Tolls on the A22

[joeysoap]

Well, congratulations to the writer.

It tells us absolutely nothing we don't already know, and will really help the tourist trade.

Just what we want to see all over this forum!

It's no good blaming the writer - he is absolutely spot on and we all know it !! It has been written many many times on this forum already
I also cannot see the sense in the authorities chasing up these small amounts but there again these people don't have any sense otherwise they wouldn't have put in this ridiculous system in the first place

Agree with Cereza,

This writer wrote as he found, and if the Portuguese government insist on making life difficult for tourists....... well that's hardly Mr Beggs fault. I looked at the webcam just now and while it is still only May it would not be very hard to find Wally if he was hiding in the square.

[James Faro]

In the Portuguese parliament last week, the attempt to remove the tolls was defeated by a large majority ( including some Algarve MP,s voting for them to remain ) Looks like the tolls are here to stay.

Even the Algarve Resident has now stopped it's "Say No to Tolls" campaign feature. A great shame as it was consistent and vociferous in bringing this issue to the fore!

[HampshireRich]

What a load of over-reaction crap! For Christ's sake grow up and live with it! The tolls are here to stay - chaos or not - so live with it and ignore all the crap

[James Faro]

Not only that, but the significant increase in traffic on the 125 will mean more repairs required to the roads, replacement of damaged road signs from the inevitable knocks, extra policing etc etc - all of which has to be paid for.

Exactly. The revenue from the A22 goes into the coffers of government and yet they will have to fork out on the inevitabe repairs etc, caused by an increased heavy usage on the N125.

[Lythamite]

We have just stayed almost 3 weeks for Daughter wedding.We used the A22 regularly untill 2 days before our departure We then paid our tolls and for the rest of our stay used the N125 We had no problems with the system

[EMM]

I was over for a short break this weekend.
For a change took the 125 from the airport mid morning on thursday. no road works but slow !!.

its back to the 22 for us, to paraphrase another comment, " we are here for a good time not to spend a long time in traffic !! "

[Bruce Wallis]

We used the A22 to get to the airport when we flew home, last week.....then got our management company to go and pay our toll. Easy-peasy

What was even better......at 8-30 in the morning, the A22 was virtually empty. Between Alcantrillia and Faro, we were overtaken once, and we overtook one car and one big lorry.

[Geoff]

N125 amazingly clear at 0710 this morning, exactly 1 hour to Faro......couldn't say the same about the queues at the airport petrol station though, nor at security/passport control!

[Lesley Jean]

Anyone read this? -

http://algarvedailynews.com/news/6675-a ... ly-illegal

[EMM]

I have and is anyone really surprised or expect anything to change in the near future .?

[HampshireRich]

Anyone read this? -

http://algarvedailynews.com/news/6675-a ... ly-illegal

All very interesting and not surprising - however, once in they will not take them out again. To do so would be a political and financial disaster and a logistical nightmare. If these tolls are declared illegal they would have to rebate all charges so far taken, plus costs from companies who make the equipment, responders, car-hire firms and redundancies etc.

[joeysoap]

Anyone read this? -

http://algarvedailynews.com/news/6675-a ... ly-illegal

Thanks LJ interesting but ultimately nothing will happen, tolls will remain, and so will the difficult method of payment.

The Irish government had to pay €600m to private operators to get back a toll road in Dublin, what are the chances the Portuguese government will have to pay to get back the tolls roads in Portugal ?

From an Irish government report on the buy back
..The terms of the contract are that NTR will receive annual payments of €50 million, adjusted in line with the Consumer Price Index, for each of the years 2008 to 2020....

[Lesley Jean]

Anyone read this? -

http://algarvedailynews.com/news/6675-a ... ly-illegal

Thanks LJ interesting but ultimately nothing will happen, tolls will remain, and so will the difficult method of payment.

The Irish government had to pay €600m to private operators to get back a toll road in Dublin, what are the chances the Portuguese government will have to pay to get back the tolls roads in Portugal ?

From an Irish government report on the buy back
..The terms of the contract are that NTR will receive annual payments of €50 million, adjusted in line with the Consumer Price Index, for each of the years 2008 to 2020....

Oh I know nothing will happen and the tolls will remain, just thought it was interesting....

[cereza]

Thanks for posting that Lesley - it is extremely interesting and let's hope that the toll deals are overturned as illegal despite the natural cynicism that we all share.

[roy4eyes]

Note the toll system has produced 'an increase in public spending' (i.e. loss) of € 705 million so far.
The population of Portugal is approximately 10.5 million - hence I calculate it has so far cost every resident (man, woman and child) € 67 each even before they buy a transponder or venture on a motorway

As John McEnroe would say "You cannot be serious !!"