The Czech Road and Motorway Directorate (ŘSD) has begun a major renovation project on the Panenská and Libouchec tunnels on the D8 motorway in northern Bohemia. According to Radek Mátl, Director General of ŘSD, this is one of the most demanding road projects in the country this year.
“The renovation of the Panenská and Libouchec tunnels on the D8 motorway in northern Bohemia will be very difficult. Work started on 1 April and will continue until October. The motorway will be closed for three weeks, and during this time, there will be detours, which could be challenging due to the large number of trucks passing through the area,” Mátl said in the ŘSD podcast.
Czech media have already reported on the first detour routes in connection with the tunnel closures on the D8 motorway in the Ústí nad Labem region, which began on 19 March.
Regional authorities have marked out initial alternative routes for vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes. Towards Dresden, traffic will be diverted through Telnice and Nakléřov, while in the opposite direction, the detour will run through Petrovice and Libouchec.
However, no official detours for trucks have been announced. At the beginning of February, Jiří Ušák, head of the traffic police department in Ústí nad Labem, stated that alternative routes for heavy goods vehicles would likely lead via the D5 or D7 motorways.
From April to October, the tunnels will be completely closed for a total of three weeks. The exact closure dates beyond the initial period have yet to be announced. During the renovation, traffic in the affected tunnels will alternate.
The renovation project includes a complete overhaul of both tunnels, the installation of new technology, and an increase in the speed limit to 100 km/h once work is completed.
Slovak D3 motorway: full closure for four weeks
Meanwhile, in Slovakia, the D3 motorway between Svrčinovec and Skalité, including the Svrčinovec and Poľana tunnels, was closed on 19 March at 8 a.m. and will remain impassable until 16 April at 8 p.m.
The police emphasize that at the same time, from 15 to 20 March, parking availability in the MOP Čierne area has also been partially restricted.
Alternative routes for D3 motorway closure
Local police have outlined alternative routes for drivers:
- From Čadca to Poland: Traffic is being redirected via road I/11 towards Český Těšín through the village of Svrčinovec – Zátky, then from the D3 motorway via exit 45 towards Svrčinovec and Ostrava onto road I/11.
- On the Poland-Svrčinovec route: Traffic is being redirected to road I/12 with a vehicle weight limit of 7.5 tonnes.
In addition to the D3 closure, another major road restriction is planned on the Slovak D1 motorway. The section between Hričovské Podhradie and Lietavská Lúčka, including the Žilina and Ovčiarsko tunnels, will be closed in both directions from 23 March at 8 a.m. until 6 April at 10 p.m.
The detour routes are as follows:
- For Bratislava-bound traffic: Vehicles will be diverted via the D3 motorway from the Žilina junction.
- For traffic in the opposite direction (towards Žilina): Vehicles will be rerouted onto the I/64 from the Žilina – Solinky junction.
Authorities urge caution and patience
Given the scale of these motorway closures, authorities in both countries are urging all road users to plan for significant delays and follow designated detour routes.
Police are advising drivers to remain patient, exercise extra caution on alternative roads, and strictly adhere to mobile road signs.