NSW govt rules out toll hikes on old roads

The NSW government has no intention of increasing road toll fees, a senior MP says. But Sydney's toll network looks set for an overhaul.

Cars pass through toll gates on the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney

The NSW government is reportedly considering a major overhaul of Sydney's toll fees. (AAP)

Sydney drivers crossing the Harbour Bridge could face both-way fees under a likely re-think of the city's toll structure.

But a government MP says there is no plan to increase road access charges or introduce new tolls on old roads despite Labor claims motorists are in for a "rude shock".

Ray Williams, the NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Roads, said it was time for voters to have a "sensible discussion" about a fairer and more coherent toll system.

"An example of that could be the halving of the Harbour Bridge toll, so that it is applied both ways, fairly, for all road users to contribute to," he told AAP on Saturday.

Currently, only south-bound motorists pay to use the bridge.

But he stressed: "The NSW government has no intention of increasing toll charges."

The comments follow a Fairfax Media report that the coalition's plans for the WestConnex motorway network and a second harbour crossing had triggered a re-consideration of tolls on existing roads.

"I think that changing or introducing tolls on Sydney's roads is incredibly sensitive and it would have become an election issue, but this government has chosen to hide that and I think motorists are now in for a rude shock," Labor's roads spokeswoman Jodi McKay told reporters.

"What the government should come clean on, are they actually looking at charges on the Anzac Bridge? The Iron Cove Bridge? The Eastern Distributor? Southern Cross Drive?

"It's clear that these have been issues that have been discussed within government, and the details haven't been revealed."

Mr Williams dismissed suggestions that major thoroughfares that are currently toll-free would soon become user-pays.

"At this point in time, there's been no mention of providing additional tolls across the network," he said.

"But as we've maintained since 2012, if there is a way in which we can apply fairer and more equitable tolls right across the road network, we're happy to have that discussion."


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