Struma Motorway expects heavy holiday traffic toward Greece

Heavy traffic is expected along the Struma Motorway and road I-1 in southwestern Bulgaria during the holiday period around September 6. Travelers are heading toward Greece for end-of-summer vacations and toward mountain resorts in the Pirin region.

To manage the influx, the Road Infrastructure Agency has implemented special traffic organization measures near Simitli. On September 4 and 5, two lanes will be allocated for traffic toward Kulata, while one lane will serve traffic toward Sofia. On September 7, this arrangement will reverse to prioritize travelers returning to the capital.

Heavy goods vehicles exceeding 12 tons will face specific time restrictions to alleviate congestion. On September 4, trucks leaving Sofia will be restricted from 15:00 to 20:00, and on September 5, from 09:00 to 14:00. On September 7, the restriction for trucks heading toward Sofia will apply from 12:00 to 20:00.

Police in Blagoevgrad have warned of potential congestion, particularly in the Kresna Gorge area, and will deploy additional patrols to monitor for violations such as improper overtaking and driving in emergency lanes.