An overwhelming response in favour of the tolling option for the eastern motorway means an early start on the $455 million project is looking more likely.
NZ Transport Agency regional director Harry Wilson says 93 per cent of the submissions support tolling the road.

Route K toll booths. Picture supplied by NZTA.

About 200 of the supporting submission were conditional, which was why they weren't included in the 80 per cent support announced by the New Zealand Transport Agency.
'If we had added those up it would have been quite overwhelming,” says Harry. 'It is a great response.”
The last time similar polling was undertaken was for the Harbour Link Project, and that project was approved with 70 per cent support, says Harry.
'I'm not asking people to like it, but whether they can understand the economic benefits of bringing it forward. And that understanding is reflected in the answers we got.”
The key benefits highlighted by those supporting the toll proposal included: Improved road safety and fewer crashes, reduced travelling time and congestion, improved efficiency for port traffic, the potential economic benefits to the area and the fact that an alternative toll-free route would still be available to those who did not wish to pay the toll.
Less than 10 per cent are not in favour of tolling the road.
'We know the time and effort involved in considering the proposal and making a submission and want to offer our thanks to everyone who sent us their thoughts,” says Harry.
'To get over 3500 submissions is great news and it shows just how interested the region is in this issue.”
The next step is the public hearings process on 12-15 October. Ninety people want to be heard.
In December the New Zealand Transport Agency board will be in Tauranga, before it makes its submission to the Transport Minister.
If each stage gets the same level of support as the community submissions, Harry's hoping the Minister's answer should be known by Christmas – allowing a start next year.
During the five-week consultation process 3537 organisations or individuals made submissions on the plan. The vast majority are from the Bay of Plenty region.
The toll road is expected to cost $455 million at today's prices. At 23km it will be the longest state highway construction contract in New Zealand.
Without tolling, construction would not begin for five to 10 years.