Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell has written to the NZTA asking the government agency to consider reducing the toll on the Takitimu Drive Toll Road until full operational standards are restored.
Tolls should be reduced on a Tauranga road where ongoing major roadworks have disrupted motorists’ journeys for “several years”, says the city’s electorate MP.
Sam Uffindell has written to the NZ Transport Agency, Waka Kotahi (NZTA), asking for a toll reduction or pause on the State Highway 29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road until the roadworks are complete.
He said motorists were enduring reduced speed limits, lane closures, and extended travel times because of ongoing upgrades and the under-construction Takitimu North Link new highway project.
NZTA says it does not reduce tolls for road works, and another local leader backs maintaining the full fee.
Stage one of the Takitimu North Link – Tauranga to Te Puna, which is one of National’s Roads of National Significance, will connect to the toll road.
Uffindell said his community appreciated the long-term benefits these improvements would deliver.
There was “frustration”, however, that motorists continued to be charged the full toll “despite the road not operating at its intended capacity or level of service”.
He said the reduced speeds of 70km/h or lower lengthened journey times, and traffic flow conditions were below the expected standards of a quality toll road.
Tolls on the road cost $2.10 per trip for cars, motorcycles and light commercial vehicles and $5.40 for heavy vehicles.
“The people of Tauranga deserve good quality roads, especially when that road is tolled,” Uffindell said.
“I drive on the road most weeks and share their frustration.”
He said it was frustrating for Tauranga residents to have two of New Zealand’s three toll roads (including the Tauranga Eastern Link) with new highways elsewhere, like Wellington’s Transmission Gully, not tolled.
“They need to be more fairly distributed around New Zealand.”
The Government confirmed in December that the Takitimu North Link would be tolled. Auckland, which has the tolled Northern Gateway, would get a second toll road when the Penlink opens, with the new Ōtaki to north of Levin road to also be tolled.
“Tauranga won’t be the only region with toll roads in the years ahead,” Uffindell said.
He said he generally supported tolling to enable new roading to be built sooner, but said roads should be in working order.
An ideal toll amount would consider the convenience the route offers, he said, balanced against the ongoing works, speed reductions and the poor surface quality.
Tauranga City Council Tauriko ward councillor Marten Rozeboom did not support Uffindell’s suggestion.
He said, at this phase of Takitimu North Link construction, Takitimu Drive was a “work site”, but his travel times had not been affected.
“I have not experienced any major delays on Takitimu Drive, and I enjoy seeing the progress being made as I drive past.”
Rozeboom said NZTA had assured him all funds collected from the tolls were for the construction and maintenance of roads in the region.
“So I do not support a reduction in the toll during the construction of new roading infrastructure.”
The roads would improve travel around the region, increase efficiency and productivity, and open up land for development – and the work may not have even started yet without the toll, Rozeboom said.
Tolling had ”allowed many roading projects to be brought forward".
He said all of his conversations with the community had been positive and the major roading projects around Tauranga were on schedule.
“We in Tauranga and the Western Bay are under large growth pressure, and I accept any and all support that comes from the central Government that helps us meet this growth.”
The NZTA’s director of regional relationships in Waikato and Bay of Plenty, Andrew Corkill, acknowledged the concerns about the disruptions.
“NZTA appreciates that roadworks are frustrating and is working to minimise disruption.”
Corkill said NZTA did not remove tolls for roadworks.
“Tolling provides a source of revenue which enabled this road to be built much sooner than would have otherwise been possible.
“When the costs have been recovered, the tolls will be removed.”
He said all roads required maintenance and renewals, which meant disruptions.
“While we appreciate that works are frustrating, the work is happening to enable the city to grow, and will benefit road users in the long term.”
Corkill said works were under way at several locations along the toll road.
Stage one of the Takitimu North Link involved building a major interchange between Tauriko and the Tauranga CBD.
This included a 363m flyover bridge west of the existing toll road, a roundabout entry to the new highway, and a slip lane on the eastern side to keep traffic flowing from the CBD towards Tauriko.
“Our team has made amazing progress on the project to date, and those passing through this area will continue to see progress.”
Completion of stage one is scheduled for 2028.
NZTA had also recently completed maintenance work on the toll road as part of its summer maintenance programme.
Corkill said a future full road rebuild, between the interchange site and Tauriko, was planned and had funding approved.
“This work will improve journey quality in this area significantly and is currently being aligned, planned and programmed to be delivered as part of the Takitimu North Link project.”
He said NZTA had received Uffindell’s letter and would respond to him directly regarding his concerns.
Ayla Yeoman is a multimedia journalist based in Tauranga. She grew up in Taupō and studied at the University of Auckland, gaining a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Communications and Politics & International Relations. She has been a journalist since 2022.