A4 motorway will be more expensive. Will prices on A4 motorway go up from April?

Stalexport Autostrada Małopolska announced the introduction of new higher tolls for the use of the section of the A4 Kraków–Katowice motorway managed by itself from 3^rd April 2023. The company sent a letter in this matter to GDDKiA.

Stalexport Autostrada Małopolska wants tolls at each gate to be 15 PLN for motorcars (previously 13 PLN) and 46 PLN for vehicles from other categories (currently 40 PLN).

The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has doubts concerning the amount of toll increase on the A4 motorway. On 1^st February this year, the President of UOKiK Tomasz Chróstny initiated explanatory proceedings in this matter.

‘We will ask the motorway administrator for explanations, primarily in order to verify if these prices are not exaggerated. In the first place, we want to learn about the reasons for the current increase, how the entrepreneur having a dominant position in the management of the motorway section sets prices currently and how he did that in the past, and how the scope of renovation works under way influences the price level and the service being provided,’ saysTomasz Chróstny, President of UOKiK.

UOKiK stresses that explanatory proceedings are always conducted in the matter of the entrepreneur, not against him. After receiving explanations and analysing them, the office will be able to determine if the “abuse of the dominant position” by the company may occur in this case.

UOKiK points out that it has already stood in defense of drivers paying tolls for the use of the A4 motorway.

In its decision issued in April 2008, it stated that Stalexport Autostrada Małopolska had not been entitled to impose the full toll for the use of the motorway that did not fully meet the standard for this type of road.

Renovation works performed in the section of the roadway from January till September 2007 caused serious traffic difficulties. At the peak moment, there was two-way traffic on one roadway in almost one third of the length of the route between tollbooths, which considerably prolonged the travel time.

The financial penalty of 1.3 million PLN was imposed on Stalexport Autostrada Małopolska. Courts of further instances confirmed this decision.