Contractors messed up the no-right-turn sign at the intersection of Asquith Ave and New North Rd and AT are waiting for them to correct their mistake
No, Auckland Transport hasn’t changed its mind – there’ll be no ban on right-hand turns from Asquith Ave into New North Rd.
A week or two ago a no-right-turn sign appeared on the island directly in front of the Asquith Ave entrance.
And, of course, in the grand Auckland way, traffic has simply ignored it and continued to swing right up to the village.
Bearing in mind that AT had earlier chosen to reject that manoeuvre as one way of making the intersection safer, the new sign seemed very odd.
Had there been an about-turn?
Well, no. Let’s just say there’s been no second thoughts, and AT continues to believe a right-turn ban would simply push the problem to smaller side streets.
Instead, blame it on a cock-up. The sign (a replacement for one demolished in an accident months ago) was meant to tell west-bound drivers in New North Rd they can’t turn right into Asquith Ave.
But the contractors got confused and swung the sign around 90 degrees – and now will fix the problem at their own expense.
Meanwhile, AT has produced data to highlight its concerns at the disregard many motorists are showing for restrictions in the west-bound clearway zone in the village.
Drivers are continuing to park in the zone between 4pm and 6pm and, according to a spokesman, “that has played a major role in the inefficient operation of the intersection during evening peak”.
An enforcement team has been on the spot since July 9 (nearly six weeks after the upgrade was opened), issuing 205 infringement notices, with 120 vehicles towed.
The team will stay for some time yet but “can’t be there indefinitely and if people continue to block the clearway there will be ongoing issues”, said the spokesman.
AT is still analysing data and “If it shows that changes will improve traffic flows then those changes will be enacted”.
Any changes may even involve the “solution” (posed on this website back in May) to the Carrington/Mt Albert roads backlog.
AT says the suggestion was considered but traffic engineers did not believe traffic flows would be significantly improved based on the earlier traffic volumes.
Any improvement would seem worth a go, but that response is certainly more credible than the bizarre line given last month to a community Facebook member.
She put forward to AT the solution outlined on Mt Albert Inc (a short, shared right-turn phase to Carrington and Mt Albert roads traffic followed by a long combined straight-through phase for both directions) and reported back on the result.
The reason given to her, which some people would argue came straight out of the any-excuse-will-do drawer: such a phase would be unsafe.
Bruce Morris
