by Weekend closure of the Fréjus tunnel
The the Fréjus tunnel will be completely closed in both directions from Saturday, April 6 to Monday, April 8 (32 hours).
The reason for the closure are maintenance works and safety exercises.
In addition, on the following nights in April an alternating traffic schedule will be used along the entire length of the tunnel between 10:30 PM and 4:30 AM:
4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 26, 27
by Closures of the Fréjus tunnel
The Fréjus Road Tunnel under Col du Fréjus in the Cottian Alps connecting Modane in France with Bardonecchia in Italy will be closed in both directions on the following nights:
⏩ from 10 PM on Tuesday, March 5 to 6:00 AM on Wednesday, March 6,
⏩ from 10 PM on Wednesday, March 6 to 6:00 AM on Thursday, March 7,
⏩ from 10 PM on Tuesday, March 12, to 6:00 AM on Wednesday, March 13.
by Austria: additional driving bans in 2024
By virtue of a regulation of March 28, the Federal Ministry of Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology has published a calendar of additional driving bans for 2024.
The ban applies to vehicles or articulated vehicles with a maximum gross weight exceeding 7.5 t on the following dates:
◾ March 29 from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, March 30 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and April 25 from 11:00 to 10:00 PM, on the A 12 motorway in the Inn Valley and on the A 13 motorway via the Brenner Pass if the destination is located in Italy or can only be reached via Italy;
◾ on all Saturdays from July 6 to August 31 inclusive, from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM on the A 12 motorway in the Inn Valley and on the A 13 motorway via the Brenner Pass, if the destination is located in Italy or can only be reached via Italy,
◾ on March 29 and October 3 from 12:00 to 10:00 PM and on all Saturdays from July 6 to August 31 from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM on the A 12 motorway in the Inn Valley and on the A 13 motorway through the Brenner Pass if the destination is located in Germany or can only be reached via Germany,
◾ on all Saturdays from July 6 to August 31 inclusive from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM outside built-up areas in both directions on the following roads:
a) Loferer Straße B 178 from Lofer to Wörgl;
b) Ennstalstrasse B 320 from km 4,500;
c) Seefelder Straße B 177 along its entire length;
d) Fernpass B 179 road from Nassereith to Biberwier;
e) Achensee Straße B 181 along its entire length;
f) Brenner Straße B 182 along its entire length
◾ on all Saturdays from June 29 to August 31 inclusive, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM on the A 4 motorway from the Schwechat junction to the state border at Nickelsdorf in both directions, with the exception of terminating and originating traffic to and from the municipalities of Neusiedl am See, Eisenstadt, Eisenstadt-Umgebung, Rust, Mattersburg, Bruck an der Leitha, Gänserndorf and Korneuburg.
by Total closures in the Mont Blanc Tunnel in March
Total closures from 10.00 PM to 6.00 AM on the following nights:
– Monday, March 11 / Tuesday, March 12,
– Tuesday, March 12 / Wednesday, March 13,
– Wednesday, March 13 / Thursday March 14.
– Thursday March 14 / Fiday, March 15.
Total closures from 11.00 PM to 4.00 AM on the following night:
– Thursday, March 21 / Friday, March 22.
Alternating one-way traffic from 10.30 PM to 6.00 AM on the following nights:
– Monday, March 4 / Tuesday, March 5,
– Tuesday, March 5 / Wednesday, March 6,
– Wednesday, March 6 / Thursday, March 7,
– Monday, March 18 / Tuesday, March 19,
– Tuesday, March 19 / Wednesday, March 20,
– Wednesday, March 20 / Thursday, March 21.
by Hungary: a last-minute change in HGV driving bans
The Hungarian Ministry of Transport has partially suspended the HGV driving ban during the upcoming long weekend by establishing so-called \”time windows\” when the movement of HGVs with a MAM above 7.5t is allowed.
The weekend driving ban will be in force for a total of 72 hours but will be suspended from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM, as indicated below:
❌ March 29 (Friday) from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
❌ March 31 (Sunday) from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
❌ April 1 (Monday) from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
In a statement, the Ministry has informed that the partial derogation has been introduced to ensure an uninterrupted supply of goods and meet an increased demand. Unfortunately, the decision was announced just a few hours before the time the regular holiday driving ban should come into effect this evening.
by Tyrol: two extra days of traffic restrictions on the A13
On April 3 and 4, the flow of traffic on the A13 will be limited in order to enable a structural inspection of the Luegbrücke bridge stretching over the Wipttal valley.
The inspection is scheduled to start on April 3. Based on traffic data for 2023, this is likely to cause traffic jams on the A13 motorway. To ensure a smooth flow of southbound traffic, on Wednesday (3.04) and Thursday (4.04) from 9:00 a.m. the number of vehicles from Germany crossing the border in Kufstein/Kiefersfelden will be limited.
by Slovakia: derogation from the HGV driving ban on March 29
At the request of ČESMAD Slovakia, the Slovakian Presidium of the Police Force has granted a general exemption from the driving ban on Friday, March 29, in connection with the upcoming Easter holidays.
The derogation applies to all heavy goods vehicles traveling on motorways, roads for motor vehicles, 1st class roads and roads used by international traffic, entering Slovakia and travelling to destinations (e.g. the company’s base or the place of unloading) located in Slovakia.
Please be advised that that no exemption has been granted on Monday, April 1, which means that the driving ban is in effect as usual from 00:00 to 10:00 PM.
by Spain: a temporary derogation from drivers‘ hours in Februrary
In the face of difficulties experienced by tens of thousands of Spanish hauliers caused by protests started two weeks ago by Spanish farmers, the Ministry of Transport has decided to relax the rules regarding driving and rest times.
The protests have affected approximately 100,000 lorries, i.e. almost half of the Spanish HGV fleet. The new resolution, published on Tuesday, February 20, applies to all carriers affected by the above-mentioned protests in the period of 5-14 Februrary and 19-26 February.
By virtue of the derogation:
◾daily driving time has been extended from 9 to 10 hours,
◾weekly driving time – from 56 to 60 hours,
◾the daily rest period has been shortened from 11 to 9 hours,
◾drivers are allowed to postpone the start of the weekly rest period beyond six 24-hour periods.
The industry association FENADISMER has notified the Ministry of Transport about problems in the application of the derogation in the week from February 12 to 18, when two different rules were in force: the period covered by the resolution did not cover the days from February 15 to 18, although the revised rules apply on a weekly or daily basis and, therefore, take into account other time constraints that are in effect during the week.
by Hungary – buses and coaches in the HU-GO system from April 1
Starting from April 1, buses and coaches with a gross vehicle weight of 3.5 tonnes, can be properly registered as buses in the Hungarian electronic toll collection system (HU-GO) by entering an appropriate vehicle type, as stipulated in the legislation amended at the end of February.
Lorries have been using HU-GO for over 10 years.
Coach and bus companies have to:
✔️ set up the company’s account and register coaches/buses on the hu-go.hu website
✔️ purchase or instal an on-board unit (OBU) that can (also) be used to make toll payments in Hungary. After registering, a platform of prepaid accounts will automatically be created. In this way, the company will have a contractual relationship with Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Administration. EASY on-board units can be purchased via the following website.
❗ VERY IMPORTANT❗ Operators of buses over 3.5 t already registered in the HU-GO electronic toll system are requested to refrain from the use of the HU-GO e-toll system for toll payments until 31 March and not to use their OBUs.
Vehicles not registered in the HU-GO system, can only travel in Hungary after purchasing a route ticket, which is only valid for one-way journey within 24 hours of the purchase date. The price of such a ticket is non-refundable.
There are two bus categories that can be selected when entering vehicle type during the registration process: M2 buses (over 3.5 tons up to 5 tons) and M3 buses (over 5 tons). The infrastructure charge included in the toll is based on the technically permissible maximum laden weight, while the second component, the external cost charge, depends on the number of axles and the environmental classification (EURO standard).
Operators of coaches/buses with a permissible total weight of up to 3.5 tonnes will still be able to pay for road use by purchasing an electronic vignette issued by the National Toll Payment Services, and starting from April 1, they will be classified as category D2 vehicles.
by Traffic jams expected on Italian, German, Austrian and Swiss motorways over Easter
During the long Easter weekend (28.03–1.04), there is a high likelihood of traffic jams, especially on German motorways. Delays can also be expected on popular holiday routes in Austria, Switzerland and Italy.
Maundy Thursday is one of the five days in the year when the volume of traffic on German roads is the highest, and big traffic jams are also very likely this Thursday. The situation on the roads is not expected to improve much on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, but the volume of traffic on motorways is likely to decline on Easter Sunday. According to ADAC, delays are likely to increase on Easter Monday and in the following days which coincide with the end of Easter holidays in the dederal states of Hamburg, Bremen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony-Anhalt.
Currently in Germany there are 1,130 motorway sections where roadworks are underway, which may occasionally cause traffic jams there, especially during heavy traffic.
❌ Long-term closures
◾ A27 Bremen – Bremerhaven in both directions between Uthlede and Hagen probably until the end of March;
◾ A42 Kamp-Lintfort – Dortmund in both directions between Bottrop-Süd and Kreuz Essen-Nord until April 15;
◾ A45 Hagen – Gießen in both directions between Lüdenscheid-Nord and Lüdenscheid until further notice
◾ A49 Südtangente, Gießen towards Kassel between Kassel-Waldau and the Kassel-Mitte junction until 11:59 PM on June 1,;
◾ A49 Südtangente, Gießen towards Kassel between Kreuz Kassel-West and Kassel-Auestadion until 11:59 PM on June 1,.
Traffic jam forecast for Austria and Switzerland
The volume of holiday traffic on long-distance routes is also expected in the neighboring Alpine countries as the holiday break starts in all Austrian states. Similar problems are expected in some regions of Switzerland. Routes with a high probability of traffic jams:
❌ in Austria: motorways A1, A10, A12 (Brenner Pass) and A13 (Innu Valley), B179 (Fernpass) and S16 (Arlberg Tunnel), as well as the federal roads of Tyrol, Salzburg and Vorarlberg. On the A10 motorway between Golling and Pfarrwerfen, the Ofenauer and Hiefler tunnels and the chain of Werden tunnels are being renovated.
❌ in Switzerland, delays can be expected on the route through the Gotthard Pass, on access roads to ski resorts in Graubünden, the Bernese Oberland, and Valais.
❌ in Italy, apart from the route through the Brenner Pass, the roads in the Puster Valleys, Val Gardena, Val Badia and Vinschgau.
Traffic jams are also likely on main routes to Poland and the Netherlands.
Detailed information about HGV restrictions, including a list of derogations and exemptions in specific countries can be found on www.trafficban.com.