ARCHIVED - Spain plans to introduce tolls on all motorways by 2024
Many drivers in Spain, such as commuters and students, will be exempt from the charges
At the moment, several of the motorways in Spain are still free to use, but this is all set to change as toll booths will be installed on every one of these roads by 2024.
The aim is “to contribute to the development of a much more sustainable future, by regulating private vehicles in order to encourage the use of other forms of transport,” a government spokesperson explained.
It’s also impossible for the government coffers to cover the maintenance and running costs of these high-capacity thoroughfares, especially with the spate of new tax decreases being rolled out across Spain, and tolls will raise a considerable amount of funds. In this way, not all tax payers will be burdened with the expense, just the drivers who actually use the motorways.
The Ministry of Transport and Mobility confirmed that some drivers will be exempt from paying the tolls, but has yet to clarify who will come under the exception. However, Pere Navarro, head of the DGT, hinted that motorists commuting to and from work wouldn’t be expected to pay the charges. It could also apply to students and those travelling to medical appointments.
Though the tolls won’t come into effect for another two years, the Spanish government has already received 13.3 billion euros from Next Generation EU funds to begin the work.
Spain’s road network is one of the largest in Europe, stretching over 26,466 kilometres, 12,000 of which are motorways and other high-capacity roads. The reintroduction of tolls is part of the administration’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan aimed at recovering and strengthening the Spanish economy after the coronavirus pandemic.
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