Motorists travelling on the Tauranga Eastern Link last night are incensed after being wrongly redirected onto a toll road and charged.
Drivers were given incorrect detour information during overnight works at the Wairākei (Pāpāmoa East) Interchange on the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Rd.
"Due to construction works, the northbound The Sands Ave onramp will be closed on 22 Jul, 2026 to 6 Nov, 2026 between 2000 and 0400," it read.
Southbound road users on The Sands Ave were advised to enter State Highway 2 via the Southbound Tauranga Eastern Link on-ramp, then exit SH2 via the off-ramp to Te Ara A Tia Rd, then turn on to Te Ara A Tia Rd, then U-turn to Kopura Rd / Te Ara A Tia Rd RAB, before rejoining SH2 via the on-ramp.
Cars, motorcycles and light commercial vehicles weighing 3.5 tonnes or less passing through the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Rd are charged a fee of $2.30, while heavy vehicles over 3.5 tonnes must fork over $5.60.
In a Facebook group, one commenter said she was forced to overshoot the Pāpāmoa East off-ramp and pay the toll before backtracking to her original destination.
"[It] would have been nice for them to have signs up in advance letting us know, right?" another added.
National MP for Bay of Plenty Tom Rutherford said he was aware of the issue and had contacted the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.
The transport agency responded that it was "aware that incorrect detour information was provided during overnight works at the Wairākei (Pāpāmoa East) Interchange on the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road".
"As a result, some motorists were directed onto the toll road and may have incurred a toll charge."
Waka Kotahi said the issue was identified this morning "and has now been corrected for tonight’s closure".
"We have reinforced the approved detour messaging with our contractor and are working with the tolling team to ensure any customers who were incorrectly directed onto the toll road are reimbursed.
"We apologise for the inconvenience caused."
A planned closure of the westbound on-ramp, Paengaroa-bound, will go ahead between 8pm this evening and 4am tomorrow.
A signed detour will be in place via local roads, using the Domain Rd Interchange to access the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Rd.
Motorists were asked to follow onsite signage and allow for extra travel time.
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