The Barcelona Chamber of Commerce demands the return of pay-per-use highway tolls. The business entity argues that the current toll-free model is unsustainable. Consequently, in a Tuesday statement, the Chamber advocated for a return to the “user pays” and “polluter pays” principles established by European directives.
The Chamber states that revenue from such a system is essential to guarantee correct maintenance and improvement of the road network. Moreover, they propose a uniform and equitable tariff model across the entire state. Additionally, funds would be strictly ring-fenced for infrastructure modernisation and digitalisation.
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Highway tolls return: The impact of lifting tolls
The demand comes five years after the significant elimination of tolls on Catalan highways in 2021. This saw the end of concessions for the AP-7, AP-2, C-32 North, and C-33. According to the Chamber, this policy shift has resulted in a drastic increase in traffic volume. Consequently, key routes are now at their limit.
The situation is particularly acute on the AP-7. Since the barriers were lifted, some sections have seen light vehicle traffic surge by 37%. Moreover, heavy goods vehicle traffic has risen by 55%. The Chamber notes that this saturation has led to increased congestion. Additionally, it has also caused higher accident rates and accelerated wear and tear on the asphalt.
A multibillion-euro maintenance deficit
Underpinning the Chamber’s argument is a severe lack of public funding for road conservation. Citing data from the Spanish Road Association (AEC), the investment deficit for road maintenance has widened significantly. Consequently, it rose from €9.45 billion in 2022 to approximately €13.5 billion today.
Currently, the combined annual maintenance investment from central, regional, and local administrations stands at roughly €2 billion. However, sector data suggests this figure is insufficient to reverse the damage. Therefore, more than half of the roads in Spain and Catalonia now show serious or very serious deterioration.
Safety concerns on the rise
The deterioration of the network appears to be having a tangible impact on safety. While highways and motorways generally offer safer driving conditions than secondary roads, they carry more than four times the traffic volume. Consequently, they account for 55% of serious or fatal accidents.
A new analysis published by the RACC (Royal Automobile Club of Catalonia) supports these concerns. The study examined 26,500 kilometres of the state-owned network. Moreover, it indicates that the risk index on highways and motorways has increased for the first time in 15 years. Specifically, the iRAP study on interurban roads shows the index rising from 6.1 to 6.4 over the last three-year period. This reverses a long-term trend of improving safety.
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