The AA says many members are questioning whether the proposed $4.50 toll price between Warkworth and Te Hana is too high.
The AA wants the Government’s transport agency to consider lowering the toll price proposed for the first stage of the Northland Expressway.
NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) said last month that it wanted feedback on its proposal to toll the 26km of new highway between Warkworth and Te Hana.
This upset some residents and businesses who said Northlanders would be hardest hit.
AA Northland District Council chairwoman Tracey Rissetto said the organisation supported tolling if there was a free alternative route.
However, many members questioned whether the proposed $4.50 toll price was too high, she said.
NZTA modelling indicated that most motorists were expected to use the new road at the proposed toll price to benefit from it.
This included time savings of up to 10 minutes.
“While it’s pleasing that most motorists would be willing to use the new road with the proposed toll in place, the AA is recommending NZTA consider lowering the toll price so that even more motorists choose to use it.
“If a decision is made to toll Warkworth to Te Hana, we recognise there will be two toll roads ... between Whangārei and Auckland.
“The AA is continuing to advocate for a $50 weekly cap on toll charges across all toll roads for non-commercial light vehicles, to improve affordability for the heaviest users of toll roads.”
NZTA’s proposal includes two tolling points: the northern one would charge $1.50 and the southern one $3 for light vehicles, totalling $4.50.
For heavy vehicles, tolls would cost $3 for the northern toll point and $6 for the southern, totalling $9.
Motorists travelling the full length of the road would pass through both toll points, meaning return journeys would cost $9 for light vehicles and $18 for heavy vehicles.
Light vehicles would pay $14.20 and heavy vehicles $28.40 per return trip between Northland and Auckland if the existing Northern Gateway toll north of Auckland were added.
NZTA has confirmed that if tolled, the existing SH1 would become a free alternative route.
The National Road Carriers Association also questioned the toll pricing, saying the costs would become significant for transport operators and be passed on to customers and the wider economy.
Northland Chamber of Commerce chairman Tim Robinson said the organisation “strongly supported” four-laning SH1 from Warkworth to Whangārei.
The infrastructure investment was critical to Northland’s long-term economic growth, he said.
“Given that an existing alternative route will remain available, the chamber supports the use of tolling if it enables the project to proceed more quickly and efficiently.”
Northland Corporate Group supports tolling the Northland Expressway.
Chairman Rob Buchanan said decades of under-investment along SH1 had “choked” regional economic growth.
“Ultimately, we don’t want to see extra costs on hard-working Kiwis, but right now, the cost of doing nothing is far too high.”
Its members - including business heavyweights Channel Infrastructure NZ, Culham Engineering, McKay Limited, Northport Group, and Northpower - are “strongly in support” of a fair user-pays model.
“Everyone in Northland has a story about the impact the roading disruptions have had on them personally, financially or both.
“We need to see a clear plan to improve our road, if we have any hope of Northland reaching its potential, and the best way to do that is to be clear that those who will benefit from the road, contribute in part to the cost of its construction.”
NZTA system design national manager Jess Andrew said the toll prices proposed had been determined following an in-depth tolling assessment.
This considered the amount needed to generate the revenue required, while not creating an unacceptable barrier for road users, she said.
“But this is an important factor in why we ask for public feedback to help inform recommendations.
“Submissions closed on 15 April and we’re still working through the feedback that was collected.
“When the engagement report is finalised it will be published on our web page so the public can see the feedback received.”
The Northland Corridor is a 100km stretch of highway connecting Auckland to Northland.
The Warkworth-Te Hana road is expected to be finished by 2034.
Phase two of the 100km Northland Expressway includes Te Hana to Port Marsden, including the alternative to the Brynderwyn Hills, and phase three is Port Marsden to Whangārei.
NZTA said each new section “will be assessed and considered for tolling”.
Jenny Ling is a senior journalist at the Northern Advocate. She has a special interest in covering human interest stories, along with finance, roading, and social issues.