Getting to church gets harder!
18th. June 2010 (updated 05 August)
The authorities have announced that the motorway network in the North of Portugal will no longer be free, starting from the 1 August 2010. Not only that, but the tolls on certain motorways will now be collected electronically, with no option to pay in cash! You may have noticed the frameworks covered with cameras and sensors straddling the Autoestradas in places.
From some date in the near future! only vehicles equipped with one of three means of electronic payment will be allowed to use the motorways in question, which include part or all of the A17; A25; A28; A29; A41 and A42. The three forms of electronic payment available include:
· Via Verde (an electronic box in your car debits your bank account)
· Pre-payment contract (with receipts)
· Pre-payment card (without receipt)
Electronic identification for the car can be purchased from Via Verde or Post Offices and it is believed that cards may be recharged at MultiBanco (ATM) machines.
The rules even apply to foreign vehicles, although full details of how they will pay are not yet available.
Beating the system
The A44 (from Arrábida Bridge to the A29) will remain free and the cost of the section of A29 from the A44 to the Granja exit will be €0.45; so the journey from Porto to the church will cost €0.45 each way if you use the A29 South. This could be avoided by leaving the A44 at the last exit before the A29 and using the beach road without charge. During most of the year that is a good option; it takes about the same time and the view is much better. However the beach road does become very congested during August with holiday traffic.
... the story goes on ...
Our motorways have now become the centre of a political storm! At present, the charges cannot be implimented because the relevant parliamentary permission has not been given .....
All the equipment is in place, but the signs are still covered and it is not yet clear when you will start to be charged for using the roads. We will try to update this note as the situation becomes clearer.
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