It seems that, gradually, the twenty toll highways that exist in Spain will raise the barriers and become free. We are talking about one thousand five hundred kilometers of toll roads, so there are some of great importance, such as the AP-1, the AP-2 or some sections of the AP-7, which in the last three years have been overtaking is free, something that drivers undoubtedly appreciate.
A plan announced by the Government
The Executive assured in its plan that as the toll highway concessions in our country expired, it would not renew them and that they would become free.
Although the deadlines for some of them are still quite long, since the project will not end with all until 2074date on which the last one, the AP-53, the central Galicia motorway, will end. The contracts will be concluded much earlier.
In addition to the parallel measures that the Government will also apply, in the case of the temporary elimination of the toll on the AP-7 that bypasses the city of Alicante by the heavy traffic that the region has in summerbut which ends on October 15, and which will become chargeable again, we can now bring forward the timetable that the Executive has set for the liberalization of toll motorways.
AP-68 motorway will be the next free road
The AP-68, called the Ebro motorway, will become free from 2026. It is the one responsible for connecting Bilbao to Zaragoza and in November 2026 the measure will come into force.
This motorway belongs to the concessionary company Avasa, owned by Abertis, which It was built between 1975 and 1980having an extension of almost 292 kilometers. Although the concession expired in 2011, the Aznar government decided to extend it for another fifteen years, in exchange for a reduction in some toll sections.
AP6, one of the most expensive toll roads, is the next to be liberalised
In 2029, the AP-6 will no longer be chargeable and is one of the most expensive for drivers, especially if we think about its mileage and it is one of those that supports the greatest volume of vehicles.
Similarly, the AP-61 and AP-51 branchesthey will also become free,
We are talking about AP-6, as well as its branches AP-61 and AP-51, which will also become free.
He announcement of the liberalization of AP6 This was officially confirmed a few days ago by the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, who has even started the rescue procedures, so much so that he has requested a preliminary report from the government that has been assigned to the consultancy firm LRA; to identify the actions that would require the elimination of tolls on all the roads affected, as well as those nearby, due to the impact that could affect the general volume of traffic.
The deadline for submitting this study will be next spring 2025, which clearly shows that the Executive wants to undertake all kinds of initiatives for its definitive liberalization as soon as possible.
The AP-6 is responsible for communicating with the CC.AA of Madrid and Castilla y León, with a total route of 69.9 kilometers and it is one of the most expensive toll motorways, costing 14.60 euros for its entire section.
The final timetable for toll motorways that will become free
Once we know the two toll roads that will become free, we leave you below the entire schedule that the Government has planned to complete the concessions and subsequent rescues of these toll roads. For the next ones, unfortunately, we will have to wait another decade.
From November 2026
AP-68 between Bilbao and Zaragoza
In 2029
AP-6 (Guadarrama and Adanero)
AP-51 (Villacastin-Avila)
AP-61 (Segovia-San Rafael)
In 2039
R-2 (Madrid-Guadalajara)
Between the years 2040 and 2048
AP-7 (Cartagena-Vera)
AP-36 (Alicante ring road)
AP-41 (Madrid-Toledo)
AP-46 (Alto de las Pedrizas-Málaga)
In 2046
AP-7 (between Málaga and Estepona)
In 2048
AP-7 (between Alicante and Cartagena)
AP-9 (between Ferrol and the Portuguese border)
In 2049
R-3 in Madrid
R-5 in Madrid
In 2050
AP-66 (between Campomanes and León)
In 2054
AP-7 (between Estepona and Guadairo)
In 2055
AP-71 (between León and Astorga)
In 2074
AP-53, central highway of Galicia, between Santiago de Compostela and Alto de Santo Domingo
A long-awaited measure
Logically, we are talking about a positive measure for many drivers, even if for many of them there are still many years to go before it becomes a reality, thus saving those who They will stop paying in 2026 and 2029Of course.
Of course, we will not know what measures will be taken to be able to carry out adequate maintenance of these highways, which must continue to be carried out.
