by Tirol: 40 days with limited cross-border HGV traffic in 2024
The practice of limiting HGV traffic has been criticized on numerous occasions by international organizations, but the Tirol authorities remain adamant that the measure is necessary. The calandar of HGV restrictions for the second half of 2024 has just been published.
As in previous years, the Austrian authorities have set up a checkpoint on the A12 near Kufstein Nord in the direction of Innsbruck. On specific days listed in the restriction schedule (below), starting from 05:00 AM the police will slow down HGV traffic and, if necessary, will stop it in order to make sure that only about 300 lorries arriving from Germany are allowed to cross the border per hour.
There were 41 such days last year. This year, 24 days with restrictions have been planned in the first half of theyear, and 16 in the second half. The calendar has been established after an analysis indicating the high likelihood of heavy HGV traffic along the Inn Valley on these days.
HGV traffic restrictions in Tirol in 2024:
➡ March 28 (Thursday)
➡ April 26 (Friday)
➡ May 2 (Thursday)
➡ May 3 (Friday)
➡ May 6 (Monday)
➡ May 7 (Tuesday)
➡ May 8 (Wednesday)
➡ May 10 (Friday)
➡ May 17 (Friday)
➡ May 18 (Saturday)
➡ May 21 (Tuesday)
➡ May 22 (Wednesday)
➡ May 23 (Thursday)
➡ May 27 (Monday)
➡ May 28 (Tuesday)
➡ May 29 (Wednesday)
➡ May 31 (Friday)
➡ July 1 (Monday)
➡ July 8 (Monday)
➡ July 15 (Monday
➡ July 22 (Monday)
➡ July 29 (Monday)
➡ October 4 (Friday)
➡ October 28 (Monday)
➡ November 5 (Tuesday)
➡ November 6 (Wednesday)
➡ November 13 (Wednesday)
➡ November 20 (Wednesday)
➡ November 27 (Wednesday)
➡ December 3 (Tuesday)
➡ December 4 (Wednesday)
➡ December 10 (Tuesday)
➡ December 11 (Wednesday)
by Le Shuttle: Planned overnight service suspension on 16/17 March
As part of the maintenance schedule for 2024, an essential upgrade of engineering systems that enable the control and management of fixed equipment in the tunnels is planned overnight from Saturday, the 16th, to Sunday, the 17th of March.
The LAST freight shuttle departure on Saturday night will be:
► From Folkestone: at 23:22
► From Calais: at 23:22
The FIRST freight shuttle departure on Sunday morning will be:
► From Folkestone: at 05:52
► From Calais: at 05:52
Local times
In order to minimise the impact on businesses, additional departures have been planned as soon as LeShuttle service resumes. The timetable for this period can be viewed or downloaded from eurotunnelfreightcom ⬅
If you wish to travel on the last departure please check-in no later than 60 minutes before the planned departure time. Both Calais and Folkestone terminals will be closed during this time. Le Truck Village and LeShuttle Freight Truck Park in Calais remain open during this closure. Drivers can check parking availability in real time via the Driver Info app.
by England: closure of M25 – diversion routes
The M25 will be closed for a full weekend for the first time ever as a major project progresses to make journeys safer and reduce pollution. This will be the first of five closures between now and September 2024. Those travelling to Gatwick and Heathrow airports and Channel ports may be affected.
The Junction 10 improvement scheme will see an increase in the number of lanes to make journeys safer and improve traffic flow. It will also make it easier and safer to enter and exit the M25, provide safer entry roads for Wisley, Pyrford, Old Byfleet and RHS Wisley.
The local diversion route below will be in place which is the same for both directions:
Junction 10 – Junction 11: North bound A3 to Painshill Junction, A245 towards Woking, and then A320 to M25 Junction 11.
Junction 11 – Junction 10: A320 south towards Woking, A245 towards Byfleet and Painshill junction, Southbound A3 to Junction 10.
Taking the M25 in the other direction to avoid our closure is also an option.
The next full closure of the M25 is due to take place in April to allow for the installation of the new Clearmount bridleway bridge. Dates are subject to change.
by Finland: border crossings with Russia closed until mid-April
During the meeting on February 8, the Finnish government decided to prolong the closure of all land border crossings between Finland and Russia until April 14.
This means that it is not possible to apply for international protection at land border crossings between Finland and Russia.
It is believed that there are hundreds, and possibly thousands, of migrants in the vicinity of the Russian border waiting to continue their journey to Finland. The prolongation of the border closure is therefore necessary to protect national security and public order.
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 Tirol: 150 days with HGV inspections in 2024
Approximately 2.4 million lorries crossed the Brenner Pass along the A12 motorway in 2023. This is why the Tyrolean authorities have decided to continue road checks of HGV transit traffic to ensure road safety.
This year, ASFINAG’s mobile inspection facility will be used on Tyrolean roads on 150 days, 38 more days than were originally planned. The regional parliament has decided to allocate approximately EUR 55,000 for this purpose. Every year, the Austrian motorway authority, together with technical inspectors and the police, test over 4,000 trucks. Inspectors check everything, from brakes to axle load and emission levels. ❗Inspections take place at checkpoints in Kundl and Radfeld, on the Brenner Pass, along national roads in Nauders, Leisach and Musau, and at checkpoints located on the lower-level road network and at motorway rest areas.
Technical faults pose the biggest risk to road safety, especially under unfavorable weather conditions. It is therefore important that lorries are roadworthy and their loads are properly secured. In addition to road-side checks, during which traffic police check the driver’s documents, compliance with driving and rest times, winter equipment and load securing, it is also important that the technical condition of vehicles should be carefully verified emphasizes René Zumtobela, a member of the Tirolean parliament responsible for transport.
In 2023, traffic inspectors worked a total of over 64,300 hours, almost 2,000 hours more than in 2022. Nearly 11,500 technical faults were detected. Inspections conducted in Kundl and Radfeld resulted in 3,700 warnings issued to drivers found in violation of HGV driving bans (weekend, night and sector driving bans), and in over 2,300 cases drivers were banned from continuing their journey. The modernization of the checkpoint in Radfeld will begin this year. In addition to infrastructural improvements, the facility will be expanded to increase inspection capacity and efficiency.
In terms of the number of HGV driving bans and the frequency of traffic inspections, Tyrol is one of Europe’s leading regions. Its authorities believe this is the only way in which existing bans can be effective. The number of detected violations is constantly increasing, which sends a clear signal to other drivers that the authorities mean business and will not tolerate any infringements in this area emphasizes René Zumtobela.
by Changes in the Hungarian road toll system. Fines for a wrong axle category
From January 1, lorries with five or more axles must be classified into the J5 category, and not to J4, as was the case before.
One of the changes in the Hungarian road toll system from January 1, 2024 is the introduction of the J5 axle category, which includes five-axle vehicles combinations even if one of the rear axles is lifted while driving. Failure to enter the correct number of axles may result in fines. From January 1 the J4 category can only be applied to four-axle vehicles. Operators of vehicles with five or more axles can provide information about the number of axles via the HU-GO website or their on-board devices.
by Tunel Mont Blanc – zamknięcia i ruch jednokierunkowy
Utrudnienia związane są z pracami konserwacyjnymi.
Całkowite zamknięcia ruchu, od godz. 22:00 do 6:00 rano:
– w poniedziałek 11 marca/ wtorek, 12 marca
– we wtorek 12 marca/ środę, 13 marca
– w środę 13 marca/ czwartek, 14 marca
– w czwartek 14 marca/ piątek, 15 marca
Całkowite zamknięcie ruchu, od godz. 23.00 do 4:00 rano:
– w czwartek 21 marca/ piątek, 22 marca
Naprzemienny ruch jednokierunkowy, od godz. 22:30 do 6:00:
– w poniedziałek, 4 marca/ wtorek, 5 marca
– we wtorek, 5 marca/ środę, 6 marca
– w środę, 6 marca/ czwartek, 7 marca
– w poniedziałek, 18 marca/ wtorek, 19 marca
– we wtorek, 19 marca/ środę, 20 marca
– w środę, 20 marca/ czwartek, 21 marca.
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 Tring to understand the incomprehensible: Spanish HGV driving bans
Spanish restrictions on the movement of heavy goods vehicles for 2024 retain restrictions already in force in 2023.
Spanish HGV driving bans are among the most extensive and complex ones – the relevant regulation is over 60 pages long! In addition to general restrictions to all HGVs, restrictions for vehicles transporting hazardous materials or abnormal loads, there are additional prohibitions related to, for example, sports events (e.g. cycling competitions, motorcycle Grand Prix) or pilgrimages.
➡️ Compared to last year, the Spanish transport authority DGT has not made big changes to the traffic restrictions for 2024, retaining general restrictions on the A8 between Cantabria and the Basque Country that apply every Saturday, Sunday and on public holidays during the summer period (July and August).
➡️ The restrictions on the N-631 in Zamora aimed at ensuring traffic flow between Spain and Portugal have been extended to all Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in June, July and August.
➡️ Overtaking bans are retained on sections of some roads during the summer, in particular on AP-1, AP-4 and A-49, with the addition of a ban on April 1 and on Sundays and holidays in July and August on the A-62.
➡️ the overtaking ban for lorries on certain roads, introduced last year, is also retained, specifically:
◾ Every Saturday in June, July and August on the A-49 motorway (from Camas to Huévar from 9 a.m. to 11:00 AM and from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM. and from Huévar to Bollullos from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM)towards Huelva and on AP-4 from Dos Hermanas to Jerez from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM and from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM towards Cadiz.
◾ Every Sunday and public holidays in June, July and August on the A-49 from San Juan del Puerto to Seville, towards Seville from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, on the AP-4 from Jerez to Dos Hermanas, towards Seville from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and on the A-62 from Cubillas de Santa Marta to Tordesillas, in both directions, from 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
◾ On Sundays in July (7, 14, 21 and 28) and August 11 on the AP-1 from Rubena to Pancorbo, towards Vitoria from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, as well as on August 15 and 21, November 1 and December 6, from Ameyugo to Ruben, towards Burgos, from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
❗ Each year, separate regulations for HGV traffic are published by Catalonia and the Basque Country. After the Autonomous Community of Navarre took over the responsibility for traffic managment, the local authorities have published their first resolution that introduces HGV restrictions. For more information on restrictions in Spain, visit www.trafficban.com/country.spain.moreinfo.75.pl.html