Catalonia may bring back tolls on main highways within three years. The proposal covers not just the AP-7, but also other major routes. Authorities say a nationwide approach is needed to avoid unfair costs for truck drivers.
The Catalan government is actively weighing the return of tolls on several high-capacity roads, with a possible rollout in two to three years. The move, confirmed by the region’s Secretary of Mobility, Manel Nadal, would not be limited to the AP-7 but could extend to other major arteries such as the AP-2, C-14, C-12, and the Eix Transversal. The plan follows recent remarks in the Catalan Parliament, where Salvador Illa acknowledged that scrapping tolls on many expressways may have been a collective mistake.
According to Nadal, the Generalitat is now exploring how to reintroduce tolls as a solution for both traffic management and road maintenance. He emphasized that any changes on state-owned roads would require coordination with the central government. The debate, reignited this week, has found broad political support in the regional parliament, raising the prospect that new toll systems could be operational within a few years if consensus holds.
Beyond the AP-7, which has seen a spike in truck-related accidents and severe congestion—most recently highlighted by an eight-hour traffic jam caused by lorry incidents—officials are considering tolls on all high-capacity routes managed by both the Generalitat and the Ministry of Transport. Nadal argued that when tolls were in place until 2021, heavy vehicles were more evenly distributed across the network, reducing bottlenecks and improving safety.
He also pointed to deteriorating road conditions and abandoned vehicles as issues that could be addressed with renewed toll revenue. However, Nadal stressed the importance of a unified approach across Spain, warning that it would be unreasonable for truck drivers to pay only when entering Catalonia while traveling toll-free elsewhere in the country.
The government is reviewing several models for toll collection. One option is the Swiss-style eurovignette, a flat-rate system, but this is seen as a temporary fix since EU regulations will only allow it until 2032. Another alternative under consideration is the Portuguese model, which uses electronic gantries to record license plates and bill drivers automatically as they enter and exit toll roads.
As an interim measure to improve safety, authorities are also looking at reducing speed limits or temporarily banning overtaking on certain days. These steps are aimed at curbing accident rates while longer-term solutions are developed.
For context, the removal of tolls in Catalonia in 2021 was part of a broader national policy shift, ending decades of pay-per-use on many Spanish highways. While the change was initially welcomed by drivers, it has since led to increased traffic volumes, maintenance challenges, and a rise in accidents on some routes. Across Europe, toll systems vary widely: France and Italy maintain extensive toll networks, while Germany and Switzerland focus tolls primarily on heavy vehicles. The debate in Catalonia reflects a wider European trend of reassessing how to fund and manage major transport infrastructure amid rising costs and evolving mobility needs.
