4 April 2005

Media Release

Motorway Toll On Western Corridor – “A Step Closer?”

“If Government can make a decision to put a $2 toll on the Orewa-to-Puhoi road with a benefit of $2.80c for every dollar spent, where is the difficulty of tolling a completed western corridor within 5 years where the benefit cost ratio is 4.6?”

This means that for every dollar invested in constructing the western ring route, the New Zealand economy as a whole will receive benefits of $4.60 – nearly twice the benefits of using a toll to fast track the Puhoi road, noted Michael Barnett, chief executive of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce.

The Puhoi toll has enabled the project to be completed some 15 years ahead of just relying on public funding. Under the same public funding priorities, the western corridor will remain un-built for at least another 15 years.

Similarly, construction of the harbour bridge to city widening of the southern motorway is not due to start until at least 2010, even though the benefits are $4 for every dollar spent – or nearly twice as high as the Puhoi project.

“With Auckland’s buses on strike today, it is a timely reminder that the case for a faster programme to complete the core motorway network urgently is glaringly obvious,” said Mr Barnett.

A network toll that brings forward all construction time lines by 10 years is an obvious option, he suggested.

ENDS

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