Storm-Damaged Roads Toll-Free Until Feb 15; A25 Free in 2026

The Portugal Council of Ministers has prolonged the storm-related toll holiday on four key motorway stretches until 15 February, a decision that keeps money in drivers’ pockets while emergency repairs continue.

Why This Matters

• Free travel ends midnight 15 Feb – after that, normal fees resume unless the Government extends again.

• Limited to specific exits on the A8, A17, A14 and A19; through-traffic still pays.

• Electronic tag not required for this waiver, unlike the new resident-only discounts on the A2/A6 starting later this year.

• Heavy-goods operators on the A41 CREP and parts of A19/A8 enjoy a separate permanent exemption, easing logistics costs.

The Extension in Detail

Plagued by flood damage from the Depression Kristin storms, councils in Leiria, Figueira da Foz and Mira argued that tolls were choking relief efforts. Lisbon agreed. The Portugal Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing therefore kept fees at €0 between the following pairs of junctions:

• A8 – Valado de Frades ↔ Leiria Nascente

• A17 – A8 interchange ↔ Mira

• A14 – Santa Eulália ↔ Ança

• A19 – Azoia ↔ São Jorge

Drivers must enter or exit within those nodes to qualify; simply cruising through triggers the normal electronic charge.

How the Temporary Waiver Works

Concessionaires Brisa, Brisal and Auto-estradas do Atlântico switch off gantry billing whenever a licence plate is detected inside the eligible corridor. According to Brisa, the private sector will absorb 30 % of lost revenue – an estimated €300k–€500k – while the state budget covers the balance. The waiver remains tied to the official state of calamity; if emergency status is lifted early, tolls could return sooner.

2026’s Permanent Toll Shake-Up

While headlines fixate on storm relief, the 2026 State Budget (OE 2026) quietly rewrote Portugal’s wider toll map:

A25 becomes completely free from Aveiro to Vilar Formoso – a long-promised interior-cohesion measure.

A2 & A6 offer resident-only exemptions. Proof of domicile in Baixo Alentejo, Alentejo Litoral, Alto Alentejo or Alentejo Central plus an electronic tag will be mandatory.

A41 CREP and targeted Leiria sections of A19/A8 scrap fees for heavy vehicles, pending a traffic-impact study.

The concessions, however, offset generosity with a 2.29 % average toll hike on most other motorways from 1 January 2026, indexed to 2025 inflation.

Counting the Cost

Analysts at Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) warn that full-year revenue losses from the permanent measures could top €257 M. A separate parliamentary briefing places the A25 giveaway alone at €20–27 M annually. Ministers argue the shortfall is an investment in regional development, citing a 30 % surge in traffic on former SCUT routes after fees were removed in 2025.

What This Means for Residents

• Commuters in Leiria and Figueira da Foz can budget four extra toll-free days – handy if detours remain.• Alentejo motorists should order a via-verde-compatible tag now; enforcement on the A2/A6 will be fully automatic.• Lorry operators using the Porto outer ring (A41) should re-run cost models: savings on that link may outweigh the 2.29 % increase elsewhere.• Home-hunters in the interior – particularly along the A25 corridor – will find long-distance travel permanently cheaper, a factor already nudging property searches eastward.

Political and Local Voices

Right-wing party Chega applauded the original waiver yet calls the new deadline “too short”. Conversely, the Marinha Grande municipality says the delay in granting relief turned into a costly “400-trucks-a-day” headache. The Infrastructure Minister counters that negotiating private-sector cost-sharing required time but ultimately avoided a larger hit to taxpayers.

What Happens After 15 February?

Government insiders hint that another extension is unlikely unless fresh weather alerts emerge. Expect toll gantries to reactivate a few hours after midnight on the 16th, when enforcement cameras resume normal billing. Keep your via-verde account funded – the grace period is brief, and fines for unpaid passages start at €25, roughly the price of a tank of fuel on a compact car.