Travel in May: All Restrictions and Highway Repairs

The grim statistics on Bulgarian roads continue to grow, with two people losing their lives and another 21 injured in a total of 19 serious crashes in the country in the last 24 hours alone. This data, provided by the Ministry of Interior, aligns with the worrying trend since the beginning of the year, according to which the number of road fatalities is 22 higher compared to the same period last year. Against this backdrop, the upcoming holidays at the end of May promise heavy traffic, aided by warm and mostly sunny weather with temperatures up to 32 degrees. In Sofia, the situation remains relatively calm with 19 minor accidents registered with no casualties, but out-of-town directions require increased vigilance. State institutions are taking urgent measures to reorganize traffic in order to reduce the risk of new incidents on the main road arteries.

Restrictions on Heavy Goods Traffic and Preventive Measures

In order to ease traffic on the busiest routes, temporary restrictions are being introduced for heavy goods vehicles with a mass over 12 tons. The restriction will affect the "Trakia", "Hemus", and "Struma" motorways, as well as critical sections of the first-class road I-1 in the Simitli – Kresna section. The measure aims to prevent traffic jams and dangerous overtaking during peak holiday hours. The Road Infrastructure Agency specified the parameters of this ban in an official statement:

"In connection with the expected heavy traffic for the holidays, the movement of heavy goods trucks over 12 t along the busiest road directions will be temporarily restricted. The goal is to facilitate travel, increase road safety, and limit the prerequisites for road accidents."

Public transport buses, as well as trucks transporting perishable food, live animals, or dangerous goods under a special regime, are excluded from the ban. For transit traffic on the "Trakia" motorway towards Sofia, specific exceptions for dangerous goods are also planned in the section between Ihtiman and Vakarel. Travelers heading towards Varna on "Hemus" must take into account that heavy machinery will only be allowed to move in the emergency lane in the first kilometers from the Sofia exit due to the poor condition of the road surface. The movement of trucks over 12.5 tons is completely restricted in the section between the road junctions "Boaza" and "Dermantsi" on the same motorway. These regulations aim to decongest the main routes during the hours when thousands of families set off on their journeys.

Repairs and Critical Points on Main Motorways

The most serious challenges for drivers in the coming days will be the numerous repair works and lane narrowings on the motorways. On the "Trakia" motorway, mowing and ditch cleaning are being carried out in the areas of Pazardzhik, Stara Zagora, and Sliven, leading to a narrowing of the active lanes and speed limits of up to 100 km/h in places. The situation is extremely serious in the Yambol region, where at kilometer 272 and kilometer 282 traffic towards Burgas is completely stopped due to repairs of bridge expansion joints, and all traffic is redirected bi-directionally in the Sofia-bound lane. A similar situation exists on the "Hemus" motorway, where extensive asphalt repairs are being carried out in the Varna and Shumen regions, requiring two-way traffic in a single lane for long periods of time. In the area of the "Topli Dol" tunnel, traffic is organized in two lanes for each direction, but in emergency situations, traffic will be narrowed down to a single lane, which will inevitably cause bottlenecks.

On the "Struma" motorway, the most critical point is in the Blagoevgrad region, where a serious landslide at kilometer 103 requires a full redirection of traffic heading towards Sofia along a detour route via main road I-1. To facilitate those returning to the capital, a special temporary traffic organization is being introduced at the "Daskalovo" road junction near Pernik:

"The entrance from the city of Sofia via the "Struma" motorway to road I-6 Pernik – Kyustendil is organized through the right outer lane of the roundabout, with the two lanes separated by a physical barrier. The entrance from Vladaya and Dragichevo is redirected through the middle lane in the time slot from 16:00 to 20:30."

The mountain passes in the country also offer a dynamic and diverse picture for those traveling through mountainous regions:

• "Varbishki" and "Zlatishki" – remain completely closed to traffic year-round;
• "Pamporovo" – temporarily closed for absolutely all types of vehicles;
• "Troyanski" – passage is carried out through a special transit regime every 30 minutes;
• "Petrohan" and "Shipka" – strict bans are introduced for vehicles weighing over 12 tons.

Drivers are advised to plan their routes in advance, leave early, and stay informed about the current situation in real-time. Maintaining distance and patience behind the wheel will be key factors in avoiding accidents during the upcoming major holiday travel.