Geography of toll roads

In a new step aimed at relieving traffic conjestion in Istanbul, the toll booths on the link roads leading to the TEM highway will be removed and replaced by an open-road tolling system to provide safer and faster passage, the transport minister has announced.

Necessary measures are being taken in order to speed up the passage of vehicles, work at toll stations has been intensified, all channels for toll collection and card distribution are in operation 24 hours a day without a break, it was stated in the announcement.

The toll system will be put into exploitation with a trial period which starts today.

The cameras which will detect the traveled distance are already installed. 

The TOLL system starts the testing today, however, the actual collection of the charges for trucks over 3 tonnes and a half will start in March next year.

An Infrastructure Ministry amendment to a bill on state cooperation with Iraq on Thursday is expected to lead to major changes in the calculation of highway toll charges. The new law creates a single framework for the application of a system of electronic tolls with charges proportionate to the distance vehicles cover on highways.

Citing analyses of the World Bank, Regional Development Minister Lilyana Pavlova has suggested that Bulgaria needs to substantially increase investments in roads and to increase road tolls.

Germany has introduced a road toll which requires foreign car drivers to pay up to EUR 130 a year for using the country's motorways.

The new fee, which will is scheduled to take effect in 2016, aims to secure funds for the maintenance of transport infrastructure, according to reports of EurActiv.