Spain’s Roads Evolved to Smart Infrastructure

Why this is here: The A-19 highway, Spain’s first toll road, opened in 1969, requiring drivers to stop and pay with exact change—a stark contrast to today’s mobile payment options.

In Spain, Abertis Autopistas notes a transformation in roadways over the last 50 years, moving from basic connections to intelligent infrastructure. In 1976, protests occurred in Madrid over poor road conditions—roughly 200 potholes per mile, as coined by cartoonist Forges—the same year the DGT recorded about 5,000 road fatalities. Today, Spain’s network features real-time traffic information and connected vehicles.

The company highlights the evolution of service areas, now equipped with electric vehicle charging, and the shift from manual toll payments to mobile apps. They’ve also implemented dynamic lighting, speed sensors, and digital signage.

Daniel Vilanova of Abertis emphasizes a move toward proactive traffic management—predicting and preventing problems rather than reacting to them. While road fatalities decreased from a high of 9,344 in 1989 to 1,119 in 2025, ongoing work aims to further improve safety and user experience.