Due to the expected extreme heat, the Bulgarian Road Infrastructure Agency has announced a temporary driving ban for heavy trucks over 20 tonnes in several regions today, August 13. The ban, which will apply from 13:00 to 21:00, is intended to protect the road network from possible damage caused by temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius.
The restrictions affect key road sections in the regions of Ruse, Razgrad, Targovishte, Shumen, Veliko Tarnovo and Lovech. Heavy goods traffic will be suspended on certain roads, including the I-2 Ruse – Razgrad and the I-5 Ruse – Veliko Tarnovo.
In the Ruse region, traffic restrictions will apply on the I-2 Ruse – Razgrad road, in particular between kilometers 12 and 37, and on the I-5 Ruse – Veliko Tarnovo road between kilometers 6 and 65. In addition, traffic will be suspended on the I-5 road from Byala to Ruse.
Similar restrictions will be imposed in the Shumen region, in particular on the Hemus highway between Bukovtsi and Nevsha (km 311-376) and on the I-4 Targovishte-Shumen road from Cherencha to Belokopitovo (km 250-258). There will also be restrictions on the I-2 Ruse-Shumen-Varna road and the I-7 Silistra-Shumen road.
In the Veliko Tarnovo and Targovishte regions, the ban affects the I-4 Sevlievo – Veliko Tarnovo – Targovishte road between Novo Selo and Cherencha, as well as the I-5 Polski Trumbesh – Veliko Tarnovo – Gabrovo road from Polski Trumbesh to Debelec. Traffic is also suspended on the II-55 Debelec – Predela – Gurkovo road, from Debelec to Mishemorkov Khan.
In the Lovech region, the use of the I-4 Koritna – Malinovo road between the 9th and 69th kilometers will be closed to heavy trucks.
To minimize disruption, trucks affected by the ban must wait at designated locations outside the roadway. Exceptions to the restriction apply to vehicles transporting perishable food, temperature-controlled goods, live animals and dangerous goods.
In addition, in a related development, the Road Infrastructure Authority has also announced traffic restrictions in the “Malo Buchino” tunnel on the Struma highway. Starting from 08:00 on August 13 and 14, traffic in the Pernik tube will be restricted to allow the installation of support structures for the tunnel’s lighting system. Traffic will flow in both directions through the tube leading to Sofia.
