Bosnia traffic jams worsen amid road works and EU entry‑exit delays

Extensive road maintenance on the A‑1 motorway – including closures of the Nemila‑Vranduk, Golubinja‑Nemila, Kakanj‑Lašva sections and detours onto the M‑17 and other local roads – has slowed traffic across Bosnia and Herzegovina. The restrictions affect vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, while heavier traffic is still blocked, leading to longer travel times on major routes such as Dobro Polje‑Miljevina, Tuzla‑Bijeljina and Jablanica‑Blidinje.

Border crossings, especially Izačić, Velika Kladusa and other points on the Bosnia‑Croatia frontier, are experiencing increased queues. The new EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which records biometric data for non‑EU travellers, adds up to several minutes to each crossing, prompting warnings that delays may last longer than before.

A widely shared video from the Bosnia‑Croatia border shows a driver stopping cars that tried to overtake a long queue, sparking a heated debate about who was right. The incident highlights the growing tension among drivers facing prolonged waits.

Airports in Serbia are also reporting longer boarding times as the same EES procedures are applied, with airlines and airport groups asking the European Commission to suspend the system temporarily during the peak summer period. Officials advise motorists and travellers to arrive early, drive cautiously, respect speed limits and avoid risky overtaking.