Balkan roadworks spark traffic congestion and delays

Road authorities across Bosnia‑Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro have warned drivers of increased traffic volumes and numerous temporary restrictions as summer travel peaks. In Bosnia‑Herzegovina, a 3‑km section of the A‑1 highway between Kakanj and Lašva is closed for road‑bed repairs, with traffic redirected to the opposite carriageway. Several major routes – Sarajevo‑North to Podlugovi, Sarajevo‑West to Lepenica and Bijača‑Počitelj – are operating on overtaking lanes, while weight limits of 3.5 tonnes apply on Dobro Polje‑Miljevina, Tuzla‑Bijeljina and Jablanica‑Blidinje. Border posts report normal processing times, though some EU entry‑exit checks may cause brief delays.

In Montenegro, extensive works on the Pljevlja‑Žabljak corridor have forced a total ban on trucks over 3.5 tonnes and imposed alternating traffic for passenger vehicles on bridges and sections of the M‑6 and M‑3 roads. Additional closures affect regional routes R‑29, R‑17, R‑30 and the R‑1 corridor, with intermittent one‑lane operations and short‑term detours.

Serbia’s auto‑motor association (AMSS) alerts motorists to heavier afternoon and evening traffic on highways and routes to tourist centres, recommending early‑day travel to avoid congestion. From 1 July, electronic TAG devices will be mandatory for fourth‑category vehicles on toll roads, with fines imposed for non‑compliance.

Drivers are advised to observe posted signs, respect temporary speed limits and keep safe distances, especially in work zones where visibility may be reduced despite generally good weather conditions.