In 2023/24, toll evasion at some of Mexico's busiest toll plazas had been growing steadily. This was not sustainable in the long term, and Egis was asked to help. Andres Castillo, Director in our LATAM team, tells us about their unconventional but effective solution.
How did you become involved in this particular project?
Egis is involved in several maintenance, repair and operations contracts on motorways in Mexico, largely through our acquisition of OCACSA back in 2018. We were approached by our client Banobras, a state-owned development bank and the main investor, who asked us to come up with a solution to Eludidos (toll dodgers) at several of their toll plazas where the problem was particularly acute.
Our technical committee assessed the options, costed them, considered the service and safety risks, and recommended an automated tyre spike system.
How does the system work?
This is not like the spikes used by police. It’s a much more robust and highly engineered system. Rows of spikes, each 10 cm long and 1.5 cm wide, are embedded into the asphalt. If a car does not wait for the barrier to lift and pushes the barrier, the spikes automatically raise and puncture the tyres.
Did it take long to set this up?
Once the decision was made, things moved quite quickly. Egis coordinated the necessary contracts and the civil works across all four toll plazas. Installation began in late 2024 and was completed in June 2025.
How did you communicate about it to drivers?
Communication was a key deliverable. The aim was not to spike tyres, of course, but to reduce toll evasion. So, our communications campaign included signage, press and radio announcements, and alerts on social media. There was some trepidation in our office ... how would the new system be received? Would the travelling public welcome it?
And what was the response?
Interestingly, there was a lot of support for it from those drivers who were honest and paying the tolls; they were pleased that a solution for Eludidos was being implemented. Early on, many tyres were punctured, but the frequency dropped off quickly. Today, the threat itself is enough to make people pay. Indeed, since implementing the system, toll evasion has dropped to around 0.1% of all crossings, and those are mostly motorbikes, which pay the lowest toll fee.
What advice do you have for other operators?
This is not a system for all motorways. It was a solution to a particular problem, and one that was aligned with local practices. To be cost-beneficial, it also needs high volumes of traffic. In this case, the system paid for itself in the first few months of operations, and our client is very happy!
