The Autopista AP-68 (also AP-68, Autopista Vasco-Aragonesa or Autopista del Ebro)[1] is a Spanish autopista route. It connects Zaragoza with Bilbao via Tudela, Calahorra and Logroño. The entirety of the route forms the entirety of the European route E804, a B class road in the International E-road Network.

Autopista AP-68 shield}}
Autopista AP-68
Route information
Part of E804
Length272 km (169 mi)
Restrictions
Speed

Road restrictions

Other restrictions
Major junctions
FromZaragoza
ToBilbao
Location
CountrySpain
Highway system

AP-68 / E 804 begins in Bilbao, Spain, passes by Logroño, and ends in Zaragoza, following the path of the Autopista/Autovia 68.

The E 804 through Zaragoza, Spain

It has junctions with Autovía A-2, Autovía A-15, Autovía A-1 and ends at the Autovía A-8.

The highway begins in link 22 of the AP-8 (E-70) and ends on link 318 of the A-2 (E-90) (Autovía del Nordeste). Built between 1974 and 1979, its length is about 295 km. Until 2003, this highway was known as A-68.

Concession expiry

edit

In 2000, the José María Aznar government, the PP, extended the highway concession that expired in 2011 up to 2026,[2] making its recovery impossible, as it was strongly criticized by the Aragon regions and the Basque Country, then governed by PSOE-Aragon and PNV, respectively. In exchange for the extension of the concession, certain tolls became cheaper. The closing date of the award is November 10, 2026.[3]

Subsidized tolls

edit

The highway concessionaire has signed agreements with the Government of La Rioja and the Regional Government of Aragón to enable certain routes free of charge, provided the VIA-T device is used.

For journeys between the Cenicero (10) links and Agoncillo (13), inclusive, and intermediate, tolls are free for users of VIA-T.

Since February 1, 2008, light vehicles that perform return trips within a 24-hour period on any route between the Haro (9) links and Alfaro (16), inclusive, and intermediate, tolls are free for users of VIA-T. Until that date only the toll for the return trip was free, under the same conditions.

Since February 1, 2009, if a return trip is made between the Gallur (19) and Zaragoza (23) links in a 24-hour period, light vehicles are free where the same route is taken for the outward and return journey and the same VIA-T device is used.

In the Basque section a social toll is applied, only to citizens registered in Álava, with discounts for those taking more than 25 trips per month.

Traffic

edit

Exit list

edit
Name of exit Name of exit Link roads
  Bilbao  E-70   A-8 
  1 Arrigorriaga  BI-625 
     Arrigorriaga service area
  2 Llodio-Areta  BI-625 
  Toll  
  3 Llodio-Orozco  A-625 
   Álava  /  Vizcaya   
  4 Amurrio-Ziorraga  A-624 
  5   Altube
Vitoria-Pamplona
 N-622 
  6 Subijana
Pobes-Nanclares
  7   Vitoria
Madrid-Burgos
 E-5   E-80   A-1   AP-1 
  8 Miranda de Ebro-Zambrana  N-124 
   La Rioja   LA RIOJA  /  Álava   PAÍS VASCO   
  9 Haro-Casalarreina  N-126 
  10 Cenicero-Nájera  LR-113 
  11 Logroño west
Navarrete-Fuenmayor
 A-12   LR-137 
  12 Logroño-Soria  N-111   LO-20 
  13 Logroño east-El Sequero
Agoncillo-Logroño–Agoncillo Airport
 N-232   LO-20 
   COMUNIDAD FORAL DE NAVARRA  /  La Rioja   LA RIOJA   
  14 Lodosa-Pradejón (this link is only active from Lodosa-Zaragoza and vice versa)  NA-123   LR-123 
   La Rioja   LA RIOJA  /  COMUNIDAD FORAL DE NAVARRA   
  15 Calahorra-Arnedo  LR-134 
   COMUNIDAD FORAL DE NAVARRA  /  La Rioja   LA RIOJA   
  16 Corella-Alfaro  NA-6920   LR-287 
  17   Pamplona  AP-15 
  18 Tudela
Tarazona
 A-68   N-121 
   Provincia de Zaragoza  ARAGÓN  /  COMUNIDAD FORAL DE NAVARRA   
  19 Borja
Gallur
 N-122   A-127 
  20 Alagón-Figueruelas  A-68 
  Toll  
  22 Alagón  A-126 
  Continues to Zaragoza via  A-68   A-68 

Route

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "A-68 / AP-68 (Autovía / Autopista del Ebro y Autopista Vasco-Aragonesa)". Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  2. ^ "Article 2. Article 6 of the Royal Decree 3048/1982, of 12 November, reads as follows:" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2012-06-29. "El período concesional, señalado en el artículo dieciséis del Decreto 2802/1973, de 2 de noviembre, de adjudicación de la concesión, se establece en cincuenta y tres años, contados a partir de la fecha de publicación del referido Decreto. (The concessional period, indicated by article 16 of decree 2802/1973 on 2 November, in the concessional adjudication, is established for 53 years from the date of publication of said Decree)"
  3. ^ "... Dicha gratuidad está previsto sea de aplicación desde el 1 de septiembre de 2007 hasta el final del plazo de concesión, el 10 de noviembre de 2026." (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2012-06-29.
edit