“The concessionaires’ proposal is in line, as has been practice, with the value of survival”, reads the same note, with the ACP recalling that “Portugal registers record values ​​of survival of the last 30 years and, if confirmed projections, the increase in doors will be around 10% from January 1st”.

According to the ACP, “this is what we have to add to all the increases that have been gradually harassing motorists and taxpayers in general: fuel, electricity, gas, food, housing and so many other essential goods”.

The ACP also revealed that there is “another consequence if the price of tolls soars: road accidents”, noting that, “by massively pulling light and heavy vehicles onto national roads, many of them unable to receive heavy traffic, Road insecurity and an increase in the number of accidents and victims are to be expected”.

Thus, according to the ACP, “the proposal to update toll prices on motorways is brutal for the budget of families and companies”.

On Tuesday, Ascendi assisted the Government with an increase in doors of 10.44% in 2023, the equivalent inheritance value of October without housing, but received that it is up to the State to determine the final value.

“Updating the toll rates for the concessions and sub-concessions managed by Ascendi results directly from the application of the terms set out in the concession contracts, based on the variation of the IPC [Índice de Preços no Consumidor] of October of the current year versus October of the previous year (10.44%)”, advanced the delivered in a written response to the Lusa agency. However – he added – in the case of these concessions, toll revenues are the property of the Portuguese State, with the State having the power to determine the final value of the fees to be charged.

In the same vein, Brisa referred last Friday to the Eco newspaper that, “according to the stipulations in the concession contract with the State, the price of tolls for the next year is calculated according to the subscriber registered in October of this year (removing the housing effect)”.

The communication director of the country’s largest motorway carrier, Franco Caruso, added, however, that “Brisa remains available to negotiate mitigating solutions with the State”.

However, Brisa’s communication director reiterated, in response to Lusa, that position.

Motorway concessions had until November 15 to communicate their price proposals for 2023 to the Government, after which the State had 30 days to comment.