Álava will assume management of the AP-68 highway on November 11th, upon the conclusion of the concession with Avasa (owned by Abertis). The provincial institution will oversee the 63 kilometers from the Ebro border to the Areta toll in Llodio. Toll barriers will remain, but driving on the road will become more affordable to cover maintenance costs.
Tolls will be reduced by 70% for light vehicles and 50% for heavy vehicles. Future discounts may apply to eco-friendly cars, frequent travelers, and current 'social toll' users (who already receive a 60% reduction). Consequently, the price for the stretch between Vitoria and Bilbao will decrease from 3.52 euros to 90 cents for ordinary drivers, in addition to the Biscay tolls that the Provincial Council of Bizkaia will establish in the coming months.
All parties in the General Assemblies of Álava, except for the PP, supported maintaining usage fees to cover road improvement and repair costs during the previous legislature. The exact tariffs, to be approved after the summer, have been presented in draft by the Deputy for Sustainable Mobility and Infrastructure, Jon Nogales. The aim is to offer "substantially lower" prices by transitioning from a private operator to a public administration. The cost per kilometer on the Álava section will drop from 22 to 6 cents.
The European Union's principle of "he who damages and pollutes, pays" will be respected. Provincial officials do not foresee making the road free, as studies indicate that 90% of light vehicles using the highway do not pay taxes in Álava.
This decision by the Provincial Council of Álava aligns with that of Bizkaia but contrasts with the approaches in La Rioja and Aragón, where the central government has declared the roads free. In Navarre, the regional government charges trucks but not cars. Álava will not follow this direction, and tariffs will be approved after the summer.
A mixed toll system will be implemented: the toll booths at Areta will be maintained, and new ones will be installed in Zambrana (heading towards Zaragoza). On the rest of the highway, 'free flow' control arches will calculate usage based on kilometers traveled.
Physical barriers at Altube and Subijana will be removed to expedite traffic flow. The consortium Gertek and Altuna will be responsible for the deployment and management of the payment system, with a 55-week timeframe for the necessary works.
The new system will operate via VIA-T devices, alongside an electronic registration system to link license plates with credit cards. Readers will detect vehicles and deduct the corresponding amount based on the distance traveled. Physical payment machines for cash or card will be available on main routes.
The Provincial Council recommends using VIA-T devices for convenience and due to the planned introduction of "intelligent tariffs" offering advantages for electric or less polluting vehicles. This system is already in use for users with the social bonus.
Heavy vehicles will face tolls 50% lower than current rates to encourage their use of highways. Transport associations and professional drivers have been consulted on the draft legislation, and a public hearing phase will open soon for feedback and objections.
Before assuming ownership, the central government will conduct an inspection of the AP-68 to assess the actual condition of the section managed by Avasa and identify necessary corrective measures.
The transfer of the AP-68's Basque section management to the provincial councils stems from an agreement signed years ago between the central government and the PNV. The change will be finalized after Avasa's concession ends in November. The provincial governments have been preparing for this transition for over a year.
Unlike in Álava, where significant toll reductions have been announced, the Provincial Council of Bizkaia is proceeding with less disclosure. Carlos Alzaga, Bizkaia's Deputy for Infrastructure and Territorial Development, indicated that the toll will be maintained to fund the upkeep of the highway, which requires "significant investments in fencing, guardrails, protective barriers...", as well as other regional roads (around 120 million euros annually).
