A report reveals the consequences of motorway rescue
The recent evaluation by the Centre d’Innovació en el Transport (Zenit), linked to the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), has brought to light a hot topic: the rescue of the C-16 and C-32 south motorways. This analysis, which spans nearly 100 pages, warns that the early resolution of these concessions could prove not only economically disastrous but also legally risky.
Since the tolls were removed on several Catalan motorways in September 2021, such as the AP-7 and the C-32 north, traffic has increased significantly. In particular, the AP-7 has seen a 50% rise in usage, leading to a series of logistical and road safety issues. The situation became even more complicated following a tragic accident in Rodalies that prompted the Government to temporarily suspend the toll on the C-32 south.
The Zenit report estimates that freeing these tolls would cost around 2.605 billion euros. This figure includes compensation to the concessionaires Aucat and Autema, as well as significant tax losses for public administrations. In total, it is expected that they would forgo nearly 1.3 billion euros, which represents a considerable tax burden for the Generalitat.
Aside from the direct economic impact, experts warn about the legal risks associated with this decision. According to Zenit, there is a high probability of judicial setback if attempts are made to terminate the current contracts early based solely on arguments related to public mobility.
Despite the bleak outlook presented by the report, more sustainable alternatives are also suggested. Zenit proposes improving other road infrastructures such as the C-55 and maintaining existing bonuses to alleviate traffic without incurring exorbitant costs. In fact, studies have already begun to duplicate this road between Manresa and Castellbell i el Vilar with an estimated budget of 171 million euros.
As this crucial debate about Catalan motorways progresses, it is clear that any decision must be carefully considered not only from an economic perspective but also social and legal. The question remains: is it really viable to free the tolls or is it better to seek alternative solutions?
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