From March 1, 2026, heavy goods vehicles (HGV) will no longer pay tolls on the Porto Regional Outer Ring Road (CREP, A41 motorway) during peak traffic periods, i.e., between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. and between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The measure, announced by the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, after a meeting with the mayors of the Porto Metropolitan Area (AMP), aims to relieve pressure on the Internal Ring Road (VCI), considered the most congested road in the country.

“We are fulfilling the commitment made some time ago. Now, it is clear: from March 1, heavy vehicles will no longer pay tolls on the CREP,” said the minister at the AMP headquarters.

For Pedro Duarte, Porto Mayor and President of the Porto Metropolitan Council, this is “an excellent start towards a solution for the VCI,” emphasizing that “it cannot be solved with isolated measures, but it helps to improve the lives of Porto residents and all those who use it.”

Pedro Duarte recalled that, “after a decade of widespread contemplation, in which the diagnosis was made but no measures were taken,” this “is the beginning of a different path.” The AMP mayors have committed to presenting, by the end of the year, a document with additional proposals to improve traffic flow on the VCI, to be decided upon also on 1 March.

Among the solutions under consideration is the possibility of installing toll gates with disincentive tolls for crossing the city or even banning HGV at critical times, while ensuring urban supplies are maintained.

According to Miguel Pinto Luz, this is “a measure to encourage greater use of the CREP to the detriment of the VCI, which is the biggest traffic problem in the country.” The State plans to compensate the CREP/A41 concessionaire by around €10 million per year.

The minister also reinforced his commitment to further investment in the metro, public transport and high-speed rail, emphasising that “the Porto Metropolitan Area requires this multiplicity of public policies in order to encourage the public to use public transport more and private transport less”.

Photos: João Pedro Rocha/Porto City Council