Below is a follow up to the story we published in Issue 154 with regard to the toll fees on the A-22 motorway. A recent article in another publication suggested  the Portuguese government were intending to introduce “a massive new toll of 77 euros … for travellers taking the A-22 motorway across the border” from Spain into Portugal.

The truth is, thankfully, somewhat less scary. Tolls were indeed introduced on 8th December but they are not anything like as high as suggested and they do not cover the bridge across from Spain. In fact, the tolls do not start until after the first exit from the A22, so motorists will have the choice of taking other roads if they wish. Also the level of the tolls is far less than reported and for a private car it will actually cost 7.3 cents plus tax per kilometre – that is about 12 euros to travel from the Spanish border right over to Lagos on the Atlantic coast. Higher charges will be levied for goods vehicles but the highest of these would only be about 30 euros for the same journey.

Predictably, however, all is not quite straightforward because – oddly – there are no manned toll booths on the A22 to take the money. Portuguese residents will have to apply for an electronic “Via Verde” device which goes in their car and registers when they drive under the gantries. Occasional visitors will therefore have to find another way of paying, or be faced with large fines. There are a number of ways for foreign residents to do this though and the easiest will probably be to buy a pass at the border crossing – although there will probably be long queues at the height of summer. Tickets can also be purchased on line at the CTT (Post Office) web site. Regular visitors can rent an electronic device from the post office or dedicated service stations, or buy one from a Via Verde shop or online.

Full details of payment arrangements can be seen in English, French and Spanish at the Estradas web site at - http://www.estradas.pt/portagensestrangeiros

Needless to say, the introduction of the system has met with problems, including computer glitches and resistance from residents which have led to one toll gantry being vandalised and an employee of the agency that maintains the motorway being injured when his car was shot at! Car rental companies are also having problems and about 2,000 fines for non payment have been issued already!

Source:www.thenewsonline.es