Restrictions for heavy trucks on motorways due to traffic

Sofia – At the end of the long holiday period, as thousands of Bulgarians return to the capital, the Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) introduced temporary restrictions on the movement of heavy goods vehicles on the main road arteries in the country. The measures are coordinated with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and aim to optimize passenger traffic and reduce the risk of congestion at the entrances to Sofia.

From 14:00 to 20:00 today, the movement of trucks weighing over 12 tons will be completely stopped on the "Trakia," "Hemus," and "Struma" highways, but only in the direction toward Sofia. This announcement comes at a time when the traffic flow is extremely intense and there is noticeable tension on the roads from the accumulation of vehicles.

Details on the restrictions and exceptions

The RIA clarifies that the restriction is not comprehensive. It does not affect the movement of trucks in the opposite direction – from Sofia to Burgas on "Trakia," from Sofia to the 87th kilometer on "Hemus," and from Sofia to Blagoevgrad on "Struma." In these sections, the movement for heavy goods vehicles continues to be carried out without changes.

An important exception to the ban is made for a number of specialized vehicles that have a critical role for public well-being. The restriction will not apply to trucks performing public passenger transport. On the "Hemus" and "Struma" highways, vehicles carrying dangerous goods (ADR), live animals, perishable food products and goods requiring temperature control, as well as specialized rendering trucks, will also be permitted. For the "Trakia" highway, a separate exception has been introduced in the section between the "Ihtiman" (34th km) and "Vakarel" (23rd km) road junctions, where trucks over 12 tons with dangerous goods will also be exempt from the restriction.

The RIA emphasized that the introduction of the measure is dictated by the increased traffic toward the capital, while in the opposite direction – toward the interior of the country – traffic is significantly lighter. To avoid potential traffic jams and facilitate the movement of light vehicles, drivers of heavy goods vehicles are urged to use other republican roads as alternative routes, observing the permanent traffic organization on them.

New changes to the Road Traffic Act

These road measures coincide with the entry into force of new rules in the Road Traffic Act, which were promulgated in the State Gazette on August 5, 2025, and came into force yesterday. The changes, voted by parliament, affect a wide range of road users – from car drivers to users of electric mobility devices, pedestrians, and cyclists.

The introduction of the new rules and temporary traffic restrictions highlights the dynamism and need for constant adaptation of the road infrastructure to changing conditions, especially during peak hours. The Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that, at their discretion, additional actions will be taken to increase traffic flow and ensure the safety of all road users.