The Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) toll road opened to the public yesterday, providing a 4-lane expressway on SH2 between Te Maunga and Paengaroa.
The New Zealand Transport Agency says that HPMVs are permitted to travel on both the TEL and the Te Puke Highway (revoked section of SH2). Operators with current HPMV permits for SH2 may use either route in accordance with the permit conditions.
Overweight vehicles may continue to use the Te Puke Highway in accordance with the conditions of the permit. NZ Transport Agency will continue to issue permits for this highway on behalf of Western Bay of Plenty district council, and Tauranga city council.
NZTA says that that new permits must be sought for overweight vehicles on TEL.
For the safety of other road users, these will be subject to travel time restrictions, and in some cases a traffic management plan will be required.
The cost of using the TEL is $2 for cars and motorcycles and $5 for heavy vehicles (over 3.5 tonnes).
The toll gantry on the TEL uses the latest in tolling technology to capture images of the vehicles registration plates as people travel underneath.
There is a range of ways to pay tolls; however the easiest and quickest way is to open an account says the NZTA. This can be done online or for people who do not use the internet, by free calling our contact centre on: 0800 40 20 20
Opening an account either online or over the phone is free. Once people have an account they can set it up to automatically top up from their bank accounts or credit card when it drops below the minimum balance.
Drivers can have multiple vehicles on one account and it will cover travel on all three of the Transport Agency’s toll roads; the two in Tauranga and the Northern Gateway Toll Road.
Casual or infrequent users of the toll roads can pay for their toll online or in person at selected BP and Caltex stations by cash, debit or credit card.
Customers who have a business can choose the ‘Bill Me’ account option, which allows people to travel on any New Zealand toll road as many times as they like and they will be sent an invoice at the end of each month. Payment is by direct debit on the 20th of the following month or the first working day thereafter.
For more information go HERE
