Ask Phoebe: Signs still catching up to toll road

Trying to entertain ourselves on a bus coming home from a fantastic rugby trip up north, we noticed a sign after Kawakawa stating "Auckland 164km". We were wondering if these signs have been updated to allow for the new tunnel and toll road, and that perhaps we were 10km closer than the sign said. Do you know? Anne-Marie Cooper, Papakura.

What an excellent question. No, the signs have not been changed yet.

The new tunnel has reduced the distance between Auckland and Northland by about 4.4km. The sign you noticed, and others, will be updated once the new distances have been mapped against existing signs.

Several months ago mention was made of red light cameras being installed at notorious intersections such as the Botany/Ti Rakau lights. A camera there would net at least three offenders at every light change. Is this still on the cards, and if so, why the delay? John Walkden, Bucklands Beach.

It seems that Auckland has got the jump on its southern neighbours.

Manukau City Council has been on to the Government for some time now, pleading to be able to install such cameras, including one at the intersection you mention.

At present red light cameras can be installed only with the Government's permission, and right now just the trial going on in Auckland City has been approved.

Red light running is a big road safety issue, and sadly the police just do not have the capacity to address it to the extent required.

I read in the news that motorcyclists are able to use the newly strengthened Grafton Bridge at any time. That raises the question once again: can motorcyclists use any bus lanes? If not, which ones are they allowed to use? Adrian Blaser, Auckland.

I too read that Grafton Bridge was now open only to buses, motorcycles, cycles and pedestrians between 7am and 7pm, but I watched cars crossing the bridge with apparent impunity the other day, during these hours, so I'm not sure what's going on and whether this is being policed.

But back to your question - motorcycles may use city bus lanes, as the signs indicate, but they may not use motorway bus lanes.

As part of the Manukau Harbour Crossing project, do Auckland City Council or the Transport Agency have any plans to make it safer to cross Queenstown Rd close to the motorway onramp? In the mornings when traffic is busy, students on their way to Onehunga High School often have to run in front of cars going on to the onramp and driving down Queenstown Rd because there are no safe crossing points. It's only a matter of time until someone gets hit. Daryl McIntosh, Royal Oak.

The Transport Agency agrees it is unsafe for Onehunga High School students to try to cross Queenstown Rd in front of vehicles going on to the motorway onramp, but there are other options.

On the eastern side of the motorway, there is a pedestrian refuge on Queenstown Rd, about 60m up the hill from the onramp. This provides safe access across Queenstown Road to the school grounds.

Students living to the west of the motorway can avoid the Queenstown Rd interchange altogether by using the footbridge over the motorway between Seacliffe Rd and Beachcroft Ave. This footbridge is being replaced as part of the Manukau Harbour Crossing project, but will stay open until the new one is completed early next year. (The exception is this weekend when the bridge will close while it is being jacked up, but it is school holidays so it shouldn't be a problem.)

Access to the footbridge will be improved by a new cycle and pedestrian path between Queenstown Rd (the western side) and Orpheus Drive. Now all we have to do is persuade the kids to use the safer options ...