Bulgaria restricts heavy truck traffic during Independence Day holidays

Bulgaria's Road Infrastructure Agency has announced temporary traffic restrictions for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) exceeding 12 tons to coincide with the Independence Day holiday on September 22. The measures aim to improve road safety and prevent congestion on the country's busiest transit routes.

The restrictions apply to the Trakia, Hemus, and Struma motorways, as well as sections of road I-1 in the Blagoevgrad region. On September 18, HGV movement leaving Sofia will be restricted from 15:00 to 20:00. On September 22, the restriction will apply to vehicles traveling toward the capital from 12:00 to 20:00.

To facilitate travel toward tourist destinations like Bansko, reversible traffic lanes will be implemented on road I-1 near Simitli. On September 18 and 19, two lanes will flow toward Kulata and one toward Sofia; on September 22, the pattern will reverse.

Several exceptions apply. Public passenger transport, vehicles carrying dangerous goods (ADR), live animals, perishable foods, and temperature-controlled cargo are generally exempt on the Hemus and Struma motorways. On the Trakia motorway, public passenger transport is exempt, and ADR transport is permitted toward Sofia between the Ikhtiman and Vakarel junctions.