Two high-tech electronic tolling gantries, the first of their kind in New Zealand, will be operational on key routes in Tauranga this year.
One of the nine-metre high electronic tolling gantries has been installed on the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) ahead of the official opening of the motorway later this
year.
The second toll gantry will be built on Tauranga's Route K in April, in preparation for when the Transport Agency takes ownership of the road from Tauranga City Council in July.
New Zealand Transport Agency Waikato/Bay of Plenty Regional Director Harry Wilson said both of the new toll points were 'single gantry, multi-lane free flow systems', the first of their kind in New Zealand.
"Motorists have been using the electronic toll system on the Northern Gateway Toll Road (NGTR), north of Auckland, since 2009, however technology has moved on since the dual-gantry on the NGTR was installed," Mr Wilson says.
Mr Wilson said the main benefit of the free-flow systems being used in Auckland and Tauranga was there was no need for toll booths, allowing drivers to travel straight through, reducing travel times and providing a more predictable journey.
"Each gantry has 16 cameras, which will capture an image of the vehicle's front and rear registration plates using the latest optical character recognition technology.
The cameras will read the registration plates and determine the size of the vehicle and whether it is a motorcycle, car, truck, or bus so the correct toll can be assigned".
"This system is heralded internationally because of its performance, latest generation technology and low initial and operational costs," Mr Wilson says.
The TEL gantry was shipped into Tauranga in December and installed at the toll point, between the Kaituna River bridge and the future Rangiuru Business Park interchange, near the Paengaroa roundabout.
Mr Wilson says the gantry installation is a significant milestone for the TEL and visible evidence that the project is nearing its final stages.
"Tolling the TEL between the Domain Road interchange and the Paengaroa roundabout allowed the project to start a decade earlier than originally planned."
Mr Wilson said light vehicles using the TEL would pay $2 and heavy vehicles $5. The Route K toll tariff will be $1.80 and $4.80 after July.
He said the prices reflected the different benefits of the individual roads for motorists and the underlying costs of constructing the roads.
"Alongside the new-look toll points, the Transport Agency is also upgrading the back-end tolling system, offering customers a range of ways to pay their tolls.
"People can either set up a pre-pay account or pay as they go either online, through the 0800 number or over the counter at selected service stations".
The new tolling system is expected to be operational in early July, ahead of the TEL being opened and Route K being electronically tolled.