No tolls waived after highway crash

Motorists who took the Eastern Link toll road earlier this month as a detour shouldn’t expect their tolls to be waived. File photo.

Motorists who used the Eastern Link as a detour following a crash earlier this month shouldn't expect their tolls to be waived, say the NZTA.

A head-on truck crash that blocked the Te Puke Highway for several hours on May 3 forced several drivers to take the toll road to circumnavigate the crash scene.

Local carter Matt Bunkton says he contacted the NZTA about waiving the tolls on two of his company's trucks, but was told the vehicles had two other ‘viable options' in the wake of the road blockage.

'We were carting kiwifruit in our trucks from Maketu to Rangiuru Road, and they told us we had a viable other option of either waiting for the road re-open or going via Rotorua,” says Matt.

'So they won't be reversing the tolls as a result. And at $5 a pop each way plus the additional distance travelled, it adds up. I think it's ridiculous to say we had another viable option.”

Staying put wasn't an option, as there were ‘thousands of dollars' worth of growers' fruit picked and ready to be transported'. And the only toll-free detour was via Rotorua, which Matt estimates would have added at least 90 minutes of extra travel time in a loaded truck and trailer, plus all the extra fuel costs.

So the toll road was the only ‘viable option' in his books.

'I'm not sure how many extra kilometres we had to travel, but it cost an extra $70 in tolls alone.”

It doesn't think it's an unreasonable request to have the tolls reversed in this situation.

'I've always understood that when the Te Puke highway is closed, and there is no option but to go around the Eastern Link, they would reverse the tolls.”

'To be fair, they did a substantial investigation into the crash scene, and I understand the need for that. But there's no other way over the Kaituna River.”

NZTA Bay of Plenty highways manager Niclas Johansson says he understands the inconvenience for people when roads are closed due to crashes.

'In this case there were other options available for those who preferred not to use the toll road.

When there is a detour available the Transport Agency does not exempt the tolls,” he says.

'If people are ever unsure which route to take when there is a road closure they can check our website, call us on 0800 4 HIGHWAYS or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.”

The NZTA had not received any other complaints about the tolls, although a spokesperson says many of the road users will only be receiving their bills now.

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6 comments

Laughable selfish arguement

Posted on 24-05-2017 08:05 | By dbunk

There were 3 options, you chose the one you had to pay for it, now pay for it. Simple as that. If the other two options were more expensive then you chose the best option. Be glad your truck Drivers were safe and not the ones seriously injured in the accident. If your Drivers had to stop and assist the accident I am sure you would be asking who to send the bill too...


Just the sort of thinking ...

Posted on 24-05-2017 08:11 | By mutley

we have come to expect from NZTA. How ridiculous of Niclas Johansson to consider a detour via Rotorua was a reasonable alternative in this case. No wonder we have chaos on our local roads with quality thinking like that. The bigger question still remains: why is it that when there are only 3 active toll roads in NZ, two of them are around Tauranga ?


Whats the problem

Posted on 24-05-2017 12:15 | By normal local

It's not like the toll is excessive so why make it a big deal. It would be a pain having to use the detour. But it was an accident and accidents happen. Before the toll road was built what would your options have been? To go via Rotorua or sit and wait.I am sure you have spent more than the $70 tolls on wasted time trying to deal with NZTA.And for the person complaining about the toll roads around Tauranga. I have no argument paying to use a very good road. If I have time I may choose not to use it. But most of the time it is the cheapest option to pay the toll and save time and petrol.


I agree mutley

Posted on 24-05-2017 12:21 | By Border Patrol

The Rotorua detour wasn't a reasonable alternative to use given the trucks were only coming from Maketu and going to Rangiuru road. Luckily there was a viable alternative for the operator to use in this instance. The tolls on the eastern link are part of the reason we still have a lot of traffic coming through Te Puke as people don't want to pay.


Your Issue

Posted on 24-05-2017 19:02 | By Capt_Kaveman

is with the police crash investigation unit which take forever to clean a crash scene, anything over 90mins is unacceptable


Mutley

Posted on 24-05-2017 21:47 | By Kenworthlogger

The reason 2 of the toll roads are in Tauranga is because the local councillors did not want to wait for funding from the govt they wanted the roads now so chose the toll option...


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