Drivers will no longer have to pay to use several Portuguese motorways, including the Algarve’s A22, from this week.
Residents and visitors alike will be glad to know that, starting on January 1, tolls will no longer be charged on several Portuguese motorways, including the A22 (Via do Infante) in the Algarve.
The removal of tolls addresses long-standing opposition, particularly in the Algarve, where they had been in place on the A22 since December 8, 2011. Over 13 years, protesters, including the Via do Infante Users Commission (CUVI), have consistently argued against tolls, citing their negative impact on residents and businesses.
While the price of the tolls has always been a source of contention, even the payment methods have caused confusion for both residents and visitors since their inception, with many incurring hefty fines.
Celebration and Continued Protests
To celebrate the new toll-free roads, CUVI is urging drivers to join a “horn-blaring protest” on January 1, 2025, at key access points along the A22. But the group warns that their fight isn’t over.
They demand the removal of toll gantries to prevent future reinstatement and the renegotiation of what they call an “obscure and ruinous contract” with the private concessionaire, which they claim has cost the state tens of millions of euros.
Motorways Included in the Toll Removal
The development follows the approval of a Socialist Party (PS) law in May 2024 and brings an end to tolls on ex-SCUT (no cost to the user) roads, which include key routes across the country:
- A4: Transmontana and Túnel do Marão
- A13 and A13-1: Pinhal Interior
- A22: Algarve
- A23: Beira Interior
- A24: Interior Norte
- A25: Beira Litoral and Beira Alta
- A28: Litoral Norte (Esposende to Antas, and Neiva to Darque)
The changes are a welcome relief for homeowners and tourists who can now make use of the Algarve’s good connections and infrastructure without the headache of toll payments.
For more insights about enjoying quality of life in the Algarve, whether it is short term or long-term, get in touch with Algarve Holiday Lets.