Get moving: Gills Rd risk for walkers

By PHOEBE FALCONER

Q. What progress is being made to improve Gills Rd in Albany? At the moment it is a country road with no footpaths and a one-lane bridge. A new subdivision has opened there so traffic is increasing and it's only a matter of time before a pedestrian is bowled. Peter Henderson, Albany.

A. Tom Morton of North Shore City acknowledges that it is a rapidly expanding area and says the council is looking at what is needed to cope with this expansion. Upgrading will almost certainly include footpaths.

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Q. Why do the lights at the Hillsborough Rd/Southwestern Motorway intersection allow only three cars travelling from the west to turn right into Hillsborough Rd before the lights change to red? Margaret Davidson, Hillsborough.

A. Good news, Margaret. Transit plans to install new software at this intersection this week which should fix the problem.

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Q. I regularly drive down Remuera Rd at night, particularly between Orakei Rd and Ladies Mile, and find it incredibly difficult to see the lane markings and even the centre line. Is it just me? R. Robinson, Auckland.

A. I think it might be. A colleague frequently drives on the same patch of road at night, and has no difficulty at all.

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Q. While the improvements at Spaghetti Junction and Grafton Gully are going to enhance traffic flows from past the Victoria Park flyover to Gillies Ave, it seems obvious that the most constricted point on the whole motorway is the flyover itself. Are there any plans to address this issue? John Christiansen, Mt Albert.

A. Transit is well aware of the problem, and is holding discussions with Auckland City Council and the Auckland Regional Council on the best way to deal with this. As Transit sees it, the motorway needs to be widened to six lanes through Victoria Park and to at least 10 lanes through St Marys Bay. The way this is done very much depends on the option chosen for a second harbour crossing, and this still has not been decided, and indeed may be even further away with the weekend changes in the councils' political membership. The Newmarket Viaduct further south also needs widening and strengthening. These improvements are in Transit's 10-year state highway plan.



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