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[POLITICS] · Spain · 5 sources

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Catalan Government considers reinstating AP-7 highway tolls

The Catalan Government is considering the reinstatement of tolls on the AP-7 highway to combat increasing traffic congestion and high accident rates. Interior Minister Núria Parlon announced that an interdepartmental working group will be established this autumn to evaluate various strategies, leaving the possibility of returning to a paid model open.

This discussion follows the removal of tolls on August 31, 2021. President Salvador Illa has recently suggested that the decision to eliminate the tolls might have been a mistake, calling for a collective reflection on the matter. Since the liberalization, the highway has seen a significant increase in traffic, particularly from heavy goods vehicles, which has impacted the surrounding road networks.

In the interim, the Catalan Transit Service is deploying a ten-measure shock plan. Key measures include a new mobile application that provides real-time voice alerts for traffic jams and alternative routes. Additionally, the government plans to implement AI-driven variable speed systems between Maçanet de la Selva and El Vendrell to predict accidents, deploy new mobile radar units, and increase police inspections of heavy vehicles regarding maintenance and technical compliance.

Entities

AP-7 · Catalan government · Núria Parlon · Salvador Illa · Servei Català de Trànsit

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