Overview
- On Friday the Generalitat's mobility secretary Manel Nadal said the region could reinstate payment‑per‑use on high‑capacity roads within two to three years if there is political consensus and agreement with the central government.
- Officials cite a sharp rise in heavy trucks, worsening road wear and more accidents on the AP‑7 since tolls were removed in 2021, noting roughly 15,000 trucks a day at La Jonquera and about 35,000 in the Vallès area.
- The proposal targets the AP‑7, AP‑2 and other high‑capacity axes such as the C‑16, C‑14, C‑12 and the Eix Transversal, but any charges on state roads would need Madrid's approval to avoid penalising vehicles entering Catalonia.
- The government is weighing technical options including a short‑term eurovignette, a Portuguese‑style gantry system that bills by plate, and interim traffic measures like lower speed limits, truck bans on certain days and boosting rail freight.
- Editorials and officials say toll revenue or private concessions could fund urgent capacity works such as lane additions and separated heavy‑vehicle links, with a private offer from the concession chamber proposing about €7 billion for upgrades.