Peter Bathgate has been working on the Southern Motorway, currently commissioning the Over Height Detection and Warning System (OHDWS) to protect Penrose Rd over bridge from damage.

New full colour VMS’s will display large text and flashing indicators to advise illegal drivers to leave the motorway.

The system will be connected to ATOC Smales control room to alert Operators so that they can advise Police and dispatch AMA incident response.

In a recent AMA ‘Motorway Matters’ session attended by Brett Gliddon, a photo of the new ‘OVERHEIGHT LOAD DETECTED’ sign was shown along with a video of the first successful activation of part of the system, where trucks triggered two of the VMS, at Panama Rd over bridge and Mt Wellington (northbound) which displayed, ‘LOAD TOO HIGH TAKE NEXT EXIT,’ followed by the truck leaving the motorway as instructed.

The project also won an innovation award for the new bridge-mount structures, which allow technicians to maintain the sign from the local road, eliminating the need for costly traffic management and inconvenience to road users.

Rick van Barneveld has been working on The Transport Agency’s national integrated ticketing programme, which has now moved into its next phase. The system is designed to maximise returns on future investments in public transport ticketing systems in New Zealand and deliver the best possible benefits for users. Interim solutions have been agreed for Wellington, Christchurch and nine smaller regions as holding plans, pending global procurement of a next generation ticketing solution for these councils. That procurement needs to be tested against the alternative of extending Auckland’s HOP.