Get moving: Snarl-ups in the inner city

By PHOEBE FALCONER

Q. The work on Wellesley St to link with the Grafton motorway entrance seemed a good idea. As well as turning right on to Wellesley St, it looked as if we would be able to turn left and go straight to the motorway. It was also possible that traffic would finally be allowed to go from Wellesley St to Symonds St.

Then it became clear that the changes were actually going to create impediments. The Wellesley St to Symonds St route was stopped with a traffic island. There is no left turn from Princes St to Wellesley St, and the right turn from Princes St to Wellesley St has been discontinued.

As well, there used to be two lanes coming off the motorway to Wellesley St, becoming three lanes, with one turning to Mayoral Drive, two going straight through and one turning into Kitchener St. Now two lanes turn into Mayoral Drive and one is for straight-through traffic and Kitchener St.

The result is a one-lane queue of traffic that backs up to the motorway because two-thirds of the traffic coming down Wellesley St wants to go straight ahead or turn right. The lower section of Wellesley St, from Mayoral Drive to Queen St, has been made one lane. Traffic can now go up Wellesley St and under the bridge to the motorway. Traffic coming off the motorway turning into Princes St is given priority and traffic heading up the street meets a compulsory stop. This has made a dangerous intersection. - Bob Doran, North Shore

A. Auckland City responds: When the Central Motorway Junction Project is completed in 2006, it will be possible for motorists to enter and leave the CBD from both the east and west of the city, through connections to the Southern, Northern and Northwestern Motorways.

The work in Wellesley St was done to cater for the increased traffic expected when the Grafton Gully work was completed.

To keep traffic flowing in busy Wellesley St East , it has not been possible to allow all traffic movements at every intersection.

To enable all movements at Princes St, for example, traffic signals would have been required.

Signals are not appropriate as there are too many conflicting movements to keep traffic flowing in both directions.

Nearly 70 per cent of traffic continuing down Wellesley St East to Queen St continues across to the west of the city rather than turning into Queen St, despite publicity about the need to use Mayoral Drive. This causes significant queues on Wellesley St East.

To reduce these queues, changes are being made so that only buses can travel westwards through the Mayoral Drive/ Kitchener St intersection. Traffic wanting to access Queen St will turn left into Mayoral Drive and then use Wakefield St.



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