Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel tolls to increase next month

Sydney motorists will soon be paying more to use the Harbour Bridge and Tunnel.

From Sunday 29 October 2023, the New South Wales Government will increase tolls by 6.8 per cent for the Harbour Bridge and Tunnel – which continue to apply for southbound traffic only – marking the first price hike in 14 years.

Drivers using the roads during peak times of between 6:30am and 9:30am and 4:00pm to 7:00pm on weekdays will be paying $4.27 – up from $4.00.

Off-peak charges of $3.20 will apply in the middle of the day on weekdays and on weekends between 8:00am and 8:00pm – up from $3.00.

For those driving between 7:00pm and 6:30am during the week, and between 8:00pm and 8:00am on weekends, will be charged $2.67 per trip – up from $2.50.

It's estimated a commuter using the Sydney Harbour Bridge or Tunnel on their way to work and back home during peak times – assuming 48 weeks of commuting, five days a week – will spend an extra $64.80 annually on tolls, for a total of $1024.80.

While the government argues the price increase is a "fraction of the CPI increase" since the last adjustment more than 14 years ago, it's unlikely to help ease the burden on family budgets.

According to recent data released by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), Sydney is the most expensive city in the country for transport costs, with the average household spending $512.55 each week on car finance, fuel, tolls, public transport, insurance, servicing, registration and licencing, and roadside assistance.

The NSW Government does offer a program which caps toll costs at $60 per week, which extends to an estimated 720,000 drivers.