updated as work progresses.
My husband and I drive home on the Northwestern Motorway, which we enter from Newton Rd. The onramp has two lanes, yet cars entering from the Mt Eden direction and wanting to turn left on to the onramp mostly stop, giving way to vehicles coming from Ponsonby and turning right. This seems unnecessary as there are two lanes. Could you clarify the situation please? Fiona Ferris, West Auckland.
The Road Code allows that when two vehicles are turning into the same road at a laned intersection, they may turn at the same time, providing they stay in their own lane throughout the turn.
You should signal your intention, so no one gets a nasty surprise, and then the left-turner turns into the left-hand lane on the onramp, and the right-turner into the right-hand lane.
