In conjunction with concessionaires and sub-concessionaires, the exemption was applied on the A8, between Valado de Frades and Leiria Nascente; on the A17, between the connection to the A8 and Mira; on the A14, between Santa Eulália and Nó de Ança; and on the A19, between the Azoia and São Jorge interchanges. Crossing traffic was not covered.
On Saturday, the Intermunicipal Community of the Leiria Region appealed to the President of the Republic to intervene in the extension of the exemption from tolls on the main highways serving that territory, following the destruction caused by the Kristin depression.
“The restoration of tolls next Sunday would represent an increased burden for families and companies that continue to face serious difficulties, at a stage in which the priority must be the economic and social recovery of the region”, highlighted, in a statement, that structure made up of 10 municipalities.
In the letter, he appeals to the head of state to, “within the framework of his own competences, promote reflection and intervention that he deems appropriate, in order to ensure the extension of the toll exemption regime on the A8 (Marinha Grande/Leiria) and A19 motorways for reasons of mobility, equity and solidarity with a region that has been severely affected”.
For CIM, the alternative routes to the motorways covered by the exemption, namely EN1/IC2 and EN242, remain “strongly conditioned, with interventions to stabilize slopes, replace pavements and clean up forestry residues being ongoing”.
Citing Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP), he said that those works should last at least until the end of June 2026.
Therefore, the CIM of the Leira Region considers it “absolutely necessary that the exceptional and temporary regime of exemption from paying toll fees be extended, at least, until the end of June this year, a period that coincides with IP’s forecast of stabilization of alternative routes”.
The Leiria Region CIM is made up of the municipalities of Leiria, Marinha Grande, Batalha, Pombal, Porto de Mós, Alvaiázere, Ansião, Pedrógão Grande, Figueiró dos Vinhos and Castanheira de Pera.
Sixteen people died in Portugal following the passage of depressions Kristin, Leonardo and Marta, which also caused many hundreds of injuries and displacement.
The total or partial destruction of homes, businesses and equipment, the fall of trees and structures, the closure of roads, schools and transport services, and the cut of energy, water and communications, floods and floods are the main material consequences of the storm.
The Centro, Lisbon and Vale do Tejo and Alentejo regions are the most affected.
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