Paying cash for road tolls will virtually disappear in two months as the NZTA takes over tolls on Route K and the Tauranga Eastern Link.

It's part of a range of improvements the agency says will make it easier for drivers to use the Tauranga toll roads when they are added to the tolls system in August, and the Northern Gateway Toll Road in Auckland, as well as The NZTA takes over ownership of Route K - to be known as the Takitimu Drive Toll Road - on June 30.

The toll gantry on the TEL.

Electronic tolling will start in Tauranga in August 2015. When electronic tolling is underway the toll booths on Route K will no longer be in operation.

The finalised date of when electronic tolling is in operation will be advised closer to the time. The barrier arms on the toll booths will be raised and drivers will be able to drive through,Transport Agency Access and Use Group Manager Celia Patrick

The toll booths will be removed by mid-September.

'A large amount of removal and maintenance work will need to be carried out over this time so a lower speed limit will be put in place to ensure the safety of the maintenance team,” says Celia.

Existing Imprest and fleet accounts will remain in place until the end of July 2015. Tauranga City Council will send more information about how the changes will affect customers.

Contact details can be checked and updated at www.tauranga.govt.nz or calling 07 577 7000. Route K customers are being encouraged to sign up for a Transport Agency account.

Cash can still be paid for tolls at selected BP and Caltex service stations, but a transaction fee of $1.20 applies to cover administration costs, will be added to payments made at the service stations.

Which will bump the route K toll from $1.80 for cars and motorcycles to $3. TEL tolls will be $2 for cars and motorbikes, and a cash price of $3.20.

Drivers with tolling accounts including existing account holders, will be able to pay for trips on all three toll roads with a single account.

From mid-July, drivers using the Northern Gateway Toll Road can expect a new look, easier to use website, a new prepaid account option, and easier cash payment channels in place of the ageing kiosks at Dairy Flat and Puhoi, which will be removed.

The changes are being introduced to make it as easy as possible for people to use New Zealand toll roads.

'Since the opening of the Northern Gateway Toll Road in 2009 there have been significant improvements to tolling technology, and we've upgraded our systems so that New Zealand drivers get the benefits of those improvements with a range of fast, convenient and simple payment methods,” says Celia.

The coin-only kiosks at BP Dairy Flat and Puhoi will be removed once the new system is live, and new in-person payment services will be available at 33 upper North Island BP and Caltex service stations, where over the counter payments will be accepted in cash or by debit or credit card.

The easiest option for drivers is to pay tolls online with no administration fee at www.tollroad.govt.nz, or set up an online account which will cover travel on all three toll roads. For further more information go to www.tollroad.govt.nz