New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has pledged to meet the $50 million costs to four-lane Turret Rd and 15th Ave if his party ended up in post-election negotiations to form a new coalition government.
He made the announcement after his shock disclosure that the Government intended to cement in place tolls on Route K prior to the election.
Mr Peters told a public meeting in Mount Maunganui today that things were moving very fast on Route K since the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) announced last week that it was taking over the $62.5 million debt on the road from the Tauranga City Council.
Quoting a report coming up in next week's Regional Transport Committee meeting, he said Cabinet was to consider approving an Order in Council for Route K tolls on September 1.
The report further stated that the Governor-General would be asked to approve the road tolling scheme prior to the election.
The report also said the NZTA was seeking to secure "commercial terms" on the planned Route K tolls gantry and tolling equipment by the middle of next month.
Despite the Government moving quickly to ensure a tolls regime was in place before any potential coalition talks took place, Mr Peters still vowed to remove the tolls if New Zealand First became a partner in forming a new government.
He said the arrangements to put in place a new tolling scheme for Route K prior to the election "stinks".
Mr Peters pledged to honour a commitment made by Prime Minister John Key prior to the 2008 election that a National-led Government would fund the whole $100 million Hairini Link project.
Instead the NZTA was only funding the Welcome Bay underpass portion of the project, with Hewletts Rd and 15th Ave to be handed back as a local road to the council.
Four-laning Turret Rd included building a new bridge.