Traffic levels on the Algarve motorway has fallen almost by half since tolls were introduced last December 8.

The A-22, known as ‘Vía de Infante’ saw a fall of 48.1% in traffic levels this December compared to December 2010. 

The company which runs the motorways in Portugal, Estradas de Portugal, justified the fall ‘for the economic crisis’ although it admitted that 28% of the reduction could be put down to the introduction of the toll. The Portuguese company considers that once users adapt to the tolls, traffic levels will increase again during the year.

According to the General Secretary of Fenadismer, the National Federation of Transport Associations in Spain, Juan Antonio Millán, the figures show the failure which the toll represents, and he considers the measures have been taken without authority or organisation. He said now was the time for Spain and Portugal to sit down and negotiate on removing tolls.

‘We have to re-establish normal border crossings because the fall in traffic denotes that there is less business, less trade and fewer jobs.’ :Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.