Northland businesses are questioning “concerning” tolls proposed for part of the Northland Expressway, even if it saves travel time and improves road conditions.

The National Road Carriers Association (NRC) is seeking “greater transparency around how the proposed toll level has been determined”.

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) is seeking public feedback on a proposal to toll the first stage of the four-lane Northland Corridor between Warkworth and Te Hana.

The 26km road will connect with the Pūhoi-Warkworth motorway, which opened in 2023.

The proposal is for two tolling points: one to the north and one to the south of Wellsford at the future Wayby Valley interchange.

The northern toll point would charge $1.50, and the southern toll point $3 for light vehicles, totalling $4.50. For heavy vehicles, it would cost $3 for the northern toll point and $6 for the southern, totalling $9.

Motorists travelling the full length of the road would pass through both toll points. Return journeys would cost $9 for light vehicles and $18 for heavy vehicles.

NZTA’s system design national manager, Jess Andrew, said several tolling options were considered.

“To ensure a fairer system based on how much of the new or upgraded road a driver uses, two toll points are proposed.

“This reflects how far motorists travel, helps maintain good revenue levels, while limiting the amount of traffic that diverts back onto other parts of the network.”

If the new road were tolled, the existing State Highway 1 would become a free alternative route.

AA senior policy adviser Sarah Geard said it “was open to tolling in principle when it means a road will be built sooner than it otherwise would”.

However, it had not yet decided whether to support NZTA’s proposal.

“We are very mindful that tolls mean extra costs for motorists, and we recognise there is already a toll road between Auckland and Whangārei.

“We are carefully working through the information ... to understand why the proposed toll price is $4.50, why this is split into separate $1.50 and $3 tolls at the two proposed tolling points, how those prices will affect the number of vehicles that use the road, and what all this means for the benefits the new road will deliver compared with not tolling it.”

The NRC’s submission says it supports tolling “where it enables critical infrastructure to be delivered sooner”.

However, NRC Northland transport specialist Paula Rogers questioned the $18 return cost for heavy vehicles, combined with the existing toll of $10.40 for a return journey on the Northern Gateway toll road.

“This results in a combined toll cost of approximately $28.40 per return trip for heavy vehicles travelling between Pūhoi and Te Hana.

“Given the high frequency of freight movements along this corridor, these cumulative costs become significant for transport operators and are ultimately passed through to customers and the wider economy.”

Paula Rogers from the National Road Carriers Association said tolling had to be fair and not just shift costs onto the freight sector.

Andrew said revenue collected had to be used for costs associated with the new road.

The Warkworth-Te Hana section would be delivered as a public-private partnership (PPP), she said.

“Any tolling revenue will contribute to the annual amount we need to pay the PPP following the opening of the motorway.

“It will free up money in the National Land Transport Fund to invest in other important transport infrastructure projects.”

Mark Stevens, owner of That Van Guy, who travels between Northland and Auckland twice a week for his specialised freight service, said he wouldn’t mind paying the toll if roading conditions improved.

“It would also speed up the journey a bit as well, by 10 to 15 minutes.

“It’s all time at the end of the day.”

NZTA proposes two tolling points for the first stage of the Northland Corridor between Warkworth and Te Hana.

Kaikohe Business Association chairman Mike Shaw said the toll would increase transport costs.

However, “overall, the benefits of having the four-lane highway would outweigh the small cost of a toll”.

He believed the toll should be removed as soon as the road was paid for.

“Going back, the toll on the Auckland Harbour Bridge, over time, that was paid off.

“Once it’s paid for, they should remove it.”

The original Auckland Harbour Bridge tolls were paid off and removed in 1984, 25 years after the bridge opened in 1959.

The other toll between Northland and Auckland is on the Northern Gateway road, which opened in 2009.

Light vehicles travelling the 7.5km between Ōrewa and Pūhoi through the Johnstone’s Hill Tunnels pay $2.60 ($5.20 return), and heavy vehicles pay $5.20 ($10.40 return).

As of June 2025, $154 million had been paid off the debt, which included $113m in interest and $41m of principal.

There is still $179m to pay, and the estimated date for removing the toll is 2038.

The Warkworth-Te Hana road is expected to be finished by 2034, which means there could be a total of three tolls to pay for motorists travelling between Northland and Auckland.

Phase two of the 100km Northland Expressway includes Te Hana to Port Marsden, including the alternative to the Brynderwyn Hills, and phase three is Port Marsden to Whangārei.

NZTA says each new section “will be assessed and considered for tolling”.

The final decision on whether or not to toll each road rests with the Cabinet, on the recommendation of the Minister of Transport.

Public consultation on the proposal runs until April 15. Submissions can be made through the NZTA consultation page.

Jenny Ling is a senior journalist at the Northern Advocate. She has a special interest in covering human interest stories, along with finance, roading, and social issues.