A new wave in the fight for justice on Spain’s roads has erupted: the country’s Supreme Court has issued a ruling that could change the fate of thousands of drivers who used the AP-9 toll road over the Rande bridge in Galicia. The company Audasa, which manages this section, is now required to refund motorists for journeys on the tolled segments where major expansion works were carried out for several years.
From 2015 to 2018, drivers crossing the Rande bridge faced constant traffic jams, delays, and inconvenience due to construction. During this time, the highway saw 81 serious incidents where traffic was either severely hampered or completely stopped. Despite this, drivers were charged the full toll—and after the main construction phase, the price was even increased. This sparked outrage among Galicians, as there were simply no free alternative routes connecting the region’s major cities.
The legal battle lasted nearly a decade. Initially, a court in Pontevedra partially satisfied the claims of affected drivers, but Audasa managed to overturn that decision on appeal. Now, however, the Supreme Court has drawn a line under the case: the company must return all tolls paid during periods when the road did not meet the standards of a toll highway. Moreover, drivers are entitled not only to the refunded amounts but also to interest accruing from the date of each payment.
Who can claim a refund and how to do it
Those eligible for compensation are individuals who have kept receipts or proof of payment for AP-9 tolls during the specified periods. To facilitate this, Audasa has already launched a dedicated application channel. Refunds will be credited to the same accounts from which the payments were made, while cash payments will be reimbursed through a separate procedure. However, by court decision, professional transporters and companies are not covered by this compensation.
Political fallout and the future of AP-9
The court’s ruling has reignited the debate over the status of AP-9 — one of the most expensive highways in Spain. Local authorities and the mayor of Vigo have continued to demand that the route be made free for everyone, while the government of Galicia is urging Madrid to acquire the infrastructure from the private operator. The legality of extending Audasa’s concession until 2048 is now under review by the European Court, and the outcome could impact the entire toll road system in the region.
For now, thousands of drivers have the chance to get their money back, and Audasa is facing an unprecedented surge in requests. The story of AP-9 is once again at the center of national attention, and the Supreme Court’s decision could set a precedent for similar cases throughout Spain.
