Silly Intersections

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MikeAqua

7773 posts

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#198110 27-Jun-2016 12:41

I thought I would start a thread on silly intersection layouts. Here is one in Nelson i drive through regularly:

https://www.google.co.nz/maps/@-41.2528701,173.3065288,218m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

It's a right turn bay at the end of an intersection. Of itself not problematic. The problem arises when drivers use it. Because to get into the turning box they have to cross the passing lane and a typical manoeuvre is to pull into the passing lane and slam on the brakes, then at the last minute move into the turning box.

Also quite special, is people pulling out of the side road directly into the passing lane. I don't use this passing lane any more ...

Mike

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#1581017 27-Jun-2016 12:48

The north bound SH1 on ramp from Whitford Brown in Porirua

Seriously who thought merging from the right with traffic going 100km/hr was a good idea.

linw

2849 posts

Uber Geek

#1581024 27-Jun-2016 12:59

I live just up the road from that merger so know it well. The danger has occurred to me, too, but we do seem to manage! Tolerance seems to be alive and well, there.

PhantomNVD

2619 posts

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#1581056 27-Jun-2016 13:11

From this perspective (Google Maps) right turn traffic must yeald to oncoming vehicles going 'straight' (bending right past them) but have priority] over oncoming traffic turning left (old rule)

this in itself is not so bad, but means traffic on the right and TURNING right (the blurry sedan) now have to yield to oncoming traffic from both sides AND crossing traffic, but cant ever seem to go [PITA] as half the time the crossing traffic has to yeild to oncoming traffic, and often yeilds to oncoming traffic that's actually turning as they ALWAYS indicate late.

6FIEND

774 posts

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#1581071 27-Jun-2016 13:46

This one can be a bit frustrating when turning right from Civic Cres (exiting the Westfield in Albany) and needing to make the next left hand turn.

One must enter the intersection from the left hand lane (on account of the bus lane on the right) then immediately cross to the inside lane (to avoid the requirement to continue straight ahead per the indicated white lines) then either cut back to the left hand lane on exiting the intersection or make an equivalent lane-change before arriving at the next intersection.

jarledb

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#1581108 27-Jun-2016 14:14

tchart:

The north bound SH1 on ramp from Whitford Brown in Porirua

Seriously who thought merging from the right with traffic going 100km/hr was a good idea.

Hehe, I have driven that stretch so many times - but never occurred to me that it was strange.

Thats what driving on the right side most of my life has done to me... ;)

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wellygary

8312 posts

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#1581157 27-Jun-2016 15:00

tchart:

The north bound SH1 on ramp from Whitford Brown in Porirua

Seriously who thought merging from the right with traffic going 100km/hr was a good idea.

Generally in NZ the policy is for on/off ramps for motorways/divided highways to be on the left ( i.e the slow(er) lane), so that drivers get accustomed to slower traffic only entering/leaving from the left

They removed a couple of on ramps in the auckland CMJ a few years ago that were "fast lane" merges,, but I guess this one is much less of a concern, becuase when transmission Gully opens in 2020 this stretch of road will basically become a glorified raceway to nowhere for boy racers.....

DarthKermit

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#1581167 27-Jun-2016 15:22

Palmy Nth where I live has quite a number of these awful offset intersections (Google Maps).

If you're wanting to go straight through, you have to make a right turn then a quick left turn.

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Bung

6477 posts

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#1581170 27-Jun-2016 15:24

wellygary: Generally in NZ the policy is for on/off ramps for motorways/divided highways to be on the left ( i.e the slow(er) lane), so that drivers get accustomed to slower traffic only entering/leaving from the left

They removed a couple of on ramps in the auckland CMJ a few years ago that were "fast lane" merges,, but I guess this one is much less of a concern, becuase when transmission Gully opens in 2020 this stretch of road will basically become a glorified raceway to nowhere for boy racers.....

The left hand of SH2 merges with the right lane of SH1 at the foot of the Gorge. Accustomed should be replaced by Stay Awake!

wellygary

8312 posts

Uber Geek

#1581181 27-Jun-2016 15:50

Bung:

The left hand of SH2 merges with the right lane of SH1 at the foot of the Gorge. Accustomed should be replaced by Stay Awake!

The Second leg of the "Smart Motorway" project will see 4 lanes south from Ngauranga to a new Aotea quay off ramp, this will remove the need for that SH1/SH2 merge.... ( they just need to find the money for the new lane that will run from the reclaimation to the existing offramp location....)

tchart

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#1581196 27-Jun-2016 16:13

DarthKermit:

Palmy Nth where I live has quite a number of these awful offset intersections.

If you're wanting to go straight through, you have to make a right turn then a quick left turn.

Lots of those on the two digit state highways in the Waikato (eg SH27). Makes people stop and look before they go. Although last time I drove along those roads they had replaced some of them with big roundabouts.

robcreid

243 posts

Master Geek

#1581228 27-Jun-2016 16:35

Christchurch Northern Motorway

The on ramp from Main North Rd joins the motorway via the right hand lane!

This means slower traffic joins in to the right lane and then has to move to the left lane messing up both lanes.

andrewNZ

2487 posts

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Inactive user

#1581372 27-Jun-2016 18:31

Coming off the Tauranga harbour bridge.

Terrible roundabout with lights also in Tauranga Both roundabouts are terrible, but the big one is just stupid.

Google doesn't do these justice. The Tauranga roading designers need to be fired.

RunningMan

8953 posts

Uber Geek

#1581415 27-Jun-2016 19:28

6FIEND:

This one can be a bit frustrating when turning right from Civic Cres (exiting the Westfield in Albany) and needing to make the next left hand turn.

One must enter the intersection from the left hand lane (on account of the bus lane on the right) then immediately cross to the inside lane (to avoid the requirement to continue straight ahead per the indicated white lines) then either cut back to the left hand lane on exiting the intersection or make an equivalent lane-change before arriving at the next intersection.

Bit difficult from the photo, but it looks like there is a right turn arrow from the left lane, and the bus lane is mandatory right turn, so you can probably stay in the left lane to complete the right turn.

1eStar

1604 posts

Uber Geek

#1581544 27-Jun-2016 21:53

If roading engineers had unlimited budgets, there would be no silly intersections.

Sometimes traffic demand changes, so off ramps end up on the wrong side eg SH20/20A southbound to Airport (offramp to airport should technically exit to left)

If political pressure wasn't the driver of some decisions there wouldn't be so many stupid intersections (eg Grafton cemetery on ramp)

But unfortunately roading engineers have to cater to the lowest common denominator, so with the proliferation of silly drivers, expect more silly intersections.

Your sincerely an ex engineer.

MikeAqua

7773 posts

Uber Geek

#1581733 28-Jun-2016 10:09

In Blenheim on SH1 there is a level crossing bisecting a roundabout.

What could possibly go wrong ...

https://www.google.co.nz/maps/@-41.5131615,173.9601202,210m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Mike

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