$1.80 toll tipped for Puhoi road

By WAYNE THOMPSON

A toll of $1.80 is proposed for the Northern Motorway extension from Orewa to Puhoi.

The charge for a one-way trip would allow construction of the $260 million extension to start as early as December, Transit New Zealand acting chief executive Rick van Barneveld told a public meeting in Orewa on Saturday.

The 7.5km stretch past the notorious traffic bottleneck of Orewa could be in use in four years, he said. This was far sooner than a road without the security of income from a toll.

Mr van Barneveld said the toll was set at $1.80 because it would contribute to construction financing costs without turning people off using the superior new road.

Public views would be welcomed.

Some of the 100 people at the meeting expressed anger that people could travel from Meremere to Orewa without having to pay, yet this final section was singled out for a toll.

Mr van Barneveld said user-pays proposals such as tolling were attached to other future projects.

Public approval through consultation is necessary for parliamentary permission to build a toll road.