The PP Aragon autonomous deputy Antonio Romero has denounced that "there is no project" to dismantle the access points to the AP-68 in the autonomous community after the toll liberalization, and he has directly pointed to Pedro Sánchez as "the responsible one". As he has emphasized, despite the end of the charging, the central Government has not specified any actions.
Romero has stressed that "the access points to Alagón and Mallén --in the province of Zaragoza-- are the same as a year ago", insisting that "there is no project, there is no schedule, and there is no work whatsoever". He has reproached that the mayors found out that last night the tolls were being removed not by the Ministry of Transport, but by the concessionary company, which, in his view, shows that "for the Government of Pedro Sánchez, the Aragonese town councils do not count at all".
The popular parliamentarian added that "the four tolls on the Aragon section of the motorway do not yet have a date to be dismantled; we do not know whether there will be a tender, or who will do it, or how they are going to do it, or when", so that, meanwhile, AP-68 users will have to circulate "at a reduced speed". He has insisted that this situation generates uncertainty and annoyances for regular drivers.
He has also highlighted that the Ministry of Transport has still not signed the necessary contract to ensure maintenance of the motorway in this new scenario. In his words, "after 25 years having to sign an emergency contract for something that was known has a name and is irresponsibility," which, as he has warned, negatively affects road safety.
Romero has explained that the trucks that today overwhelm the N-232 will be diverted to the motorway using access points that the mayors consider "insufficient", which increases "the lack of safety" and, he has said, exemplifies "another example of the lack of management capacity of the Ministry of Transport".
Criticisms of the central government's planning
Under the heading of "improvisation", Antonio Romero has accused the central Executive that it "improvises absolutely everything", recalling that "it has had the last eight years to plan all of this and nothing has been done because it hasn't bothered to do it," being carried along by "the inaction and indifference with which, regrettably, they act when it comes to Aragón".
On this line, he has claimed that "Aragón is once again being wronged and mistreated compared with other autonomous communities." He has recalled that in 2021 Transportes commissioned a traffic study for La Rioja, where the liberalization of the same highway has taken place on the same date, and awarded €23 million for the removal of access points and connections. In response to this, he has countered the absence of similar actions in Aragón territory.
Romero has pointed out that "we’re glad for the people of La Rioja, but two questions arise: why in La Rioja yes and in Aragón no? why in Aragón there is no study, there is no project, there is no euro for those access points and those connections?" He has insisted that the difference in treatment between the two communities is unjustifiable and, in his view, shows a grievance against Aragón.
The deputy has recalled that it was the PSOE Government of Spain which, in 2018, chose to wait for liberalization until this year, 2026, and that, therefore, "so the PSOE cannot reproach others for what it decided to do itself." He has compared both stages by stating that "Rajoy lowered costs and Sánchez has left delays, cuts and improvisation, therefore, that they don’t try to change the subject: the date was known for 25 years and the obligation to prepare for today was of the Ministry of Transport which was led by José Luis Ábalos and later Óscar Puente."
Shared responsibilities and legacy in Aragón
In contrast, Romero has defended that the Government of Aragón "has done its part" when the City Council of Alagón demanded a solution for the black spot at the exit towards the A-126. As he has explained, the team of Jorge Azcón "built the roundabout that was asked for," so that "the Government of Aragón resolved the problem it is responsible for, while the Ministry of Transport has not resolved any of the problems that fall under its jurisdiction."
For the PP deputy, "this is the legacy left by José Luis Ábalos and Óscar Puente; the two have both left the Ministry, but the PSOE remains in absolute abandonment towards Aragón." He has concluded that "it is the same management model, many announcements, no planning, and always the blame for others or for other people," insisting that the situation of the AP-68 in Aragón is a direct consequence of that way of governing.