The temporary exemption from tolls on highways affected by Storm Kristin ends this Sunday at midnight, so drivers traveling on these stretches will start paying again from Monday. The measure had been extended by the government to support mobility in the regions most affected by bad weather.
According to Executive Digest, a website specializing in economics and current affairs, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing justified the extension of the free service as part of a set of initiatives aimed at mitigating the constraints caused by the recent storms. The decision coincided with the period of validity of the calamity situation declared for 68 municipalities.
The exemption covered specific sections of the A8, A17, A14 and A19, allowing free circulation in a context marked by road closures, damage to infrastructure and logistical difficulties.
Which sections were exempt
Specifically, journeys on the A8 between the Valado de Frades junction and the Leiria Nascente junction, on the A17 between the A8 junction and the Mira junction, on the A14 between Santa Eulália and the Ança junction and on the A19 between the Azoia junction and the São Jorge junction were exempt from payment.
According to the same source, the application of the measure resulted from coordination with the concessionaires and sub-concessionaires Brisa, Brisal, Autoestradas do Atlântico and Infraestruturas de Portugal.
The Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, had initially announced the free service for a week, starting at midnight on February 4th. Subsequently, the Government decided to extend the exemption until this Sunday, aligning the deadline with the end of the calamity situation.
Political pressure to extend the measure
Meanwhile, the Assembly of the Republic approved a PAN recommendation for the Government to evaluate the extension of the exemption to sections of the A1 that serve the affected municipalities.
According to the publication, the draft resolution also provides for the refund of tolls paid between January 28 and February 4 by users who were forced to use toll roads due to the closure of national, municipal or local roads.
The initiative was approved with the abstention of PSD, CDS-PP and Liberal Initiative and favorable votes from the other parties. Still, this is a recommendation without the force of law.
The PAN defends the creation of simple and quick mechanisms for the return of amounts paid and proposes the evaluation of a legal regime that allows temporary toll exemptions to be automatically activated in situations of extreme weather phenomena or civil protection, explains the website.
Storms left a trail of destruction
Storm Kristin, followed by depressions Leonardo and Marta, caused 16 deaths, hundreds of injuries and displacement, as well as significant damage to homes, businesses and public equipment.
The Centre, Lisbon and Vale do Tejo and Alentejo regions were among the most affected, with roads closed, power cuts and flooding in various parts of the territory.
With the end of the exemption, the normal toll collection regime returns to the covered sections, as concluded by . Despite this, many areas remain in the recovery phase, with interventions in infrastructure and reestablishment of services.
From midnight onwards, driving on these highways costs drivers again, ending an exceptional period that sought to respond to an emergency situation without recent precedents.
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