ALICANTE’S AP-7 ring road has become ‘toll-free’ permanently after a successful experiment launched in July 2024.

Spain’s government has approved the change after the trial period was set to end in February.

It stated the motorway is now a ‘permanent and free alternative to decongest traffic on the A-70, especially long-distance travellers’.

MAYOR LUIS BARCALA

The pilot period of zero charging, according to the government, was to ‘check if its use would be safe, comfortable and effective as an alternative to the A-70 motorway, which was close to hitting maximum capacity’.

The lifting of toll restrictions was extended twice and authorities said that pollution levels had been significantly reduced on the busy A-70 as a result.

Alicante mayor, Luis Barcala, said: “This has been a regular demand from the City Council to decongest traffic on the A-70, which surrounds the entire municipality, especially to move long-distance travellers and lorries as they pass through our municipality”.

“We’ve asked for years for tolls to be scrapped on the AP-7 because our main ring road, the A-70 was reaching maximum levels and also clogging up roads linked to the city’s urban areas,” Barcala added.
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