Toll roads in Australia

Last updated

EastLink northbound toll gantry near Wellington Road in Rowville Eastlink - Wellington Rd Nortbound Toll Gantry.JPG
EastLink northbound toll gantry near Wellington Road in Rowville
CityLink signage in Melbourne Citylink signs at Toorak Road.jpg
CityLink signage in Melbourne

Australian toll roads are found in the eastern states of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. The majority of toll roads in Australia are in Sydney, but there are also toll roads in Melbourne, Brisbane, Ipswich and Toowoomba.

Contents

Most of the toll roads are partially owned or operated by Transurban. All toll roads in Australia are tolled electronically (cashless) using free-flow tolling. All toll collection points are toll gantries, with the last cash toll booths in the country closed in July 2013 on the M5 South West Motorway.

Tolls are collected from an e-TAG transponder attached to the vehicle's windscreen. The first e-TAG was developed in the 1990s by Transurban who owns and operates the CityLink in Melbourne in preparation for what would be one of the world's first 'fully electronic' tollways. There are different e-TAG retailers across the country, such as Transurban's Linkt or Transport for NSW's e-Toll.

According to Professor Mark Hickman, the chair of Transport at the University of Queensland's School of Civil Engineering, toll roads in Australia have not reached expected traffic volumes and do not always relieve congestion in the short-term. [1] Melbourne's CityLink tollway (M1 and M2 sections) carry the highest volume of traffic and also generate the highest revenue of all the tollways (by a substantial amount). This is mainly due to the necessary cross-city and North (Melbourne Airport-bound) corridors.

Current toll roads

Toll Road [2] [3] [4] [5] LocationStateToll Point
Eastern Distributor AUS Alphanumeric Route M1.svg Woolloomooloo NSWWoolloomooloo (Northbound)
Military Road E-Ramps AUS Alphanumeric Route M1.svg Neutral Bay NSWNeutral Bay
Sydney Harbour Bridge AUS Alphanumeric Route A4.svg Sydney to North Sydney NSW North Sydney and Milsons Point (Southbound)
Sydney Harbour Tunnel AUS Alphanumeric Route M1.svg Sydney to North Sydney NSW North Sydney (Southbound)
Lane Cove Tunnel AUS Alphanumeric Route M2.svg Artarmon to North Ryde NSW North Ryde
M2 Hills Motorway AUS Alphanumeric Route M2.svg North Ryde to Baulkham Hills NSWMultiple
M4 Motorway AUS Alphanumeric Route M4.svg Parramatta to Leichhardt NSWMultiple
South Western Motorway AUS Alphanumeric Route M5.svg Beverly Hills to Moorebank NSWMultiple
M5 East Motorway AUS Alphanumeric Route M5.svg Beverly Hills to Kyeemagh NSWMultiple
Westlink M7 Motorway AUS Alphanumeric Route M7.svg Baulkham Hills to Prestons NSWMultiple
M8 Motorway AUS Alphanumeric Route M8.svg Kingsgrove to Leichhardt NSWMultiple
NorthConnex AUS Alphanumeric Route M11.svg Wahroonga to West Pennant Hills NSWMultiple
Cross City Tunnel Sydney to Rushcutters Bay NSWSydney
West Gate Freeway AUS Alphanumeric Route M1.svg(trucks only) Altona North VicAltona North
CityLink (Southern Link)AUS Alphanumeric Route M1 toll.svg Southbank to Kooyong VicMultiple
CityLink (Western Link)AUS Alphanumeric Route M2 toll.svg Strathmore to Port Melbourne VicMultiple
EastLink AUS Alphanumeric Route M3 toll.svg Donvale to Seaford VicMultiple
West Gate Tunnel AUS Alphanumeric Route M4 toll.svg Yarraville to Docklands Vic Footscray
Gateway Motorway AUS Alphanumeric Route M1 toll.svgbecomesAUS Alphanumeric Route M2 toll.svgat Eight Mile Plains Banyo to Drewvale Qld Murarrie and Kuraby
Logan Motorway AUS Alphanumeric Route M2 toll.svgAUS Alphanumeric Route M6 toll.svg Gailes to Loganholme Qld Heathwood and Meadowbrook
Legacy Way AUS Alphanumeric Route M5 toll.svg Toowong to Kelvin Grove QldToowong
Clem Jones Tunnel AUS Alphanumeric Route M7 toll.svg Woolloongabba to Bowen Hills QldBowen Hills
Airport Link AUS Alphanumeric Route M7 toll.svg Windsor to Clayfield QldWindsor and Clayfield
Go Between Bridge AUS Alphanumeric Route M3 toll.svgAustralian state route 33.svg West End to Milton QldWest End
Toowoomba Bypass AUS Alphanumeric Route A2 toll.svg Helidon Spa to Athol Qld Harlaxton

Former toll roads

Toll RoadLocationStateToll PointToll RemovedDetails
Western Motorway AUS Metroad 4.svg Granville to Silverwater NSWSilverwater16 February 2010 [6] Reinstated 15 August 2017 as part of WestConnex [7]
Sunshine Motorway Australian state route 70.svg Maroochydore to Pacific Paradise QldPacific Paradise8 March 1996 [8]
Southern Freeway (F6) Australian national route 1.svg Waterfall to Bulli Tops NSWWaterfall30 July 1995 [9]
Sydney–Newcastle Freeway (F3) Berowra to Calga NSWBerowra1988[ citation needed ]
West Gate Bridge Port Melbourne to Spotswood VicPort Melbourne29 November 1985 [10]
Hornibrook Bridge Brighton to Clontarf QldClontarf1979Bridge was Demolished. Replaced with (toll free) Houghton Highway 1979 and Ted Smout Memorial Bridge 2010 [ citation needed ]
Walter Taylor Bridge Chelmer to Indooroopilly QldIndooroopilly1965 [11]
Story Bridge Fortitude Valley to Kangaroo Point QldKangaroo Point1 March 1947 [12] [13]
Springbrook Road Neranwood to Springbrook QldNeranwood30 November 1945 [ citation needed ]
Great Ocean Road Eastern View to Apollo Bay VicEastern View2 October 1936 [14]
Great Eastern Road Adelaide to Mount Barker SAAdelaide Hills1847Removed due to public pressure. [15]

Future toll roads

New South Wales

Victoria

Road pricing reform

In 2019, the Grattan Institute published a report titled "Why it’s time for congestion charging: better ways to manage busy urban roads". [16] [17]

Transurban stated in their 1H26 financial investor presentation slides and recording that they were "Exploring RUC [road user charging] in Australia" and "looking at further road user charging trials in Australia". [18] : 11  [19] : 9:32 

Transurban trialled a congestion-based demand pricing model in 2016 [20] and has long advocated for a road user charging model. [21]

New South Wales

John Graham has stated since 2023 that the government is not considering and will not implement congestion charging in NSW. [22] In June 2023 Graham stated "...the NSW Government will not support any recommendations to place tolls on previously untolled roads and there will be no charge to drive into the Sydney CBD, as we promised in the election". [23]

In July 2024, the Independent toll review led by Allan Fels and David Cousins released their findings and recommendations for toll reform in NSW. [24]

In February 2025, bureaucrats were trying to agree on the "purpose, priorities and values" of toll reform. Investment NSW's Economics and Analysis team wrote a report which stated toll reform should implement "consistent, demand-based pricing structures across the existing toll network". The report also stated that as "fairness and ­equity are not objectives of toll roads", toll reform should not make prices fairer for drivers. [22]

John Graham stated on 15 February 2026 that the government would not implement demand-based pricing. [22]

Toll concessions and prices

New South Wales

Distance-based tolling

Toll prices as of 1 July 2025 [25]
Toll roadClass A toll prices [a] Class B toll prices [a] Toll increase [27] Toll concessionaireExpiry of toll concession [28]
FlagfallCharge per kmToll cap

Westlink M7 –$0.5047$10.093 x of Class A pricesQuarterly on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July, and 1 October, by quarterly CPINorthWestern Roads (NWR) Group
(50% Transurban, 25% QIC, 25% CPP)		June 2051

WestConnex
(M4, M5 East, M8)		$1.73$0.6411$12.253 x of Class A pricesAnnually on 1 January, by the greater of CPI or 4% until December 2040, and then by positive CPI onlySydney Transport Partners
(9% Tawreed Investments 10.5% CPPIB, 10% Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), 20.5% Australian Super, 50% Transurban)		2060

  1. 1 2 Class A vehicles are typically cars and motorcycles; Class B vehicles are all other vehicles including trucks and heavy vehicles [26]

Fixed or time of day tolling

Toll prices as of 1 July 2025 [29]
Toll roadClass A toll prices [a] Class B toll prices [a] Toll increase [31] Toll concessionaireExpiry of toll concession [32]

NorthConnex $10.15$30.45Quarterly on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July, and 1 October, by the greater of quarterly CPI or 1%NorthWestern Roads (NWR) Group
(50% Transurban, 25% QIC, 25% CPP)		June 2048

M2 Hills Motorway $3.00 (min.)
$10.15 (max.)		$9.01 (min.)
$30.45 (max.)		Quarterly on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July, and 1 October, by the greater of quarterly CPI or 1% Transurban June 2048

Lane Cove Tunnel $4.13$14.26Quarterly on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July, and 1 October, by the greater of quarterly CPI or 1% Transurban June 2048

Military Road E-Ramp (to / from Warringah Freeway)$2.07$7.13Quarterly on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July, and 1 October, by the greater of quarterly CPI or 1% Transurban June 2048

Cross City Tunnel $3.36 (Sir John Young Crescent exit)
$7.12 (otherwise)		$6.72 (Sir John Young Crescent exit)
$14.24 (otherwise)		Quarterly on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July, and 1 October by positive quarterly CPI Transurban December 2035

Eastern Distributor (northbound only)$10.06$20.11Quarterly on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July, and 1 October, by the greater of the weighted sum of quarterly AWE and quarterly CPI or 1%Airport Motorway Limited
(75.1% Transurban)		July 2048

M5 South-West Motorway $5.83$17.48Quarterly on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July, and 1 October by positive quarterly CPIInterlink Roads
(100% Transurban)		10 December 2026 [33] [b]

Sydney Harbour Bridge (southbound only)$4.41 (max., varies by time of day)Same as Class A pricesNo regular toll increase NSW Motorways [c] –

Sydney Harbour Tunnel (southbound only)$4.41 (max., varies by time of day)Same as Class A pricesNo regular toll increase NSW Motorways [d] –

  1. 1 2 Class A vehicles are typically cars and motorcycles; Class B vehicles are all other vehicles including trucks and heavy vehicles. [30]
  2. ↑ After 10 December 2026, WestConnex distance-based tolls apply to the M5 South-West.
  3. ↑ The Sydney Harbour Bridge is owned by the government and has no toll concessions.
  4. ↑ The Sydney Harbour Tunnel is owned by the government and has no toll concessions.

Queensland

Toll prices as of 1 July 2025 [34]
Toll roadClass 1 (Motorcycles)Class 2 (Cars)Class 3 (Light Commercial Vehicles)Class 4 (Heavy Commercial Vehicles)Toll increaseToll concessionaire [35] Expiry of toll concession [36] [37]

Gateway Motorway Murarrie toll point
(Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges)		$2.90$5.78$8.68$19.91Annually on 1 July, by CPI Transurban Queensland [a]
(62.5% owned by Transurban)		31 December 2051 [38]
Kuraby and Compton Road toll points$1.71$3.41$5.12$11.75Annually on 1 July, by CPI

Logan Motorway Loganlea toll point$1.09$2.19$3.29$7.53Annually on 1 July, by CPI Transurban Queensland [a]
(62.5% owned by Transurban)		31 December 2051 [39]
Heathwood and Paradise Road toll points$1.80$3.61$5.40$12.43Annually on 1 July, by CPI

Go Between Bridge $2.03$4.05$6.08$12.15 [b] Annually on 1 July, by CPI Transurban Queensland [c]
(62.5% owned by Transurban)		December 2063

CLEM7 $3.25$6.50$9.75$19.49 [d] Annually on 1 July, by CPI Transurban Queensland [c]
(62.5% owned by Transurban)		August 2051

Legacy Way $3.50$7.00$10.51$21.01 [e] Annually on 1 July, by CPI Transurban Queensland [c]
(62.5% owned by Transurban)		June 2065

AirportlinkM7 Bowen Hills to Kedron or Toombul$3.42$6.83$10.25$18.11Annually on 1 January, by CPI Transurban Queensland [a]
(62.5% owned by Transurban)		July 2053
Kedron to Toombul$2.57$5.12$7.69$13.58Annually on 1 January, by CPI

Toowoomba Bypass $1.44$2.88$7.14$28.62Annually on 1 July, by CPI Department of Transport and Main Roads [f] –

  1. 1 2 3 Under a long-term concession agreement with the state
  2. ↑ Class 4 price shown is the peak hour price (5am–8pm daily). Class 4 off-peak price is $10.75.
  3. 1 2 3 Under a long-term concession agreement with the Brisbane City Council
  4. ↑ Class 4 price shown is the peak hour price (5am–8pm daily). Class 4 off-peak price is $17.21.
  5. ↑ Class 4 price shown is the peak hour price (5am–8pm daily). Class 4 off-peak price is $18.56.
  6. ↑ The Toowoomba Bypass is owned by the government, with tolling services provided by Transurban Queensland [36]

Victoria

Toll prices as of 1 July 2025
Toll roadToll section or toll pointsMaximum toll price per tripToll increaseToll concessionaireExpiry of toll concession
CarsMotorcyclesLight Commercial VehiclesHeavy Commercial VehiclesLong Heavy Commercial Vehicles

CityLink [40] Between Moreland Road and Brunswick Road $3.23 $1.62 $5.17 $9.70 [a] Quarterly on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July, and 1 October by 1.04597% [b] [41] Transurban 13 January 2045 [42] [43]
Between Racecourse Road and Dynon Road $3.23 $1.62 $5.17 $9.70 [a]
Between Footscray Road and West Gate Freeway
(Bolte Bridge)		$4.04 $2.02 $6.47 $12.13 [a]
Batman Avenue north of Olympic Boulevard
(Exhibition Street Extension)		$2.02 $1.01 $3.23 $6.06 [a]
Batman Avenue entry south of Olympic Boulevard
(eastbound only)		$2.02 $1.01 $3.23 $6.06 [a]
Batman Avenue exit south of Olympic Boulevard
(westbound only)		$5.25 $2.63 $8.40 $15.76 [a]
Domain Tunnel
(westbound only)		$7.27 $3.64 $11.63 $21.82 [a]
Punt Road exit
(westbound only)		$3.23 $1.62 $5.17 $9.70 [a]
Burnley Tunnel
(eastbound only)		$7.27 $3.64 $11.63 $21.82 [a]
Between Church Street and Burnley Street
(eastbound only)		$3.20 $1.60 $5.12 $9.60 [a]
Between Yarra Boulevard and Toorak Road / Monash Freeway $3.23 $1.62 $5.17 $9.60 [a]
Trip cap$12.13$6.06$19.40$36.38 [a]

West Gate Freeway [44] Between Millers Road and Williamstown Road No toll $19.78 [c] $29.67 [d] Quarterly on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July, and 1 October by 1.04597% [b] [41] Transurban 13 January 2045 [43]
Hyde Street ramps $4.09 $2.05 $6.54 No additional tolls, toll already covered by West Gate Freeway toll charges
West Gate Tunnel [44] Within tunnel $4.09 $2.05 $6.54
City exit to Footscray Road, Dynon Road and Wurundjeri Way
(eastbound only and AM peak [e] only)		$6.54 $3.27 $10.47

Combined West Gate [f] & CityLink trip [44] Combined Heavy Vehicle Trip CapN/A$36.81 [g] $55.22 [h] Quarterly on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July, and 1 October by 1.04597% [b] [41] Transurban13 January 2045
EastLink [45] Tunnel section $3.56 [i] $1.78 $5.71 $9.46 Annually on 1 July by CPI ConnectEast 2043 [46]
Each of the four toll points between Maroondah Highway and High Street Road $0.52 [i] $0.27 $0.83 $1.38
Each of the six toll points between High Street Road and Greens Road $0.78 [i] $0.39 $1.24 $2.06
Each of the two toll points between Greens Road and Mornington Peninsula Freeway $1.82 [i] $0.90 $2.90 $4.81
Trip cap$7.77 [i] $3.88$12.43$20.58

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Prices shown for heavy commercial vehicles are daytime prices. Nighttime prices are two-thirds of daytime prices (night trip cap is $24.25).
  2. 1 2 3 These are equivalent to fixed increases of 4.25% annually and are only until 30 June 2029. From 1 July 2029, quarterly increases will be determined by CPI
  3. ↑ Price shown is the daytime price. Nighttime price is $13.19.
  4. ↑ Price shown is the daytime price. Nighttime price is $19.78.
  5. ↑ AM peak period is 7am–9am weekdays, excluding public holidays
  6. ↑ The heavy vehicle toll point on the West Gate Freeway covers the freeway and the West Gate Tunnel
  7. ↑ Price shown is the daytime price. Nighttime price is $24.54.
  8. ↑ Price shown is the daytime price. Nighttime price is $36.81.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Prices shown for cars are weekday prices. Weekend and public holiday prices are 80% of weekday prices (weekend and public holiday trip cap is $6.22.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Tony Moore (19 March 2015). "Brisbane's toll tunnels fail to cut rising travel times: RACQ". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  2. ↑ Transurban, security holder review
  3. ↑ Linton Besser (27 September 2008). "The bleeping price we paid to drive". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  4. ↑ Sydney Morning Herald: Bridge toll props up harbour tunnelBridge toll props up harbour tunnel (13 December 2007)
  5. ↑ Qld Motorways - 2007 Annual Report
  6. ↑ Sydney's M4 Toll to be abolished Sydney Morning Herald 14 February 2010
  7. ↑ New M4 tolls effective this Tuesday NRMA 14 August 2017
  8. ↑ Whittington, Dorothy (26 May 2022). "'Our Eureka Stockade': when Tollbusters drove a road rebellion". Sunshine Coast News. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  9. ↑ F6 Southern Expressway was paid off over 20 years St George & Sutherland Shire Leader 23 August 2019
  10. ↑ "Road Construction Authority Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 1986". Road Construction Authority . Melbourne. 24 November 1986. p. 30.
  11. ↑ "Will you ever be able to live inside Brisbane's Indooroopilly bridge?". ABC News. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  12. ↑ Archives, Queensland State (28 April 2021). "The Making of the Story Bridge". Stories from the Archives. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  13. ↑ "TOLL REMOVED FROM THE STORY BRIDGE". Construction. 2 June 1948. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  14. ↑ "Tourist Information Lorne | Great Ocean Road History Centre". Lorne Historical Society. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  15. ↑ "Old Toll House | SA History Hub". sahistoryhub.history.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  16. ↑ Terrill, M.; Moran, G.; Ha, J. (October 2019). Why it's time for congestion charging: Better ways to manage busy urban roads (PDF) (Report). ISBN   978-0-9876359-6-9.
  17. ↑ Marion Terrill; James Ha (14 October 2019). "Why congestion charging is fairer than you might think". The Grattan Institute. doi:10.64628/AA.wrjuh7nxm.
  18. ↑ Transurban (19 February 2026). "1H26 Results" (PDF).
  19. ↑ Transurban (19 February 2026). 1H26 Results.
  20. ↑ Transurban (October 2016). "CHANGED CONDITIONS AHEAD - THE TRANSPORT REVOLUTION AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR AUSTRALIANS" (PDF).
  21. ↑ Nicole Green (26 March 2025). "RE: Roads Act 1993 Issues Paper – Transurban submission" (PDF). Letter to Josh Murray. Transport for NSW.
  22. 1 2 3 James O'Doherty (16 February 2026). "Secret documents reveal Premier's department pushed for Sydney congestion tax he vowed to fight" . The Daily Telegraph.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  23. ↑ Tileah Dobson (16 June 2023). "NSW congestion tax ruled out by state government". CityHub.
  24. ↑ "NSW Treasury's Independent Toll Review". New South Wales Government. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  25. ↑ "Toll costs by road". NSW Government. 1 April 2025. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  26. ↑ "What is my vehicle class?". Linkt. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  27. ↑ "When and how do toll prices increase". Linkt. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  28. ↑ "Road tolling in New South Wales" (PDF). New South Wales Parliament. Portfolio Committee No.2 – Health and Community Services. October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  29. ↑ "Toll costs by road". NSW Government. 1 April 2025. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  30. ↑ "What is my vehicle class?". Linkt. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  31. ↑ "When and how do toll prices increase". Linkt. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  32. ↑ "Road tolling in New South Wales" (PDF). New South Wales Parliament. Portfolio Committee No.2 – Health and Community Services. October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  33. ↑ "M5 South West motorway: Summary of contracts - Including motorway widening contracts, as at 25 June 2012" (PDF). NSW Treasury. Roads and Maritime Services. 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  34. ↑ "Toll pricing". Linkt. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  35. ↑ "Toll roads". Department of Transport and Main Roads. 10 April 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  36. 1 2 "Brisbane". Transurban. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  37. ↑ "Transurban Queensland Euro Medium Term Note Programme Update" (PDF). 31 October 2016. p. 9. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  38. ↑ "Road Franchise Agreement - The State of Queensland (The State), Queensland Motorways Pty Limited ACN 067 242 513, Gateway Motorway Pty Limited ACN 010 127 303 and Logan Motorways Pty Limited ACN 010 704 300 (Franchisees)" (PDF). Department of Transport and Main Roads. p. 52. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  39. ↑ "Road Franchise Agreement - The State of Queensland (The State), Queensland Motorways Pty Limited ACN 067 242 513, Gateway Motorway Pty Limited ACN 010 127 303 and Logan Motorways Pty Limited ACN 010 704 300 (Franchisees)" (PDF). Department of Transport and Main Roads. p. 52. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  40. ↑ "CityLink Pass and Toll Prices for 1 July – 30 September 2025" (PDF). Linkt. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  41. 1 2 3 "When and how do toll prices increase". Linkt. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  42. ↑ "Transurban - Melbourne". Transurban. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  43. 1 2 "Corporate Report" (PDF). Transurban. 2019. p. 95. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  44. 1 2 3 "Tolls and the West Gate Tunnel". Transurban. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  45. ↑ "EastLink Tolls valid 1 Jul 2025 until 30 Jun 2026" (PDF). EastLink. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  46. ↑ "Advert - General Counsel & Company Secretary" (PDF). EastLink. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
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