The Government has stepped in to stop Route K changes until after the general election on September 20.

The NZ Transport Agency's agreement to pay Tauranga City Council $62.3 million for the toll road is part of a programme aimed at co-ordinating the tolling for Route K with the Tauranga Eastern Link, when it opens for traffic next year.

Plans to change Route K ownership are on hold until after the election.

In a report to the regional land transport committee this week, the agency's planning and investment manager, Richard Hurn, says the timing of the decision is to achieve the best commercial terms for the toll gantry and tolling equipment, which it intends negotiating in mid-September.

The electronic tolling gantries were priced at $9 million each when the issue came up at a previous Tauranga City Council meeting.

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee's office today reports the Minister doesn't think it is right to take the Route K matter to Cabinet before the election.

The proposal is approved by NZTA's Transport Agency Board meeting, which approved funding on August 15.

Tauranga City Council approved it on August 18, and it was included in the Regional Land Transport Plan at Wednesday's committee meeting.

The vital next steps, Cabinet approval of a road tolling scheme for NZTA under the Land Transport Management Act, and a recommendation from Cabinet to the Governor General for a road tolling scheme, are now on hold.