Motorists’ misery as tolls rise

MOTORWAY tolls across Alicante and Murcia provinces have risen by another 2.4 per cent.

That means tolls have risen 13 per cent since July 2012. In that month tolls rose following the withdrawal of government financial support.

Another increase was made in September to account for the rise in IVA and with January’s annual increase, it means tolls have gone up 13 per cent in the last six months.
The price of the journey between Alicante and Valencia has increased by €2 since last July and it now costs €16.85 in motorway tolls.

The continued rise in tolls in recent months is having a strong deterrent effect on drivers. Traffic on these roads is falling with 15 per cent fewer vehicles on the AP-7 between Alicante and Valencia in August 2012 than in the same month of 2011.

The opening of toll-free motorways has also contributed to the decline in vehicles. However, in some areas it is almost impossible to avoid the toll, especially round the north Costa Blanca where the N-332 in Altea, Benissa and Gata de Gorgos make the journey a long and winding road.

The price of petrol and diesel is also expected to rise due to the disappearance in 2013 of exemptions for biofuels and the expected transfer of this new tax to the final consumer. This is likely to see an increase of 0.3 per cent on prices at the pump.