Aucalsa ordered to refund tolls due to AP-66 highway construction

A court in Oviedo has ordered the highway concessionaire Aucalsa to refund a user the full cost of tolls paid while traveling on the AP-66 (Huerna highway) during periods of construction work. The ruling found that the company abused consumer rights by charging full prices despite a reduction in service quality caused by roadworks and traffic delays.

The judicial decision has prompted reactions from the Government of Asturias. Beatriz González Prieto, Counselor for Citizen Rights, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, noting its alignment with an ongoing disciplinary proceeding against Aucalsa. She criticized the company for charging for a service that is currently deficient due to infrastructure limitations.

Simultaneously, labor unions such as Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) have intensified protests against the AP-66 toll. Demonstrators in León and Asturias have criticized the high cost of the toll and the poor condition of the highway, particularly during tunnel modernization works. Critics have also targeted the political management of the concession, which is currently set to extend until 2050.