The debate around tolls has once again gained strength on the south bank of the Tagus, with thousands of motorists contesting the charge at the Quinta da Queimada Junction, on the connection between the A33 and the IC32. The challenge takes the form of a public petition that gathers a growing number of signatures and demands an end to payments at that specific point on the road network.
At issue is an infrastructure used daily by residents and workers of Charneca da Caparica and nearby areas, for whom the toll represents a regular cost associated with daily travel, with no viable alternatives to avoid paying.
A call used every day
According to the newspaper Diário do Distrito, the petition’s signatories argue that the Quinta da Queimada Junction has an essentially local function, serving mainly commuting movements within the same geographical area. The road is seen as fundamental for the mobility of those who live and work in the region.
According to the same source, the lack of effective alternative routes turns tolls into an inevitable burden for thousands of users, who end up bearing a daily cost associated with simply accessing the main road connections.
Subscriptions that continue to increase
The newspaper writes that the continued growth of the petition reflects widespread dissatisfaction with the toll policy applied on that section. For many of the signatories, the charge is perceived as an additional factor of financial pressure on households.
The publication adds that the central requirement involves total exemption from payment, supported by the argument that traffic is mostly local and that the infrastructure does not correspond to the logic of a long-distance motorway.
Recent decisions in Parliament
While local protest intensifies, Parliament recently approved the end of tolls in several sections of the country. According to the Razão Automóvel portal, the measure covers two sections of the A6 and A2, as well as the entire A25, with entry into force scheduled for 2026.
The same source states that, in the case of the A6, the exemption will be applied between the A2/A6/A13 junction and Caia, while on the A2 it will cover the section between the same junction and Almodôvar, being limited to residents and companies based in the defined areas of influence.
It should be noted that access to the exemption on A6 and A2 will be done through an electronic device associated with the vehicle’s registration, restricting the benefit to users previously meeting the defined criteria.
In the case of the A25, the same publication explains that the majority of the route had already been exempt since the beginning of the year, with only a small section still subject to charges, now eliminated to standardize the regime across the entire route.
Financial impact and political contestation
According to , the PS estimates an impact of 20.5 million euros for the State with all the approved exemptions, a forecast contested by the Government, which warned of risks to the budget surplus.
The same source also states that the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing also announced the end of tolls on the A41 CREP, from March 1, 2026, for heavy vehicles during times of greatest pressure, in a context in which the debate on territorial justice continues to gain weight.
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