I strongly endorse the type of railway line initiative proposed in Val Carter's letter ‘Rail rumblings'(Weekend Sun, January 24), which at least is thinking outside the square.

But unfortunately, even this proposal does not address the major traffic mess at Bayfair roundabout.

Another cost-effective solution may be to shift the existing railway line into the reserved corridor behind the Owens Place shops, then ramp Matapihi Rd over the railway by installing a concrete-lidded box, say five metres wide by five metres high.

This could go 20 metres across the roadway with two lanes/footpath/cycleway on one side, along with pedestrian access under the ramp across Matapihi Rd.

At a maximum 50 metres from Owens Place, this provides a 1/10 gradient; and on Matapihi side gives 100 metres with a more gradual 1/20 gradient.

By installing traffic lights at the Bayfair intersection, just like at the Fraser St and 15th Ave intersection, you have it made to order, especially with the inclusion of four free-left turns.

Also, there's possibility of opening up the present rail corridor, to some degree, for traffic cycling parallel to Maunganui Rd, giving another access to Owens Place through Titoki Place, plus egress from Matapihi.

R Paterson, Matapihi.