“The solution we propose to the Government is a ban on heavy vehicles crossing the Inner Ring Road (VCI) during the hours when tolls are abolished on the CREP,” said Pedro Duarte, during a meeting of the Porto Municipal Assembly.

Pedro Duarte, who is also the mayor of Porto, was responding to questions from municipal deputies and reminded them that the measure of exempting trucks from tolls on the CREP/A41 at specific times to alleviate traffic on the VCI would not be effective in isolation, requiring complementary measures.

On December 10, on the side lines of a meeting of the Porto City Council executive, the mayor explained that a working group of the Porto Metropolitan Council was studying the possibility of charging tolls for heavy vehicles or prohibiting their passage on the VCI (Via de Cintura Interna - Inner Ring Road) to complement the toll exemption on the CREP (Central de Rodovia Emanuele de Porto - Outer Ring Road of Porto).

“Essentially, there are two possibilities on the table [for the VCI]: one is the installation of gantries, and the other is the prohibition of heavy vehicle passage [on the VCI]. It's a technical issue, and we are seeing what is more effective and what has fewer costs. It will be between these two options,” he announced to journalists at the time.

On November 24, the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, announced at the headquarters of the Porto Metropolitan Area that, "starting March 1, heavy vehicles will no longer pay tolls on the Porto Outer Ring Road [CREP, A41 motorway] during two time periods," specifically between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM and between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM, to alleviate traffic on the VCI (Via de Cintura Interna - Inner Ring Road).

Pinto Luz described the traffic on the VCI as "the biggest traffic problem" in the country, with "nothing even comparable to any other road in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area or any other region of the country."

Two days after the announcement made by Minister Miguel Pinto Luz, Parliament approved a proposal from the Socialist Party (PS) to amend the 2026 State Budget to exempt heavy vehicles from tolls on the CREP throughout the day.