Ask Phoebe: Never fear, clip-ons super strong

You recently mentioned the seismic rating of the Newmarket Viaduct replacement. What is the comparable seismic rating for the Auckland Harbour Bridge? Would a good shake shear off the clip-ons and take the main structure with them? John Newick, Auckland.

The Transport Agency says the harbour bridge was strengthened 10 years ago to withstand the sort of strong earthquake that might occur once in 2000 years.

Large steel brackets were fitted to the main piers of the bridge either side of the central navigation channel to provide extra support for the clip-ons and to stop them hammering into the original truss bridge. The two clip-ons were also joined together at the piers by large, circular sections called sumitomo bars.

Advice received by the NZTA from its consultants indicated that even after a strong earthquake, any damage to the bridge could be repaired quickly.

The intersection at Sandringham Rd and Mt Albert Rd recently had traffic lanes and lights revised to help commuters cope with the change in traffic flow created by the extension of the new motorway.

I realise we are still awaiting the major upgrade, however this temporary solution could be great except for one oversight. The lane changes have not been notified. Both citybound cars on Sandringham Rd and Mt Roskill-bound cars on Mt Albert Rd now have dedicated right turning lanes (just like the other directions), but drivers have not caught up with the road markings and continue to use the lane to go straight through the intersection.

The problem is these cars block the intersection for those who are waiting to turn right on the green arrow and thus back up traffic further. Has signage been an oversight on this project? Gayann Phillips, Auckland.

Indeed not. Auckland City Council did put up temporary signs to tell people about the layout change.

Unfortunately other contractors came along (presumably the ones doing the footpath improvements) and it seems they took the temporary signs down. The council will put them up again as soon as they can.

In May last year my wife and I intended travelling from Auckland to Maungaturoto in our motor home.

Being oldies, and always paying our way, I rang Northern Gateway tolls and prepaid for two trips. In the end, we didn't make the trip.

In January this year we intended travelling north again and so I rang the toll line to make sure we had credit in hand, and this was confirmed. During the trip, we used the toll road only once.

Last month, to our concern, we received a bill for $4 plus $2.20 administration fee.

When I rang to query the account I was informed that prepaid tolls were only good for six months, but had I been from the South Island this might have been waived. Is this so? Donald Tilsley, Auckland.

No. There are no special provisions for South Islanders.

Prepaid tolls are only valid for 180 days from the date of purchase - for everyone. This is apparently because of our propensity for buying and selling cars and the risk that a toll credit will be lost during the change of ownership process.

The expiry date can be extended online for a further 180 days, provided it's done before the expiry date.

And if you're not going to use your toll credit, you can have it refunded, as long as you can find your receipt. Call the freephone on 0800 40 20 20.