A22 Algarve ex-toll road sees growth
Since the introduction of electronic tolls a few years ago, traffic in the Algarve has been greatly affected, especially for foreign visitors who are unfamiliar with the system and the payment method. As a result, 2011 and 2012 saw a considerable drop in users of the motorway A22 Via do Infante in the Algarve. Nevertheless, surprisingly, 2013 was a return to business for this ex-SCUT toll-free motorway.
The Institute of Transport and Mobility (IMT) conducted a survey whose result came out as a pleasant surprise: A22 has registered a considerable increase of users, around 6015 vehicles crossing it daily during the past quarter year. This constituted an increase by around 500 vehicles per day from the former confirmed figures. Traveling from East to West of the long highway of A22 is actually quite accessible as well, costing only 10 Euro.
This success came to challenge the previous idea that toll roads had failed in Portugal, with drops in traffic of 50%. Other motorways have seen the same happy return to busy traffic: Beira Interior (A23) and Beiras Litoral e Alta (A25) saw a growth of one percent, while Interior Norte (A24) reported an increase of 2.5 percents. Up north, there has also been an increase in traffic use. The only road which failed to do so well was Costa Prata, which stagnated to the same numbers registered a quarter year ago.
Another good sign is that less and less car accidents have happened over the last year, and fatalities decreased by over 50% in the Algarve. Roads and motorways here are starting to lose their ominous reputation as the number of collisions continues to drop.
So there is hope that the coming summer of 2014 will shine upon the beautiful Algarve with an air of optimism and many tourists will enjoy driving on the A22. In case you have hired a car, payment of the tolls can be made at the post offices or at pay shops.
