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Date Published: 24/07/2023

Traffic on Alicante AP-7 motorway has doubled since tolls were scrapped

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More than 45,000 vehicles travel this busy road through Alicante province every day

Traffic on Alicante AP-7 motorway has doubled since tolls were scrapped

The once practically deserted stretch of the AP-7 Costa Blanca motorway has almost doubled its traffic since the toll booths were scrapped three years ago, according to data released by the Ministry of Transport last week.

These figures relate to 2022 and show that vehicles travelling on the Alicante motorway range from 28,036 every day in Benissa to an impressive 45,676 in the south of Villajoyosa. Three years ago, just 24,412 motors used this latter stretch daily while an even smaller number – 16,943 – passed through the section to the north of Altea.

The numbers for 2022 are particularly interesting, since it was the first year without tolls and Covid travel restrictions, so they give a realistic picture of how busy the motorway has really become now that it’s free. However, with increased traffic comes increased risk and in the first five months of that year, accidents along the AP-7 spiked by 19%.

Also of interest: Spain scrambles to find alternatives to toll roads

Vehicle numbers had already significantly risen by 2021 even though certain mobility limitations were still in place, but it was nothing compared to last year when the busiest section, between El Campello and Villajoyosa, saw an 87% hike in traffic. Likewise, the link road between Villajoyosa and Poniente in Benidorm reported an 82.5% increase.

There’s only one conclusion to draw, and it’s that the elimination of tolls has led to more drivers opting for the motorway over secondary roads.

One of the most important points for drivers though is that this motorway rarely has traffic jams despite doubling the amount of traffic, and it’s infinitely more popular with motorists than it’s closest counterpart, the A-31 that connects Alicante with Madrid. Here, last year, an average of 52,693 vehicles were registered per day in the stretch between Petrer and Novelda , and the 50,000 mark was also exceeded between the latter town and the link with the Camino de Castilla dual carriageway, past Monforte del Cid.

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Image: DGT

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