Intense traffic expected before Easter: Restrictions for trucks and reversible traffic

Heavy traffic is expected on the roads around the Easter holidays. The Road Infrastructure Agency (API) predicts that around 191,000 vehicles will leave Sofia before the holidays. For comparison, last year the number of cars was around 185,000.

In order to increase traffic safety and reduce road accidents, API is introducing restrictions on the movement of trucks over 12 tons on the "Trakia", "Hemus" and "Struma" motorways, as well as in a section of road I-1 in the Blagoevgrad region. The restrictions will be in force during the days around the holiday.

The "Trakia", "Hemus" and "Struma" motorways are expected to be the most congested. It is predicted that around 130,000 vehicles will head towards these motorways. The "Trakia" motorway is expected to be the busiest, with around 62,000 vehicles, followed by "Hemus" (over 35,000) and "Struma" (32,000). Peak hours are expected in the afternoon and evening hours before the holiday, and traffic may reach 4,000 vehicles per hour.

Restrictions for trucks:

• April 9: From 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM - ban on exiting Sofia.
• April 10: From 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM - ban on exiting Sofia.
• April 13: From 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM - ban on entering Sofia.

Exceptions to the ban are provided for public transport vehicles, as well as for the transport of dangerous goods, animals, perishable food products and temperature-controlled cargo (with the exception of the "Trakia" motorway).

Reversible traffic:

In the section of road I-1 in the Simitli area there will be reversible traffic:

• April 9: From 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM (Kulata direction - two lanes, Sofia direction - one lane).
• April 12 and 13: (Sofia direction - two lanes, Kulata direction - one lane).

API advises drivers to plan their trips outside peak hours, to inform themselves in advance about the road situation and to drive with increased attention.

Also, API is stopping the 24-hour road assistance for car repatriation, but will continue to secure the road surface from damaged vehicles.