Based on an average of 105,000 northbound trips a day on the bridge and tunnel, the government could collect about $145 million a year from the new changes.
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The government has been negotiating with Transurban and other large investors about a shake-up of tolling contracts since July 2024. Both sides initially held hopes of reaching a deal by last Christmas, but the government now expects to conclude negotiations by the middle of next year.
Transport Minister John Graham said the extra revenue raised from two-way charges on the bridge and tunnel would be directed to ongoing toll relief, which was most needed in western Sydney.
“This all comes back to fairness. If you live in western Sydney, you have been paying tolls in both directions and seeing them rise with frustrating regularity. If you only use the Harbour Bridge or tunnel, you have paid in one direction and the toll has almost never gone up,” he said.
The Fels review also called for two-way tolling on the Eastern Distributor motorway. However, any introduction of tolls on southbound journeys would hinge on negotiations with Transurban and other investors which hold the long-term contract for the Eastern Distributor. At present, cars are charged $10.16 for northbound journeys and trucks $20.31.
The government said the negotiations with Transurban and other concessionaires had cleared the way for scrapping of administration fees on toll notices. Some 46 million toll notices with administration fees totalling $618 million were issued for unpaid charges on Sydney’s toll roads last financial year.
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