Your view: Not impressed by toll increase

Reader Dave Horgan says the Route K toll increase will cost him $10 a day to only cut 3 minutes from his drive and he says it is not worth it.

Have your say on the issue by posting in the comments below or voting in the poll.

I was really surprised when I found out in the BOP Times (News, June 17) that the toll for the size truck I currently drive will increase to $5 from $1.50.

I follow this closely and I am sure at no time was this explained correctly, otherwise those like me would definitely have put in a submission.

I am an employee but pay for using the toll road myself for the convenience and what I thought was the time saved.

In real time I did a test and found that I had been saving less than 90 seconds compared to going through Bethlehem.

I could use Cambridge Road with the size truck I drive but I stick to the proper route.
I will not be paying $10 a day to save 3 minutes.

I have always struggled with this toll charge as there is only one entrance on to the toll road and if you are travelling towards Hamilton, really, if you are not on Takitimu Drive before Elizabeth Street you miss the chance to use the toll road.

The actual length of the part of the road that you pay for is very short.

Hopefully we are not charged for the use of the toll roads by length as the cost of the Te Puke bypass could mean we all take out another mortgage to use it.

I will not be using the Route K Toll Road again so there is another 15-tonne truck rattling down through Bethlehem or Cambridge Road.

Dave Horgan
Papamoa