Spain to fund maintenance of 1,000 km of highways after concession contracts end

The regional government of Asturias (PSOE‑IU) has filed a contentious‑administrative appeal with the Spanish Supreme Court to overturn the extension of the concession for the Huerna highway (AP‑66). The appeal follows a European Commission finding of irregularities in the 2000 concession renewal and aims to end the toll on the road, which the region says is illegal.

Separately, the Spanish State announced that from 1 January 2027 it will assume direct maintenance of 993 kilometres of first‑generation autovías after ten shadow‑toll contracts, originally awarded in 2007, expire in December 2026. The funding will come from the General State Budgets at an estimated €79‑80 million per year, shifting responsibility from private concessionaires to the public administration.

Both moves signal a shift in Spain’s highway policy, with regional authorities challenging existing toll arrangements while the national government prepares to take over the upkeep of major road stretches previously managed under the shadow‑toll model.