Portugal Abolishes Tolls on Major Highways: A Victory for Drivers

Major Toll Abolishment in Portugal

Tolls are abolished today on several key highways in Portugal, including the A4 - Transmontana, Túnel do Marão, A13, A22 - Algarve, A23 - Beira Interior, A24 - Interior Norte, A25 - Beiras Litoral and Alta, and A28 – Minho. The latter applies only to sections between Esposende and Antas, and between Neiva and Darque.

This decision comes after over 13 years of advocacy from the local population for the restoration of the original funding model for these roads, which allows for use without costs to drivers. The proposal, initiated by the Socialist Party (PS), received approval with support from Chega, BE, PCP, Livre, and PAN, while IL abstained and PSD and CDS-PP voted against it. The law was promulgated by the President of the Republic in July 2024.

According to the Socialist Party, this measure will have a budgetary impact of €157 million. However, its approval was controversial, with government-supporting parties accusing the PS of hypocrisy and inconsistency. Earlier in February 2023, under a socialist majority, the parliament rejected similar proposals from PSD, Chega, and PCP to reduce or eliminate tolls on the former SCUTs.

Eurico Brilhante Dias, the parliamentary leader of the PS, pointed out that toll prices on highways have been decreasing under socialist governments, accusing the social democrats of political opportunism.

The Platform for the Restoration of SCUT on A23 and A25, which has actively campaigned for toll elimination, stated that the end of tolls “does justice to the population and businesses in the interior of the country.”

Conversely, organizations such as the Portuguese Association of Concessionary Highway or Bridge Societies (APCAP) and the Portuguese Taxpayers Association (APC) criticized the toll abolishment, arguing that it shifts the costs of infrastructure construction and maintenance from users to taxpayers. The Portuguese Railway Companies Association (APEF) also stated that this decision penalizes rail transport, calling for equitable measures.

The toll-free highways were introduced in Portugal in 1997 under Prime Minister António Guterres, with costs initially covered entirely by the state. However, the financing model changed in 2010, requiring users to pay for former SCUTs, leading to ongoing controversy.