The government will continue to oversee the Alicante Ring Road, the AP-7, for another decade and will freeze tolls for the coming year due to the current economic climate. This means the state stops the planned re-tendering of the road, a process that had been expected alongside eight other highways in 2018 when private concessionaires faced financial difficulties.
Specifically, the Council of Ministers approved the renewal of the agreement held by the General State Administration and the State Land Transport Infrastructures Society Seitt for managing these roads. The ten-year renewal places the ring road under public control until 2032.
The new management agreement for the rehabilitated highways will enable Seitt to complete pending investments and streamline its organizational structure. The reform plan covers modernization, renewal, and upgrades across tunnels, lighting, capacity, and interchanges or connections, all aimed at keeping the network in optimal condition. The Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda will oversee the data and actions planned, including digitization and sustainability measures designed to incorporate current technical advances and promote safe, sustainable, and connected mobility.
Some actions will be financed through tolls paid by users along with capital contributions from the ministry, up to a maximum of 128 million euros between 2023 and 2025 to accelerate implementation and close the gap created in those years.
Fomento Takes Over the Alicante Ring Road
Beyond the Alicante ring road, Seitt manages radial corridors including the R-2 from Madrid to Guadalajara, the R-3 from Madrid to Arganda del Rey, the R-4 from Madrid to Ocaña, Navalcarnero from Madrid, and potentially the R-5. It also covers the M-12 Axis Airport, the AP-41 from Madrid to Toledo, the AP-36 from Ocaña to La Roda, and the AP-7 from Cartagena to Vera.
Freeze on Toll Rates
The Council of Ministers also approved toll freezes for these roads, citing the current economic situation. Toll prices have remained unchanged since the state took over control in 2018. The new operating agreement will enable discounts for environmental reasons or to raise service levels.
The Alicante ring road began operating in December 2007 to alleviate congestion as it passes through the provincial capital. The original concessionaire, Ciralsa, was a joint venture between ACS, Abertis, and Globalvía.
Opening in late 2007 occurred as the economic crisis began to unfold. Though traffic surged in 2008 with an average daily vehicle count near 10,000, the downturn caused by the crisis reduced volumes, hitting a low in 2014 with about 5,303 vehicles per day. Afterward, traffic gradually recovered, but the pandemic drove daily volumes down again to around 4,966 in 2020, before rising to about 6,421 in the following years.
The Concessionaire Declared Bankrupt
Only five years after opening, Ciralsa filed for bankruptcy. In 2018 the Ministry of Public Works reassumed ownership and integrated the route into Seitt, strengthening state control over the corridor.
300 Million Rescue Package
When the highway is in state hands, compensation may be required for the value of the built infrastructure and damages incurred. The administration bears responsibility for these financial adjustments. The latest ministry estimate places the amount at 302.7 million euros for Ciralsa, with the ministry later breaking down the figures into various components: approximately 276.6 million for executed and non-depreciated work, 74.1 million for expropriations, totaling more than 350 million. From this total, deductions may apply for investments necessary to deliver facilities under normal operating conditions, including works up to 18 million, and already paid expropriation compensations around 15.6 million. The ministry also notes potential pending payments that the state would need to assume, estimated at 14.4 million euros.
These numbers reflect the complex financial responsibilities tied to bringing the corridor up to modern standards while ensuring long-term reliability and safety for users.