Despite the imminent abolition of tolls on seven Portuguese highways, including the Algarve's A22/Via do Infante, concerns remain among local residents. CUVI, the commission that spearheaded the anti-toll movement, insists that the threat of their return looms as long as the toll gantries remain standing.
"The fight is not over yet," declared João Vasconcelos, CUVI spokesperson. "We will continue to demand the dismantling of the gantries, as we cannot rule out the possibility of a future government reinstating tolls."
Vasconcelos, a former MP for the Algarve, emphasized the importance of vigilance, citing past instances where political promises were not fulfilled. He pointed to a parliamentary resolution that stipulated the elimination of tolls on the Via do Infante contingent upon the full requalification of the EN125, a condition that was never met.
CUVI is pressing for transparency regarding the government's financial obligations to the highway's public-private partnership following the toll abolition, which is expected to cost over €430 million in lost revenue. The commission also demands rigorous road maintenance and the completion of outstanding improvements on the EN125, particularly resurfacing between Olhão and Vila Real de Santo António.
Celebrations are planned for tomorrow, with a "honking fest" scheduled along the highway. However, CUVI will immediately shift its focus to advocating for the removal of the gantries and further improvements to the road network. A forum in Loulé on January 11 will outline the commission's future strategies, and its name will be changed to the Commission for Users of the Via do Infante and EN125.
Vasconcelos acknowledged the significant impact of the tolls on the region, including "many deaths, a lot of suffering, and families destroyed." Protests against the tolls, deemed illegal by the European Commission in 2012, have been ongoing since their inception.
Further north, Luís Garra, spokesperson for the platform that opposed tolls on the A23 and A25, echoed concerns about the potential for future toll reintroduction, given that the current government initially opposed their abolition.
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