This month Route K tolls were increased to $2 for cars and $5 for trucks.

This decision was made by Tauranga City Council's elected members on February 17 on the advice of a council report, which among other things, stated: 'the new toll rates align with those proposed for Tauranga Eastern Link opening mid-2015” and 'the New Zealand Transport Agency supported the increase”.

The NZTA takes ownership of Route K mid-2015.

The situation next year will be: The section of Route K permitted to be tolled is 4.5 kilometres. The road is two lanes.

The section of the Tauranga Eastern Link permitted to be tolled is 14.5 kilometres.
The road will be four lanes. Something very wrong here in terms of value for money when using these different roads. The phrase ‘rip-off' comes to mind.

Perry Harlen, Mount Maunganui.

NZTA responds:

The Tauranga Eastern Link toll tariffs were set based on the need to fund the costs of bringing the construction forward by seven-10 years.

These costs were tested and supported through public consultation in 2009. The final toll tariffs for the opening of the TEL in late-2015 will be confirmed later this year.
Route K, on the other hand, is still a local road and the toll tariffs are set by the council, based on the level of debt repayment.

Brett Gliddon, NZTA highway manager.