by Bulgaria: Truck Traffic Bans >12 t on Motorways on September 20 and 22
In connection with the celebration of Bulgaria’s Independence Day, which falls on September 22, the authorities are introducing temporary restrictions on the movement of trucks with a gross vehicle weight of over 12 tons. The restrictions will affect the main motorways: Trakia, Struma, and Hemus.
The driving bans will apply during peak hours as follows:
▪️ September 20 (Saturday) – from 08:00 to 13:00
▪️ September 22 (Monday, public holiday) – from 14:00 to 20:00, only in the direction of Sofia
September 21 (Sunday) remains free from restrictions.
The restrictions apply to:
➡️ the Struma and Trakia motorways – along their entire length in both directions,
➡️ the Hemus motorway – in both directions, on the section between Sofia and the roundabout with road I-4 Brestnitsa – Lovech.
The bans do not apply to vehicles providing public passenger transport.
On the Hemus and Struma motorways, vehicles over 12 tons transporting dangerous goods (ADR), live animals, perishable foodstuffs, or goods requiring temperature-controlled transport are exempt from the restrictions.
In addition, vehicles transporting dangerous goods (ADR) are exempt from the restrictions on the section between the Ihtiman junction (at km 34) and the Vakarel junction (at km 23) in the direction of Sofia.
by Germany: Autumn closures of the A7 tunnel in Hamburg
Drivers will face significant disruptions on the A7 motorway in the Hamburg area. The most important tunnel in northern Germany, the Elbtunnel, will be completely closed on several dates in autumn 2025. The restrictions will apply to the section between Hamburg-Stellingen and Hamburg-Heimfeld.
According to Autobahn GmbH, the closures are due to the installation of new gantries with road signs and the modernization of the tunnel’s traffic control system, which will be equipped with new software.
Tunnel closure dates:
❌ September 26-29
❌ October 17-20
❌ November 7-10
❌ December 5-8
Each closure will last 55 hours and affect both traffic directions. Work will begin on Friday at 10:00 p.m. and finish on Monday at 5:00 a.m. During this period, a detour will be in place via the A1 and A21 motorways and the B205 road. Drivers should allow extra travel time and expect possible congestion on the alternative routes.
In addition to the Elbtunnel, the Stellingen tunnel will also be closed on the following dates:
❌ November 14-17 – 55 hours
❌ December 6-7 – 12 hours (overnight closure).
by Belgium: Three-day closure of the N533 in Braine-le-Comte. Detours for trucks
From 24 to 26 September, the N533 at the La Coulette junction will be completely closed due to planned infrastructure works.
During the closure, a ban on trucks with a gross vehicle weight of over 7.5 t will be in place on the N533 section. Drivers will be required to use designated detours:
- • from Soignies to Nivelles/Ronquières via the N532
- • from Nivelles towards the E19 motorway via the N534
- • and from Nivelles to Ittre via the N280.
by September 15 with exemption from truck bans in Slovakia
The Presidium of the Slovak Police has reviewed the request of the Road Haulage Association of the Slovak Republic, CESMAD Slovakia, and has granted a general exemption from traffic bans for trucks with a maximum permissible weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes on September 15, 2025.
The exemption applies to all trucks on motorways, expressways, first-class roads, and roads designated for international traffic, entering the territory of the Slovak Republic from certain neighboring countries, provided that their destination (e.g., the vehicle’s base or unloading point) is located within the territory of the Slovak Republic.
Granting the exemption does not affect the authority of a police officer to prohibit a driver from driving for the necessary period of time or to order a specific driving direction pursuant to § 69(1)(a) of the Act, if required by road safety or traffic flow.
by Nighttime closures of the Van Brienenoord Bridge on the A16 in Rotterdam – detours and disruptions
In mid-September, drivers will face major disruptions on the A16 motorway in Rotterdam. Due to maintenance works, the Van Brienenoord Bridge will be closed twice during nighttime hours.
Bridge closure dates and times:
▪️ Monday, September 15, from 10:00 p.m. to Tuesday, September 16, at 5:00 a.m.;
▪️ Tuesday, September 16, from 10:00 p.m. to Wednesday, September 17, at 5:00 a.m.
During these periods, the Van Brienenoord Bridge crossing will be completely unavailable for motor vehicle traffic in both directions. The closure covers both the main and parallel carriageways of the A16 from the Ridderster junction up to the bridge itself.
Detours for transit traffic
Transit traffic will be redirected via the Rotterdam ring road (Beneluxtunnel), using the A20, A4, and A15. Some on-ramps and off-ramps will already be closed from 9:00 p.m. to allow maintenance crews to work without disruption. This measure ensures that all traffic is cleared from the section before the start of the works and the bridge closure. Detours will be clearly marked with yellow information signs and digital display boards placed above and alongside the roadway.
Direction The Hague → Ridderkerk:
➡️ Exit 27 – open, entrance 27 – open,
➡️ Exit 26 – open, entrance 26 – closed from 9:00 p.m.,
➡️ Exit 25 – open, entrance 25 – closed from 9:00 p.m.,
➡️ Exit 24 – closed from 10:00 p.m., entrance 24 – closed from 1:00 a.m.
Direction Ridderkerk → The Hague:
➡️ Exit 27 – open, entrance 27 – open,
➡️ Exit 26 – open, entrance 26 – open,
➡️ Exit 25 – closed from 10:00 p.m., entrance 25 – open,
➡️ Exit 24 – closed from 10:00 p.m., entrance 24 – closed from 9:00 p.m.
by Bulgaria: August Restrictions for Trucks on the Trakia Motorway
In August, Bulgaria is introducing additional traffic restrictions for heavy goods vehicles over 12 tonnes on the Trakia Motorway (A1), on the section between Sofia and Stara Zagora.
The ban has been implemented due to increased tourist traffic to the Black Sea. Its purpose is to separate passenger car traffic from trucks, thereby improving safety and traffic flow.
Dates and times of the ban:
⭕ Fridays: 15, 22, and 29 August, from 16:00 to 21:00 – in the direction of Burgas, from Sofia to the Orizovo junction (km 0–165).
⭕ Sundays: 17, 24, and 31 August, from 14:00 to 19:00 – in the direction of Sofia, from Stara Zagora to Sofia (km 208–0).
by Mont Blanc Tunnel Closed for Over 3 Months
From Monday, 1 September at 17:00 until Friday, 12 December at 17:00, the Mont Blanc Tunnel will be completely closed to traffic. The closure is due to work associated with the second phase of the test renovation of the tunnel vault.
The works will cover two sections with a total length of 254 metres and constitute a continuation of the first test phase carried out in autumn 2024. Due to the nature of the work, the tunnel geometry, and the necessity to dismantle all technological infrastructure in the work zones, even temporary passage will not be possible. Autumn was chosen as the period least disruptive for tourism and the local economy.
The Mont Blanc Tunnel, now 60 years old, is the first major European tunnel to undergo such an advanced renovation, involving both the vault and the sub-roadway structure. The test works in 2024 and 2025 aim to determine the best methods for the tunnel’s further renovation.
It is estimated that around 90% of trucks will be diverted towards the Fréjus Tunnel, while light vehicles will be split, depending on their travel direction, between Grand-Saint-Bernard, Fréjus, and alpine passes.
The validity of all subscriptions (for 10 or 20 trips) that are active on the day the full closure begins (1 September 2025) will be automatically extended by 4 months. The extension will occur automatically, so no application will be required.
by Slovakia: Partial Closure of the D1 Motorway Before Bratislava
Drivers planning to travel on the D1 motorway towards Bratislava should expect traffic disruptions this coming weekend.
According to the Slovak road operator NDS, due to works at the Bernolákovo interchange, the section of the D1 between Senec and Zlaté Piesky in the direction of Bratislava will be closed from Thursday, 28 August at 8:00 p.m. until the night of Saturday, 30 August.
Traffic will be diverted via road I/61. Once the works are completed, the exit from the D1 coming from Senec as well as the entry onto the D1 towards Bratislava are scheduled to be reopened.
by Belgium: Night Closures of the Liefkenshoek Tunnel
Truck drivers planning to pass through the Liefkenshoek Tunnel (R2, Antwerp) should expect night-time disruptions.
The operator has announced maintenance works that will require the complete closure of traffic in the tunnel on two dates:
❌ Thursday, 4 September 2025 – closure towards Ghent/Beveren
❌ Friday, 5 September 2025 – closure towards the Netherlands/Stabroek
In both cases, entry to the tunnel will not be possible from 9:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. the following day. Alternative routes have been prepared for the duration of the works. Drivers are requested to follow the signage and instructions on site.
by Norway relaxes regulations for truck drivers after landslide on E6 route
Following a landslide in Levanger, Norway, which blocked a key section of the E6 transport route, authorities have introduced extraordinary measures for hauliers. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration has issued a temporary exemption from driving and rest time regulations to reduce the impact of long delays caused by detours.
rucks up to 50 tons may use local road 755, while modular combinations must take an alternative route through Sweden via the E14, significantly extending transport time. Therefore, from August 30 to September 6, 2025 (or until the E6 reopens), the following modified limits apply:
❌ daily driving time extended to 10 hours (instead of 9),
❌ weekly to 60 hours (instead of 56),
❌ and within two weeks to 100 hours (instead of 90).
Drivers may also take up to five reduced daily rests between two weekly breaks (previously only three were allowed).
Additionally, to ensure the smooth flow of goods, the Swedish Customs Authority has introduced simplified procedures for goods destined for the Norwegian market. Until September 3, it is possible to use the designated route via E14 Storlien and road 322/FV72 to Verdal, without loading, unloading, or stopping on Swedish territory. Authorities stress that these measures are temporary and aim to maintain supply chain continuity in the face of unexpected disruptions.
Source: Norwegian Public Roads Administration