Update: 09:20 17 July 2024
With temperatures expected to rise above 35 degrees Celsius, authorities in Romania and Bulgaria have extended restrictions on heavy vehicle traffic today, 17 July.
Romania: ban applies from 11:00 to 19:00
From 11:00 to 19:00 on 17 July, Romania will enforce restrictions on vehicles over 12 tonnes across various regions under several Regional Directorates:
- DRDP Bucharest: Affecting Ilfov, Giurgiu, Teleorman, Argeș, Dâmbovița, Prahova, Ialomița, and Călărași counties.
- DRDP Craiova: Affecting Dolj, Olt, Vâlcea, Gorj, and Mehedinți counties.
- DRDP Timișoara: Affecting Timiș, Caraș-Severin, Hunedoara, and Arad counties.
- DRDP Cluj: Affecting Alba county.
- DRDP Iași: Affecting Iași, Bacău, and Vaslui counties.
- DRDP Buzău: Affecting Buzău, Vrancea, Galati, and Brăila counties.
- DRDP Brașov: Affecting Brașov, Sibiu, and Covasna counties.
- DRDP Constanța: Affecting Constanța, Ialomița, Călărași, and Tulcea counties.
Bulgaria: ban applies from 13:00 to 21:00
Similarly, from 13:00 to 21:00 on 17 July, trucks exceeding 20 tonnes are barred from several key routes across ten Bulgarian regions: Ruse, Shumen, Varna, Lovech, Gabrovo, Veliko Tarnovo, Targovishte, Razgrad, Silistra, and Sofia.
- Ruse Region: Restrictions apply on the I-2 Ruse – Razgrad road between km 12 and km 37 and the I-5 Ruse – Veliko Tarnovo road between km 6 and km 65. Additionally, traffic is halted on the I-5 road from Byala to Ruse.
- Shumen and Varna Regions: The Hemus Highway from km 311 near Bukhovtsi to km 376 near Nevsha and from km 376 to km 425 in the Varna region will see traffic suspensions.
- Targovishte – Shumen Road: The I-4 road, from Cherencha to Belokopitovo village (km 250 to km 258), will experience restrictions.
- Shumen and Razgrad Regions: Traffic restrictions affect the I-2 Ruse – Shumen – Varna route.
- Silistra and Shumen Regions: The I-7 Silistra – Shumen road will also see limitations.
- Lovech and Gabrovo Regions: Heavy vehicles are restricted on the I-4 between Koritna and Balvan (km 10 to km 110) and the I-5 Veliko Tarnovo – Dryanovo – Gabrovo – Stara Zagora border (km 115 to km 144).
- Veliko Tarnovo and Targovishte Regions: The I-4 Sevlievo – Veliko Tarnovo – Targovishte road (km 101 to km 250) and the I-5 Polski Trumbesh – Veliko Tarnovo – Gabrovo road (km 65 to km 115), as well as the II-55 Debelec – Predela – Gurkovo road (Debelec to Mishemorkov Khan), will see traffic halts.
- Sofia Region: Vehicles over 20 tonnes heading to Varna will be stopped at Yana on the Hemus Highway due to restrictions on the I-4 road in Lovech, Gabrovo, Veliko Tarnovo, Targovishte, and Shumen.
Information posted on 15 July 2024 @ 09:51:22
The Union of Romanian Transporters and Road Hauliers (UNTRR) reports that today and tomorrow (15 and 16 July) there will be significant restrictions for heavy vehicles on motorways, expressways and national roads in several regions of Romania.
The lorry ban is in force from 11:00 to 19:00 on both days in the following regions:
DRDP Bucharest: Ilfov, Giurgiu, Teleorman, Argeș, Dâmbovița, Prahova, Ialomița, and Călărași
- DRDP Craiova: Dolj, Olt, Vâlcea, Gorj, and Mehedinți
- DRDP Timișoara: Timiș, Caraș-Severin, Hunedoara, and Arad
- DRDP Cluj: Bihor, Alba, and Satu Mare
- DRDP Iași: Suceava, Botoșani, Neamț, Iași, Bacău, and Vaslui
- DRDP Buzău: Buzău, Vrancea, Galați, and Brăila
- DRDP Constanța: Constanța, Ialomița, Călărași, and Tulcea
Despite these restrictions, several types of transport will remain unaffected. Exemptions include passenger transport, live animal transport, and perishable goods of animal and plant origin. Additionally, vehicles involved in interventions during force majeure events, funeral transports, postal services, first aid equipment transport, fuel distribution, and goods under controlled temperatures are also exempt.
Further exemptions include:
- Towing of damaged vehicles
- Distribution of water and food in disaster-stricken areas
- Sanitation services
- Bottled water and soft drink transport
- Agricultural products transportation
- Military transports involved in multinational exercises
- Various food products including bakery, pastry, confectionery, sugar-related products, cocoa, chocolate, pasta, coffee, tea, spices, special nutritional products, dry products, juices, and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
Bulgaria: truck ban from 13:00 to 21:00
The Bulgarian Road Infrastructure Agency has announced a similar truck ban for today 15th July, from 13:00 to 21:00, due to expected high temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius.
This ban applies to trucks over 20 tons on specific road sections to minimise the risk of road surface deformation and ensure the safety of travellers.
The affected regions and road sections in Bulgaria include:
- Ruse Region: I-2 Ruse – Razgrad road from the 12th km to the 37th km, and I-5 Ruse – Veliko Tarnovo road from the 6th km to the 65th km, including the section from Byala to Ruse.
- Shumen Region: “Hemus” motorway from the 311th km near Bukhovtsi to the 376th km near Nevsha, and I-4 Targovishte – Shumen road from the 250th km to the 258th km.
- Shumen and Razgrad Regions: I-2 Ruse – Shumen – Varna road.
- Silistra and Shumen Regions: I-7 Silistra – Shumen road.
- Veliko Tarnovo and Targovishte Regions: I-4 Sevlievo – Veliko Tarnovo – Targovishte road from km 101 to km 250, and I-5 Polski Trumbesh – Veliko Tarnovo – Gabrovo road from km 65 to km 115, as well as II-55 Debelec – Predela – Gurkovo road from Debelec to Mishemorkov Khan.
During the restriction period, HGVs will wait outside the roadway at designated locations.
The restriction does not apply to vehicles transporting perishable food, temperature-controlled goods, live animals, and dangerous goods.
The Bulgarian Road Infrastructure Agency monitors the situation daily and publishes any changes on its website. It is possible that the lorry ban will be extended for further days due to the heat, so it is worth checking the website for updates.