Spain: the beginning of the end of the tolls in 468 km
Portugal
The Spanish government has begun the process to end the toll on 468 kilometers of motorways whose concessions expire this year and next.
The routes concerned are AP-1 (Burgos-Armiñón), whose concession expires on 30 November, and AP7 (Alicante-Tarragona) and AP-4 (Seville-Cádiz), which will terminate the exploration contracts on 31 December In order to improve the planning and development of these actions, letters were sent to the heads of regional governments through which those sections pass, such as Catalonia, the Valencian Community, Andalusia and Castile Leon, as well as the Provincial Council of Álava.
The Ministry of Public Works intends to promote the creation of working groups that can channel the different requests and needs that are transmitted from each community.
Meanwhile, Abertis claims more than EUR 3 400 million from the Spanish Executive.
That amount will be due, according to the operator, for traffic guarantees, works to be capitalized and complaints for unfolding of free roads in relation to the Acesa (AP-7) and Aumar concessions (AP-7 between Tarragona and Alicante and AP-4 Seville to Cadiz).
The concessionaire has already tried to negotiate with the previous ministers of the Fomento government of the PP, Ana Pastor and Iñigo de la Serna, the debt in exchange for an extension of the term of exploration. This option disappeared, however, with the plans of the new Spanish government of non-renewal of the current concessions.
