by Flooding and impassable roads in northern Italy
Because of heavy rains that have hit the central part of northern Italy, many roads are impassable and closed.
The list of affected areas includes the provinces of Bologna, Ferrara, Forlì-Cesena, Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Ravenna, Reggio Emilia and Rimini, where 20 rivers have overflowed. Restrictions for vehicles with a GVW of over 7.5 have been introduced on several road sections, e.g. on the A14 motorway in near San Marino and Rimini. Drivers need to watch out for fallen trees and muddy roads. Lorry drivers are also advised not to drive along flooded road sections, because sanding water seeps into the asphalt and into the foundation, causing the surface to easily crack under the weight of HGVs.
A free interactive map showing the current situation on the roads can be very helpful for haulage companies operating in Italy.
by Catalonia: HGV restrictions on AP-7 from May 12 to October 15
Fllowing the abolition of toll charges on some motorway sections, traffic volume has significantly increased, causing difficulties for drivers leaving or returning during weekends.
For this reason, the Catalonian Transit Authority has decided to implement additional lanes in the opposite direction. To ensure traffic safety, additional restrictions have been introduced for HGVs with a GVW over 7.5 tonnes.
Restrictions on the AP-7 motorway
✅ Outgoing traffic:
A. The following restrictions apply on Fridays:
• between KP 126, exit 12B in La Roca del Vallès, Granollers and the juncture with C-60, in the commune of La Roca del Vallés, and KP 172, exit 25 in Martorell and the juncture with A-2, in the commune of Martorell, HGVs have to use the right lane and must not overtake other vehicles in either directions from 3:00 PM and 9:00 PM;
• between KP 172, exit 25 in Martorell and the junction with the A-2, in the municipality of Martorell, and KP 176.6, exit 26 in Gelida and Sant Llorenç d’Hortons, in the municipality of Gelida, HGVs have to use the right lane and must not overtake other vehicles when travelling in the southern direction from 3:00 PM and 9:00 PM. Commericial vehicles with a GVW of up to 3.5 tons must not drive faster than 100 km/h.
B. The following restrictions apply on Saturdays:
• between KP 172, exit 25 in Martorell and the junction with the A-2, in the commune of Martorell, and KP 176.6, exit 26 in Gelida and Sant Llorenç d’Hortons, in the commune of Gelida, HGVs have to use the right lane and and must not overtake other vehicles travelling in the southern direction from 09:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Commericial vehicles with a GVW of up to 3.5 tons must not drive faster than 100 km/h.
✅Return traffic:
A. The following restrictions apply on Sundays:
The implementation of contraflow lanes is associted with additional restrictions for heavy goods vehicles with a GVW above 7.5 t, i.e. the obligation to use the right lane, the prohibition to overtake and a speed limit of 80 km/h, in both directions, from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Contraflow lanes are typically implemented on the following motorway sections:
• C-32 north (from PK 114 to PK 84+500)
• C-32 south (from PK 60 to PK 47)
• AP-7 north (from KP 111 to KP 133.5)
• AP-7 south (from KP 213 of the AP-7 to KP 8 of the B-23)
Please note that if a contraflow lane is not implemented on the southern section of the AP-7, between KP 176.6, exit 26 in Gelida and Sant Llorenç d’Hortons, in the municipality of Gelida, and KP 172, exit 25 to Martorell and the junction with the A-2 in the commune of Martorell, HGVs have to use the right lane and must not overtake other vehicles travelling in the northern direction from 03:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Commericial vehicles with a GVW of up to 3.5 tons must not drive faster than 100 km/h
The above restrictions also apply to vehicles exempt from the restrictions established in Resolution INT/183/2023.
On the days and times mentioned in this notice, HGV drivers can stop to rest at the closed toll collection areas along the AP-7 motorway in Martorell and La Roca.
by More border controls
Austria
Temporary controls along the border with Slovenia and Hungary will last from midnight on May 12 to midnight on November 11. Throughout this period people travelling to and from these two countries by land can only use border crossings.
Slovakia
Controls on the borders with Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland will be introduced from May 24 to June 8. How long the border controls are in effect will depend on the current security situation and be kept to a necessary minimum.
Germany
Brandenburg and Saxony have asked the federal minister of the interior to temporarily bring back controls on the borders with Poland and the Czech Republic in an effort to limit the illegal entry of refugees into the country.
Dorohusk, Koroszczyn
Since May 4, Polish road hauliers have been blocking the border with Ukraine in Dorohusk and Koroszczyn. At the moment, only vehicles carrying danegerous goods (ADR), perishable goods and buses are allowed to cross the border. Other lorries will not be allowed to pass until the hauliers‘ demands are met. They have said that it is very likely that protests will be extended to other border crossings.
by UK – Closure of the M40 and A34 roads
National Highways has released a full list of where drivers can expect closures along the M40 and A34 on Thursday, May 11
M40
Jct 9 Southbound Carriageway closure (9.30pm-6am)
A34
– A34 southbound Peartree to Botley carriageway closure (9pm-6am)
– A34 northbound East Ilsley entry slip road closure (9pm-6am)
– A34 northbound East Ilsley exit slip road closure (9pm-6am)
– A34 northbound Beedon entry slip road closure (9pm-6am)
by The Hungarian-Slovak border crossing closed to HGV traffic
On April 17, due to renovation works on the main road No. 13 in Slovakia, the Vámosszabadi-Medvedov border crossing will be closed to lorries with a MAM over 3,5 tons.
Passenger cars and buses will be allowed to cross the border, but HGV traffic will be diverted to Komárom along the main road No. 14 in Hungary.
❗ Trucks in on the Hungarian side of the border will be able to use the following diversion route: road No. 14 -> road No. 813 -> M19 motorway -> M1 motorway – road No. 13. The diversion route will be marked with yellow signs. Lorries can use the section of road No. 14 from the junction with road No. 813 to the border at Vámosszabadi only when their destination point is located in this area.
by Catalonia: additional restrictions on the AP-7
Additional restrictions for vehicles or combinations of vehicles with a maximum authorised mass of more than 7.5 ton apply on 28, 29 April and on 1 May
On Friday, 28 April from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM:
⭕ between KP 126, exit 12B in La Roca del Vallès, Granollers and the connection with the C-60 road, in the municipality of La Roca del Vallés, and KP 172, exit 25 in Martorell and the connection with the A-2 motorway, in the municipality of Martorell, lorries are required to use the right lane and must not overtake other vehicles and drive faster than 80 km/h.
⭕ between KP 172, exit 25 in Martorell and the junction with the A-2, in the municipality of Martorell, and KP 176.6, exit 26 in Gelida and Sant Llorenç d’Hortons, southbound lorries are required to use the right lane and must not overtake other vehicles.
On Saturday, April 29, from 09:00 AM to 2:00 PM:
⭕ between KP 172, exit 25 in Martorell and the junction with the A-2, in the municipality of Martorell, and KP 176.6, exit 26 in Gelida and Sant Llorenç d’Hortons, southbound lorries are required to use the right lane and must not overtake other vehicles.
On Monday, 1 May, from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM:
⭕ With the creation of a lane in the opposite direction between KP 111.1, exit 11 at Sant Celoni and Montseny, in the municipality of Sant Celoni, and KP 133.8, exit 13 at Granollers, Montornés del Vallés and Vilanova del Vallés, lorries (over 7,5 tons) are required to use the right lane and must not overtake other vehicles and drive faster than 80 km/h.
⭕ For the same reason, due to the planned creation of lanes in the opposite direction between KP 213 of the AP-7 motorway, where AP-7 joins AP-2, in the municipality of Banyeres del Penedès and KP 8 of the B-23 road, exit 8 at Sant Feliu de Llobregat and Molins de Rei Sur, lorries (over 7,5 tons) are required to use the right lane and must not overtake other vehicles and drive faster than 80 km/h.
⭕ With the creation of a lane in the opposite direction on the C-32 motorway, between KP 114, exit 113 in Canet de Mar, and KP84.5, the junction with B-20 in Montgat, lorries (over 7,5 tons) are required to use the right lane and must not overtake other vehicles and drive faster than 80 km/h.
by Slovakia: an exemption from the HGV driving ban
The Presidium of the Police of the Slovak Republic has granted a general exemption from the HGV driving ban on 1 and 8 May.
The exemption applies to all heavy goods vehicles traveling on motorways, first class roads and roads with international traffic, arriving in Slovakia from some neighboring countries and heading for destinations (e.g. company headquarters or place of unloading) located within Slovakia.
by Get in touch with your ferry operator – potetial disurption at Border controls in Calais, Dunkirk and Coquelles
The Public and Commercial Service (PCS) union has announced Civil Service industrial action that will impact Border Force operations.
The strike, scheduled to take place on April 28 and 29 until 7am, will impact those travelling to the UK from UK Border controls in Calais, Dunkirk and Coquelles in Northern France.
Hauliers who are moving goods during the proposed strike action should be prepared for potential disruption and longer queues at Ports and Inland Border Facilities.
Please check with your operator before travelling, be prepared for delays and carefully plan your movements if they coincide with days of strike action.
by Hungary: a change in the the HGV driving ban during the first May weekend
At the request of the Hungarian Road Transport Association (MKFE), the Ministry of Transport has agreed to grant two night-time exemptions from the HGV driving ban.
With these so-called „nighttime windows“, the driving ban for vehicles with a GVW over 7.5 tons applies as follows:
✅ April 30 (Sunday) from 06:00 to 22:00
✅ May 1st (Monday) from 06:00 to 22:00
by A strike in Greek ports on May 1
The Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) has announced a 24-hour strike on May 1 to mark Labout Day.
As a result, all ships in Greek ports will remain docked.