A22 Portugal

[ferret50]

We arrived on the Algarve today, after driving here from N Norfolk.

It appears that the A22 motorway is now toll free, yippee!

The downside is an increase in traffic levels....

Not sure if it is toll free for it's entire length, or if this also applies to other motorways in Portugal in general, perhaps a local could enlighten us?

[KenC]

The A22 is all toll free, as are some, but not all, such roads in Portugal.

[ferret50]

Thanks, Ken, for confirmation for A22.

But is the autoroute to Lisbon now free?
Or where should I be looking?

[KenC]

Roads where tolls have been lifted

The toll exemption applies to the following motorways and sections:

A4: Transmontana and Túnel do Marão.
A13 and A13-1: Pinhal Interior.
A22: Via do Infante (Algarve).
A23: Beira Interior.
A24: Interior North.
A25: Beiras Litoral and Alta.
A28: North Coast, specifically the sections between Esposende and Antas, and Neiva and Darque.
Roads where tolls remain

Tolls continue to apply in the Porto area and on the following roads:

A28: Esposende-Oporto section.
A41.
A42.
A29.

[ferret50]

That is really helpful, obrigardo!

[Sgt Joe Roberts]

I've been biffing up and down the A22 for the past three weeks without hearing that annoying beep every couple of miles, bloody marvellous. They could give everyone peace of mind that it's a permanent change by taking the toll infrastructure.

[andy43]

KenC said:

Roads where tolls have been lifted

The toll exemption applies to the following motorways and sections:

A4: Transmontana and Túnel do Marão.
A13 and A13-1: Pinhal Interior.
A22: Via do Infante (Algarve).
A23: Beira Interior.
A24: Interior North.
A25: Beiras Litoral and Alta.
A28: North Coast, specifically the sections between Esposende and Antas, and Neiva and Darque.
Roads where tolls remain

Tolls continue to apply in the Porto area and on the following roads:

A28: Esposende-Oporto section.
A41.
A42.
A29.

A2 between Lisbon and the Algarve is also still chargeable.
The Algarve A22 was originally paid for by the EU to try and reduce traffic on the N125 which at the time was the most dangerous road in Europe. Then they put tolls on it and everyone went back to the N125. Oops.

[ferret50]

N125 is smothered with roundabouts and other 'traffic calming' measures, but does have some entertaining roadside vendors, though!

[Output Flange]

When did it change on the A22? They were still charging when I was there in December!

[WF36]

Output Flange said:

When did it change on the A22? They were still charging when I was there in December!

1st Jan!

[s2sol]

I crossed from Spain to Portugal on 3rd January and spent ages trying to get the bloody machine to take my card just after the bridge. There was no signage to say the tolls were inactive.

[GT03ROB]

s2sol said:

I crossed from Spain to Portugal on 3rd January and spent ages trying to get the bloody machine to take my card just after the bridge. There was no signage to say the tolls were inactive.

I did the same on the 2nd. There was a queue of people trying the same. I gace up after a minute or so!

[WF36]

GT03ROB said:

I did the same on the 2nd. There was a queue of people trying the same. I gace up after a minute or so!

FYI

https://www.portugalresident.com/a22-anti-tolls-co...

[andy43]

WF36 said:

GT03ROB said:

I did the same on the 2nd. There was a queue of people trying the same. I gace up after a minute or so!

FYI

https://www.portugalresident.com/a22-anti-tolls-co...

That’s jogged my memory - the N125 was indeed known as the ‘road of death’. It’s got so many cones down the middle of it now it’s ridiculous, but U turns or turns across traffic resulting in head on collisions used to be regular occurrences.
Getting as much traffic as possible onto a free to use A22 in the name of road safety has been a long time coming.