Ask Phoebe: Transport Agency gets the bird over mowing

Workers didn't realise there were plovers at the onramp. Photo / Hawkes Bay Today

There is a pair of plovers that nest on the grass strip at the Western Springs motorway onramp. They have been there for the past two years. Plovers don't make a nest as such, they just flatten some grass, and this is in full view of passing traffic. Last year they managed to raise two chicks. They had been nesting for two weeks early this month when the nest was mown over. Shame on you, Transit, you must have seen the bird sitting there. Next time, how about giving the birds a fair go and leaving a wide berth? We won't mind a bit of long grass, as the birds a bright spot in our commute, and many of us watch their progress with interest. Karen Trevor, Henderson.

Woops. The Transport Agency tries to stay well away from areas of special interest along the motorway, but this spot was not on the list. It is now.

The area next to the St Lukes onramp was mown by three mowers. The noise of these would have driven off the adult birds, making the nest nearly impossible to see as they are often in hollows and long grass. But the mowers will try to ensure it doesn't happen again.

Plovers are similar to dotterels and lapwings. A pair will mate for life, with the male taking his turn on the nest.

The good news is that a hawk-eyed colleague assures me this pair are still there, and appear to be nesting again. Live long and prosper.

Call me pedantic, but I would like to know what is the use of the sign, 'No trucks in left two lanes' when these signs are positioned in places where changing to the inside lane cannot be done? The signs are halfway up and down the Harbour Bridge and at the crest. Does this mean that if truck drivers inadvertently drive up the clip-on lanes, the signs are there to warn them not to do it next time? Can truck drivers who contravene this rule be fined? Phil Bates, Whangaparaoa.

There advance signs on the southbound approach to the bridge so that truck drivers have ample time to change lanes before they reach the bridge. The signs you refer to are just reminders.

Before the bylaw came into force, there was extensive dialogue between the Transport Agency and the trucking industry, and compliance has been excellent.

The restriction applies to trucks weighing more than 13 tonnes, and because it is a bylaw, police can fine truck drivers who do not comply.

Our motorway lane dividers have recently been changed on new seal from three or four round poached-egg style things to a painted white line with a rumble strip. In some places the poached eggs have been removed from existing seal and just cat's eyes set in place, for example on Waipuna Bridge. Is there some method or standard to lane dividers or is it a random decision by the contractor? Were the Waipuna ones removed for safety reasons? Matt Gillies, Auckland.

Alister Harlow, executive director of the Roadmarkers Federation, says that this is a safety issue being introduced by the Transport Agency, for a couple of reasons. One is that the ceramic poached-egg style is not visible at night, but the new strips with cat's eyes are. The second reason is that the ceramic (or sometimes hard plastic) style, known in the trade as road pavement markers, become loose over time and bounce around on the road, causing a hazard. The new type, with audio-tactile pavement markers (got to love the jargon) are much more robust.

And a bouquet for Auckland City Council - the residents of Mt Eden are well pleased with the rejigged traffic lights and arrow at the intersection in the village. Good work.