Ask Phoebe: Solid support for olive green pillars

Do you know why the pillars that support bridges over the Northern Motorway between Oteha Valley Rd and Silverdale have recently been painted olive green? The ones I mean are Lonely Track Rd, Bawden Rd and Wilks Rd. None of the other pillars on the motorway appear to have received this special treatment. Is it just a make-work for the unemployed? Lyn Lester, North Shore.

No, although it may help some folk get off the benefit. There are two reasons for the makeover.

The standard off-white used on the bridges over the motorway can be a target for graffiti artists, and the Transport Agency is testing this new colour in the hope that it will not be so inviting to them.

The second is that the colour consultants at NZTA find the olive green "pleasing to the eye". They say they have had positive feedback from motorists who concur.

Please please please tell me that ARTA is going to put barrier arms across the double tracks across St George's Rd. I have never understood why there haven't been barrier arms there before, especially as it's a long straight road and it's very easy to miss the warning lights if you're not used to them being there. The double tracking has doubled the danger. Glenys Horne, Blockhouse Bay.

The double tracking on the western line has brought a whole raft of changes and improvements. Upgrades at three level crossings - St Jude St and Chalmers St as well as St George's Rd - have been done, and signalling systems, due to be switched on at Queen's Birthday Weekend, are interlocked.

Before this happens there are temporary lights and alarms in place, as well as signs warning motorists they are approaching a level crossing.

But be assured that the permanent set-up will indeed include barrier arms.

On many occasions I have come across ramp signals that are switched on with little or no traffic on the onramp. The result is that the lights go through several red/green phases with no traffic proceeding on the green. My question is, if at the moment I get to the lights, they are red, must I stop? John Smith, Auckland.

Yes. A red light is a red light, and always means stop, regardless of where it is.

* Another of those unusually high tides, called king tides, is expected on the Waitemata Harbour this week. This means the causeway on the Northwestern Motorway between Patiki and Rosebank Rds may flood, and the cycleway almost definitely will. Keep off it if you can for 90 minutes or so each side of high tide.

* Last year we asked for submissions on Auckland's worst roads (streets, lanes, crescents, etc), and drew a short list of 10, based on physical condition and difficulties faced by drivers.

They were Fairview Ave in Albany, Gillies Ave in Newmarket, Gills Rd in Albany, Konini Rd in Titirangi, Lake Rd in Takapuna, Meola Rd in Pt Chevalier, Nelson St in the CBD, Porchester Rd in Papakura, Robert St in Ellerslie, and The Concourse in Henderson.

We're now asking you to do it again. Are the early winners still in contention, or do you have better suggestions? Email your nominations to askphoebe@nzherald.co.nz before the end of April, we'll pick the 10 worst and try to get something done about them.