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'Tollmania': The Aussie city with roads among the most expensive in the world

Drivers in Sydney have one of the most expensive commutes in the world, with toll revenue surging by 19.2 per cent in the past financial year.

The record results were revealed in the Transurban investor presentation, which showed more than half of the road-toll operator's worldwide revenue was generated in Sydney alone.

Sydney, Australia City Traffic, Driving Cars and Big Iron Bridge Source: Getty Images
Toll revenue in Sydney has skyrocketed over the past year according to Transurban results. Source: Getty Images

The results were lifted by the opening of three new tolled motorways; the M8, M5 East and Northconnex last year.

But even if you don’t include the new tollways, revenue in the harbour city still grew 6.6 per cent.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian accidentally described the opening of the M8 as “tollmania”.

"What did you call it? A toll mania?" Ms Berejiklian asked, before Transport Minister Andrerew Constance corrected her, calling it "motorway mania".

But it's a comment the Labor Opposition has latched onto.

“The Olympics may be over but this is shaping up to be Australia’s least popular gold medal performance,” Shadow Minister for Roads, John Graham said.

The first cars drive through the NorthConnex tunnel. Source: AAP
NorthConnex was one of three new toll roads which opened last year. Source: AAP

“We have strengthened our lead as the world’s most tolled city. Wages are flat, but toll revenue in Sydney is up.”

Mr Graham demanded the government rule out new tolls and any price increases of 4 per cent per year.

How much are Sydney drivers paying?

The Transurban results also revealed the number of toll trips in Sydney was fast approaching one million trips a day during the last financial year, with the daily average reaching 931,000 commutes.

And it’s drivers in south west Sydney who face the most expensive journey.

A return trip from Ingleburn to the city costs anywhere between $30 and $40 when using the M5 and Eastern Distributor or the Cross City Tunnel, M4 and M7.

That adds up to more than $10,000 a year for workers who drive to the office 5 days a week.

Map of Sydney toll roads. Source: Linkt
There were 931,000 daily average commutes in Sydney last year. Source: Linkt

Sydney toll costs based on max price each way for cars

Cross City Tunnel - $5.97

Eastern Distributor - $8.37

Hills M2 - $8.28

Lane Cove Tunnel - $3.46

Military Road E-Ramp - $1.73

M5 East Motorway - $7.23

M5 South-West Motorway - $4.90

NorthConnex - $8.28

Sydney Harbour Bridge & Tunnel - $4

WestConnex M4 - $8.52

WestConnex M8 - $7.23

Westlink M7 - $8.46

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