New system to pay toll road travel

The new electronic gantry at Route K. Photo/Supplied

The NZ Transport Agency is encouraging people to open a toll account to make travelling on the soon to be opened Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road, and the Takitimu Drive Toll Road (Route K) as convenient as possible.

New electronic toll gantries will go live on both Tauranga roads in August and the Transport Agency is rolling out a range of options to make it as easy as possible to pay to travel on them.

The Transport Agency's Access and Use Group Manager, Celia Patrick said the new look toll website was being launched in late-July, however people planning ahead can set up their toll account now and their details will be transferred over into the new system.

"The Transport Agency has been operating the Northern Gateway Toll Road for six years now and we have listened to what people want, and kept a close eye on tolling trends overseas to make travelling on these roads as easy as possible," Ms Patrick said.

"There are a range of ways to pay your toll, however opening up an account is the most convenient. From late-July there will be three accounts to choose from, either automatic top up, manual top up, or monthly billing."

Drivers can have multiple vehicles on one account and it will cover travel on all three of the Transport Agency' s toll roads; the two in Tauranga and the Northern Gateway Toll Road.

Tauranga's new electronic toll points use the latest in tolling technology to capture images of the vehicles registration plates as people travel underneath.

"This technology allows drivers to travel straight through, just like on the Northern Gateway Toll Road. This will reduce travel time and provide a more predictable journey," Ms Patrick said.

People who have an account set up for the Northern Gateway Toll Road, north of Auckland don't need to do anything as their account will automatically be transferred into the new system.

Casual or infrequent users of the toll roads can pay for their toll online. Alternatively there will be the option to pay in person at selected BP and Caltex service stations by cash, debit or credit card. A transaction fee of $1.20 to cover administration costs will apply to payments made at the service stations.

The easiest option for drivers is set up an online account or to pay tolls online with no administration fee at www.tollroad.govt.nz

For further more information go to www.tollroad.govt.nz