Barrier-free truck tolling system goes online in Spain
- Over 1.4 million transaction per day
- System will improve traffic flow in the Bizkaia region
- Delivered in time with expanded scope
Madrid, October 8, 2024 – Kapsch TrafficCom is proud to announce the completion of the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system in Bizkaia. The system was activated on July 1.
Initially awarded in 2022 by Interbiak, the company not only completed the installation of the system in time, but also delivered an additional 10 gantries, increasing the number of gantries to 26, and total number of lanes covered to 146. The system processes over 1.4 million transactions each day.
The truck tolling system is installed along different sections of the A-8 (towards Cantabria), the N-636 (from Beasain to Durango via Kanzapar), and the N-637 (from Cruces to Erletxes) in northern Spain. It includes the gantries, cameras, sensors and all hardware and software required to operate these system elements. Additionally, the company was awarded a level 2 and 3 maintenance contract until June 2026.
As part of the innovative project, Kapsch TrafficCom also installed three Roadside Units that can be used for Connected Vehicle Use Cases, adding to the 25 installed units already installed in the Bizkaia C-ITS corridor. This will further expand the use cases of this smart corridor, guaranteeing safer and more efficient traffic in the region.
Project challenges
One of the notable challenges of this project was the installation of the gantry at Rontegi bridge, one of the most sensitive road sections of the Bizkaia road network. The gantry, more than 40 meters wide, covers four lanes in both directions.
“Despite the bridge having the highest traffic flow in the Bizkaia region with 180,000 vehicles daily, the installation was successfully completed in one night without closing the road. I am very proud of the whole team to have delivered this complex project in time,” explains Javier Aguirre, Managing Director of Kapsch TrafficCom Spain and Portugal.
Redundant and future-proof
Compared to other traditional tolls, Multi-Lane Free-Flow (MLFF) technology collects and processes toll data electronically and automatically and improves the flow of traffic on the roads, as it does not have toll barriers. In addition, it is distinguished by the use of unique gantries – a feature of Kapsch TrafficCom technology – capable of incorporating all the sensors and equipment that make up the collection point into a single gantry.
The system is designed to improve traffic flow and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating the need for vehicles to stop at toll collection points. It is flexible and scalable, meaning it can adapt and expand its capacity without major changes. Furthermore, it has redundancy built into all critical elements, enhancing its reliability and making it one of the most dependable systems of its kind on the market.
Kapsch TrafficCom is a globally renowned provider of transportation solutions for sustainable mobility with successful projects in more than 50 countries. Innovative solutions in the application fields of tolling, tolling services, traffic management and demand management contribute to a healthy world without congestion.
With one-stop-shop solutions, the company covers the entire value chain of customers, from components to design and implementation to the operation of systems.
Kapsch TrafficCom, headquartered in Vienna, has subsidiaries and branches in more than 25 countries and is listed in the Prime Market segment of the Vienna Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: KTCG). In its 2023/24 financial year, about 4,000 employees generated revenues of EUR 539 million.