KEY POINTS:
After watching a TV documentary on a fire in the Mont Blanc tunnel, when 38 people died, can you tell me whether there are air ducts above the road in the Johnson's Hill tunnel north of Orewa? I'm interested to see whether we have taken on board some of the problems encountered throughout the world and put in place a solution, for our little piece of paradise.
Stella Glass, Auckland.
The Johnson's Hill tunnel will be loaded with safety features. They include: a ventilation system for smoke control; emergency escape passages every 120m, so that motorists can get out if there is a serious accident such as a fire; a sprinkler system to keep any fire under control until the fire engines get there; emergency equipment cabinets every 60m, with telephones, fire extinguishers, hose reels and hydrant outlets; and traffic and atmosphere monitoring systems. It looks as though they've thought of everything.
But in case that's not enough, the tunnels will be under 24-hour surveillance by the operators at the traffic control centre in Northcote.
I have a question about the Northwestern Motorway onramp from Newton Rd. The onramp begins as a two-lane road, so if I am turning left on to it, do I have to give way to vehicles turning right on to it, or can we both turn at the same time?
Tamra Ewing, Auckland.
Yes, you can both turn at the same time, as long as you stay in your own lane throughout the turn. You should signal your intention, so that 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.
Please can someone repaint the yellow "keep clear" cross-hatching at the top of Spaghetti Junction where the city traffic goes into the motorways? We travel down Pitt St to get to the Northwestern Motorway, and more often than not it's a fight to get across the two Southern Motorway lanes.
Also, could the "keep clear" area in front of the fire station in Pitt St be extended, so that turning traffic can get from Grey's Ave to Pitt St?
Kerryn Davis, Auckland.
Major resurfacing work is planned for this area in late March or early April. Something to look forward to, of course, but afterwards all the road markings will be renewed.
And, of course, everyone should obey the road rule that says you should not go into an intersection if you cannot get out. If only.
