The Government has yet to decide whether it will charge tolls on a proposed four-lane highway north of Auckland.
The Transport Agency on Wednesday unveiled plans for the 18-kilometre Puhoi-to-Warkworth route, which is eventually intended to join up with a Warkworth-to-Wellsford stage to form a road of national significance.
The agency's director for Auckland and Northland, Stephen Town, says decisions about whether to charge tolls, and whether to build the road with a private partner, will be made in the next two years.
The 18km route will cost about $1.3 billion and cut through 55 private properties.
Mr Town says owners of affected properties were told about the route on Tuesday.
He says the road could save seven to eight minutes of travelling time at off-peak times, and more during busy periods.
The plan is open for public consultation until the end of next year.
