by Belgium: HGV restrictions and driving bans on Brussels’ busiest ring road until the end of 2025
Today (August 9) a major renovation project starts on the Vilvoorde Viaduct, part of the northern section of Brussels’ busy ring road. During the first phase, which is scheduled to last 1.5 years, vehicles with a GVW of more than 3.5 tonnes will be not be allowed to use the road in the direction of Zaventem at weekends.
The viaduct is an iconic part of the Brussels ring road. The 1,700-metre-long, 30-metre-high structure has long been in need of renovation. Welding work can only be carried out if it is not disturbed by vibrations generated by heavy vehicles.
❌PHASE 1: (August 2024 – end of 2025)
Traffic towards Ghent (Buitenring)
◾ no restrictions.
Traffic towards Zaventem (the inner ring road)
◾ 3 narrowed lanes with reduced speed;
◾ From 9 August, 1 narrowed lane with reduced speed on weekend nights;
◾ From 9 August, no vehicles with a GVW of 3.5 t will be allowed at all weekends;
◾ From 9 August, the 6-Koningslo-Vilvoorde junction will be closed to all traffic at all weekends.
The HGV driving ban is in effect on the inner ring road in the direction of Zaventem every Friday from 11:00 PM to Monday at 4:00 AM.
❌The following phases:
◾ Phase 2 (Spring 2026 – Spring 2027),
◾ Phase 3 (Spring 2027 – Late 2028),
◾ Phase 4 (Spring 2029 – Late 2030),
◾ Phase 5 (Spring 2031 – Summer 2031).
by Romania: HGV restrictions – Update for June 20
CNAIR, the Romanian Road Infrastructure Management Company, has informed that based on weather warnings regarding upcoming heatwaves (33-37 degrees Celsius) vehicle weight restrictions will be introduced between 10:00 AM and 8:00 PM from June 21 to June 24.
Restrictions apply to vehicles with a GVW over 7.5 tons on the following sections of motorways, expressways and national roads:
– on June 21, in the following counties:
Giurgiu, Teleorman, Dolj, Olt, Timiș, Caraș-Severin, Arad, Hunedoara, Alba, Sibiu, Brasov and Covasna.
– on June 22 in the following counties:
Ilfov, Giurgiu, Argeș, Dâmbovița, Teleorman, Dolj, Vâlcea, Mehedinți, Gorj, Olt, Timiș, Caraș-Severin, Arad and Hunedoara.
– on June 23, in the following counties:
Ilfov, Prahova, Giurgiu, Argeș, Dâmbovița, Teleorman, Dolj, Vâlcea, Mehedinți, Gorj, Olt, Caraș – Severin, Ialomita and Călărași.
– on June 24 in the following counties:
Ilfov, Giurgiu, Argeș, Dâmbovița, Teleorman, Dolj, Vâlcea, Mehedinți, Gorj, Olt, Caraș – Severin, Ialomita and Călărași.
by Hungary: a change in weekend HGV driving bans
Saturday, August 3, will be an extra working day introduced in compensation for Monday, August 19, which has been declared a rest day because of the national holiday falling on Tuesday, 20 August. For this reason, the schedule of HGV driving bans will be different than is usually the case during the summer.
The driving ban will start at 10:00 PM on Saturday (August 3) and will last until 10:00 PM on Sunday (August 4). It applies to domestic and international transports and to all vehicles with a GVW of over 7.5 tons regardless of their environmental categories.
In summary, the ban will be in force on:
• August 3 (Saturday) from 10:00 PM to midnight
• August 4 (Sunday) from 00:00 to 10:00 PM.
by Germany: complete closure of the A43 – diversion for through traffic
The closure is connected with the construction of a tunnel near the Herne intersection.
The A43 motorway will be completely closed from 9 PM on Friday, July 26, to 5:00 AM on Monday, July 29, in both directions between Bochum-Riemke and the Recklinghausen junction – with one exception: the Recklinghausen-Hochlarmark junction towards Münster remains open.
Through traffic will be diverted via the A40, A45 and A42 or A2. During the closure, the motorway surface at the Herne junction will also be replaced. The closure will also be used to set up a new diversion route, which will be in use for a period of two weeks owing to the detection of what is believed to be a bomb between Bochum-Riemke and Herne-Eickel.
by Germany to introduce temporary checks on the border with France
In connection with the Olympic Games, checks will be introduced on the German-French border from July 20 to September 30. This may slow down HGV traffic.
In order to ensure the highest level of security, Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser has announced the introduction of temporary controls on the German-French border in the period preceding and during the Olympic Games in Paris. The intention will soon be communicated to the European Commission.
Temporary checks on the land borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland to combat smuggling and illegal migration will continue until December 15. Temporary checks on the German-Austrian border will last until November 11.
Temporary border checks are introduced according to Art. 25 of Schengen Borders Code in response to a serious threat to public order or internal securit
by Romania and Bulgaria introduce a sudden HGV driving ban owing to a heat wave
The ban, which applies to vehicles, has been intorduced to protect the asphalt road surface.
Romania
On July 15-16, from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM vehicles with a GVW over 12 tons will not be allowed to drive on sections of motorways, expressways and national roads managed by the following Regional Directorates:
❌ DRDP Bucharest (Ilfov, Giurgiu, Teleorman, Argeș, Dâmbovița, Prahova, Ialomița and Călărași);
❌DRDP Craiova (Dolj, Olt, Vâlcea, Gorj and Mehedinți);
❌DRDP Timișoara (Timiș, Caraș-Severin, Hunedoara and Arad);
❌DRDP Cluj (Bihor, Alba and Satu Mare);
❌DRDP Iași (Suceava, Botoșani, Neamț, Iași, Bacău and Vaslui);
❌DRDP Buzău (Buzău, Vrancea, Galați and Brăila);
❌DRDP Constanța (Constanța, Ialomița, Călărași and Tulcea).
The following types of transport are exempt from the ban:
◾ passenger transport;
◾ transport of live animals and perishable products of animal and plant origin;
◾ vehicles involved in rescue operations in the event of a natural disaster;
◾ funeral transports;
◾ postal transports;
◾ transport of rescue equipment;
◾ transport of fuels;
◾ transport of goods at controlled temperatures;
◾ vehicles towing damaged vehicles;
◾ transport of water and food to areas affected by natural disasters;
◾ transport of specialized vehicles intended for cleaning;
◾ transport of bottled water and non-alcoholic drinks;
◾ transport of farm products;
◾ military transports taking part in international exercises;
◾ transport of various food products (bakery products, fresh confectionery, sponge cakes and cookies, preserved confectionery, sugar and related products, cocoa, chocolate and sugar products, pasta, coffee, tea and related products, spices and herbs, special food products, various foodstuffs and dry products, juices and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including mineral water).
Bulgaria
On July 16, from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM vehicles with a GVW over 20 tons will not be allowed to drive on road sections in 9 regions: Ruse, Shumen, Varna, Lovech, Gabrovo, Veliko Tarnovo, Targovishte, Razgrad and Silistra. The ban on HGV traffic in the afternoon when temperatures are the highest is intended to minimize the risk of road surface deformation and protect the life and health of travelers.
When the ban is in effect, HGVs will have to wait in designated places, without disturbing other road users. The ban does not apply to vehicles carrying perishable food products, goods at controlled temperatures, live animals and dangerous loads.
◾ In the Ruse region, HGV traffic will be suspended on the section of the I-2 Ruse – Razgrad road from the exit from Ruse towards Razgrad at km 12 to km 37, as well as on the I-5 Ruse – Veliko Tarnovo road from the exit from Ruse at km 6 to km 65. HGV traffic will also be suspended on the section of the I-5 road from the town of Biała towards Ruse to the town of Ruse.
◾ In the Shumen and Varna regions, HGV traffic will be suspended on the section of “Hemus” motorway from km 311 near Bukhovets to km 376 near Nesha and from km 376 to km 425 in the Varna region.
◾ The ban will also be introduced on the I-4 Targowiszte – Szumen road on the Cherencza – “Belokopitowo” section from km 250 to km 258.
◾ In the Shumen and Razgrad regions, HGV traffic will be suspended on the I-2 Ruse – Shumen – Varna road, and in the Silistra and Shumen regions on the I-7 Silistra – Shumen road.
◾ In Lovech and Gabrovo, HGV traffic will be suspended on the section of the primary road I-4 between Koritna and the village of Balaban from km 10 to km 110. The ban will also be introduced on the I-5 road Veliko Tarnovo – Drjanowo – Gabrovo border – Stara Zagora border between km 115 and km 144.
◾ In the areas of Veliko Tarnovo and Targovishte regions, HGVs with a GVW over 20 tons will be not obe allowed to drive on the I-4 Sevlievo – Veliko Tarnovo – Targovishte road between the villages of Nowa Selo and Cherencha from km 101 to km 250. HGV traffic will be suspended on the section of the primary road I-5 Polski Trąmbesz – Veliko Tarnovo – Gabrovo from the area of Polski Trąmbesz to Debelec (from km 65 to km 115), as well as on the section of the road II-55 Debelc – Predela – Gurkowo, from Debelec to the village of Miszemorkow Han.
by M25 completely closed over the weekend
The motorway between junctions 10 and 11 will be closed from 9pm Friday 12 July to 6am Monday 15 July for the construction and installation of a bridge on the western gyratory of the roundabout at Junction 10.
The new bridge, consisting of 68 beams, each weighing 16 tonnes, and another four beams weighing 40 tonnes, will be installed as part of ongoing work to make journeys safer and reduce pollution. The previous closure in May saw identical work being carried out on the eastern gyratory. This is the third of five full weekend closures of the M25 to take place with a further two due later this year.
Diversion routes
– Junction 10 – Junction 11: exit the M25 at J10 and take the 3rd exit to the north bound A3 to the A245 Painshill Junction, A245 towards Woking, and Byfleet, then at the Six Crossroads Roundabout take the 5th exit to the A320 continuing to M25 Junction 11 where the diversion will end.
– Junction 11 – Junction 10: exit the M25 at J11 and take the 3rd exit to the A320 south towards Woking, then at the Six Crossroads Roundabout take the A245 towards Byfleet, continue on the A245 to the A3 Painshill junction, then take the 3rd exit to the southbound A3 to Junction 10 where the diversion will end.
by Romania: DN 7 closed to HGV traffic for a month
The National Road Infrastructure Management Company (CNAIR) in Romania has informed that the section of the national road DN 7 between km 242 and km 250 will be closed to traffic from July 8 to August 9 from 06:00 AM and 8:00 PM owing to clean-up operations on the road embankment.
Diversion routes:
For vehicles with a GVW over 7.5 t:
❌ Between Bucharest – Vește (Sibiu) and back:
◾ Bucharest → A3 → Ploiești → DN1A → Brașov → DN 1 → Veștem – intersection with DN 7
❌ Between Pitești – Brasov and back:
◾ Pitești → DN73 – A3 → Râșnov → Brașov
❌ Between Bucharest – A1 Simeria (as well as the western, central and northern parts of the country) and back:
◾ Bucharest → A1 → Pitești → DN7 → Râmnicu Vâlcea → DN67 → Târgu Jiu → DN66 → Simeria → Simeria A1 road junction
◾ Bucharest → A1 → Pitești → DN65 – DEx12 → Craiova → DN6 → Filiași → DN66 → Târgu Jiu → DN66 → Simeria → Simeria A1 road junction
◾ Bucharest → A1 → Pitești → DN65 – DEx12 → Craiova → DN6 → Dr. Tr. Severin → DN6 → Lugoj → A6 → Lugoj A1 road junction
◾ Bucharest → DN6 → Alexandria → DN6 → Craiova → DN6 → Filiași → DN66 → Târgu Jiu → DN66 → Simeria → Simeria A1 road junction
◾ Bucharest → DN6 → Alexandria → DN6 → Craiova → DN6 → Dr. Tr. Severin → DN6 → Lugoj → A6 → Lugoj A1 road junction.
Vehicles with a GVW below 7.5 t can use national and district roads located near the closed section of DN7. Steps have also been taken to enable vehicles with a GVW of up to 30 t to use the DN10 road from Buzău to Brașov. In addition, no other traffic restrictions will be introduced on the diversion routes during the closure of DN 7 and, if any bans are in effect, they will be lifted as soon as possible.
by No permit means no access to the Port of Dover
In anticipation of an expected increase in weekend traffic volumes from July 13 to mid-August, M20 will be closed between Maidstone and Ashford overnight on Wednesday (10 July) to allow the Operation Brock contraflow to be deployed.
The system will also reduce the need for the sudden closures of the A20 Roundhill Tunnels and help keep local roads flowing more freely in busy periods.
When will the new permit system be introduced?
The permit system will be in force from 10 July, when Operation Brock is introduced on the M20 motorway in readiness for a busy summer getaway period. It will be used as soon as Dover TAP is instigated, and Operation Brock is being actively used to control the flow of freight to the Port of Dover. Lorries will only be released from Brock when there is enough room in TAP.
How will the permit system work?
Freight drivers MUST follow the correct route on the M20 and collect a permit at the front of Operation Brock. If they do not, they WILL NOT be able to access the Port of Dover.
• Permits will apply to Port of Dover bound freight drivers only and will be issued at the front of the Operation Brock queue.
• Permits will be checked at the A20/B2011 Courtwood Interchange in Dover TAP. If drivers have a valid permit, they will be allowed to re-enter the TAP queue on the A20 and continue their onward journey to the port.
• If they DO NOT have a valid permit, they will be turned back to join the Brock queue
REMEMBER: no permit means no access to the Port of Dover
What happens if hauliers try to bypass this system?
Kent Police and the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency can issue on-the-spot £300 fines to lorry drivers stopped attempting to avoid the traffic management system. Teams are stationed at points along the Kent road network to enforce the legislation and redirect portal-bound freight traffic to the back of the Brock queue on the M20.
What arrangements are in place for local hauliers and deliveries?
• Local HGVs and deliveries WILL NOT be pulled off the A20, but allowed to continue their journey, with passenger and local traffic, onwards into Dover.
• Those Kent hauliers that qualify for the Local Haulier Permit will be sent this shortly, ahead of the busy summer period.
• There is no need to apply for a Local Haulier Permit as, if you fall within the catchment area, KMRF already has your detail
Operation Brock
With extremely busy travel weekends predicted from the 13 July right through to the middle of August, the contraflow traffic management scheme will be reinstated on a 13-mile section of the M20 between junctions 8 (for Maidstone) and 9 (at Ashford). To safely deploy the contraflow, the M20 will be closed – London bound from junction 9 to 8 and coastbound junction 7 to 9 – overnight from 8pm on Wednesday 10 July to 6am on Thursday 11 July. When the M20 reopens on Thursday, 11 July, the Brock contraflow will be in place and all signs should be followed. Once the barrier is in place, all HGVs heading for the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel must follow the signs to join Operation Brock at M20 junction 8.
Any EU-bound HGVs not complying with signage and trying to use another route to Eurotunnel or the Port of Dover risk a fine of £300. They will also be sent to the back of the queue by Police or enforcement agents, wasting time, fuel, and money. This includes trying to bypass the M20 by using the M2/A2 at Brenley Corner.
All other coast bound traffic – including local freight and car drivers heading for the continent – should follow the signs and cross over to enter the contraflow on the M20 London bound carriageway. Anyone planning to use Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover are advised to plan their journeys and check with the travel operator before setting out. They should also allow more time for their journeys and make sure they are prepared for delays, so should have plenty of fuel, warm clothes, and supplies such as food and drink.
by Czechia – ambiguity regarding the driving ban on July 6
July 5 and 6 are public holidays in Czechia (Cyril and Methodius Day and the Anniversary of the Death of Jan Hus). July 6 is a Saturday when a holiday driving ban is in effect. The overlap of the two banks makes it difficult to determine the exact hours when the driving ban applies.
According to current regulations, HGVs are prohibited from driving on public holidays, from 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM. This year, however, the second day of the holiday falls on a Saturday during a holiday period, when an additional driving ban is in effect from 07:00 AM to 1:00 PM. As a result of this overlap, HGVs would have to remained parked from 07:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
To clarify this situation, the Czech Ministry of Transport has explained that the holiday ban takes precedence. If a day on which driving restrictions for certain vehicles apply is a public holiday, the restriction applies in accordance with § 43 section 1 letter a) of Act No. 361/2000. This means the driving ban on July 5 and 6 applies from 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM.