by Weekend Traffic Disruptions on the Route to the Netherlands – No Passage Through Beveren and Tijsmans Tunnels
This coming weekend, drivers should prepare for major traffic disruptions on the route to the Netherlands. From Friday evening to Monday morning, the Beveren and Tijsmans tunnels in Belgium will be completely closed due to roadworks. This may significantly impact traffic in the area, particularly near the Liefkenshoek Tunnel.
From Friday, February 14, 2025, at 8:00 PM to Monday, February 17, 2025, at 5:00 AM, the Belgian Agency for Roads and Traffic will carry out urgent maintenance work in the Beveren and Tijsmans tunnels in the direction of the Netherlands. As a result, both tunnels will be fully closed, which could severely disrupt transit traffic in the region.
Impact on Traffic and Alternative Routes
The closures will affect access to the Liefkenshoek Tunnel, which will be the only alternative route towards the Netherlands. Drivers should expect heavy traffic and potential congestion on detour routes.
Recommended Detours
For trucks and passenger vehicles traveling towards the Netherlands, the following detours are suggested:
⏺️ Via the Liefkenshoek Tunnel – Heavy traffic expected; it is advisable to plan ahead or consider other alternatives.
⏺️ Via the E17 motorway towards Ghent.
⏺️ Via the Antwerp Ring Road (R1) – Expect possible delays.
by Slovenia: complete closure of the A1 motorway and and narrowed lanes on the A1, A2, A4 and A5
In the coming days, drivers in Slovenia can expect disruptions on the A1, A2, A4 and A5 motorways, which include complete closures, alternating traffic and lane narrowing.
Complete closure of the A1
The the A1 motorway between Brezovica and Vrhnika will be completely closed in both directions during three nights (10:00 PM to 4:00 AM) from Tuesday, 11 February to Friday, 14 February. A diversion route has been designated along a regional road. Additionally, work will be carried out on the emergency lane along the Kozina – Črni Kal section until early March.
Roadworks on the A1
Modernisation of the emergency lanes along the Arja Vas – Domžale section will continue until 16 February. As a result, single-lane traffic will be introduced on the following dates:
• 12 February (Wednesday) between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM on the Blagovica – Krtina section towards Maribor,
• 13 February (Thursday) between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM towards Ljubljana,
• 16 February (Sunday) between 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM on the Trojane – Blagovica section towards Ljubljana.
Additionally, until 14 February, single-lane traffic will be in place between the Dragučova junction and the Maribor East exit towards Ljubljana.
Single-lane traffic on the A2
• On Wednesday, February 12, there will be single-lane traffic on the Trebnje West and Trebnje East sections. Between the Bič and Trebnje West exits towards Obrežje, traffic will be conducted along two narrowed lanes – the works are scheduled to be completed in early April.
• Delays can also be expected in the Karawanki tunnel – on the night of February 11 to 12 (Tuesday/Wednesday), as a result of alternating traffic between 8:00 PM and 6:00 AM.
Roadworks on the A4 and A5
• There will be singler-lane traffic on various sections of the A5 until February 14, including: between the Sveta Trojica – Lenart – Pernica exits, and on 11-13 February on the Cerkvenjak – Sveti Jurij, Vučja Vas – Murska Sobota and Lipovci – Turnišče – Lendava – Pince.
• On the A4, work will be carried out daily on the Slivnica – Draženci, Draženci – Most Puh and Draženci – Gruškovje section until 14 February.
Closures of regional road
Traffic disruptions will also affect local roads.
The Vavta Vas – Dolenjske Toplice – Podturn regional road in Dolenjske Toplice will be closed until 1 April due to the reconstruction of the bridge. A diversion has been created via Dolenjske Toplice – Straža – Soteska – Podturn.
by An Austrian industry association wants an end to the night-time HGV driving ban
The new Austrian government has announced a programme of measures that takes into account a number of demands voiced by the freight transport industry. According to industry representatives, this is a long-awaited for of real support for transport companies.
A new government is always an opportunity for changes in the freight transport industry. That is why we welcome the first important measures included in the government programme said Markus Fischer, head of the freight transport industry association at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce.
The program takes into account continuing demands, especially regarding technological neutrality. This is the only way to create the necessary enabling conditions in the interests of all parties involved. Measures are needed to reduce traffic on secondary roads generated by hevicles trying to avoid traffic jams on the main routes and thus reduce CO2 emissions; it is also necessary to support the continuous development of alternative fuels such as HVO100 and the charging infrastructure.
The transport industry welcomes the end of the standard CO2-based tax (NoVA) for trucks (N1) and small trucks, as well as the increase in the dead weight limit for electric vans.
After years of lobbying, it is encouraging to see that the new federal government wants to rectify the mistakes of its predecessors explains Katarina Pokorny, spokesperson for the sector of small transport companies at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce.
Despite these positive signals, the new government still has a lot to do. Fischer sees an urgent need to clarify the issue of ASFINAG’s financing.
Ensuring sustainable financing and thus infrastructure is in the interest of all parties involved, but this must not be done at the expense of freight transport by further toll increases warns Fischer.
Fischer is also critical of the slot system and new ways of limiting the HGV traffic. These measures lead to further reductions in throughput and often cause traffic disruptions and traffic jams that stretch for miles. Driving bans will not solve the problem. That’s why Fischer is calling for the abolition of the night-time driving ban, which would relieve rush-hour traffic and improve the flow of transport. Similar problems can also result from excessive inspections of heavy goods vehicles. It is important that the enforcement agencies act with moderation and strive for dialogue with the industry. Instead, inspections should focus on protecting the domestic market from illegal foreign competition.
by Watch out for misleading satnav directions: the lorry checkpoint on the A13 in Austria is closed
Since 1 January 2025, one lane is open to traffic in each direction on the Lueg Bridge. As a result, the lorry checkpoint at Brenner-Nord in the northern direction has been closed.
The only exception has been made for vehicles using the Rollende Landstraße (RoLa), an intermodal transport system in which lorries are transported by rail. All other lorries are required to continue using the A13 motorway.
❗IMPORTANT: Satnav systems may incorrectly indicate that lorries should pass through the checkpoint. Remember! All trucks must change to the inside lane before passing the Luegbrücke bridge. For this reason ASFINAG recommends that all HGV drivers should make this lane change immediately after passing the Brenner border tunnel in a northerly direction.
by Traffic disruptions in the Fréjus Tunnel – schedule of closures and alternating traffic
Drivers travelling through the Fréjus Tunnel must prepare for temporary traffic disruptions. Owing to maintenance work, which started on February 3 and will continue until March 3, the organisation of traffic has been changed.
The greatest disruption will occur on 26 February (Wednesday) when the tunnel will be completely closed from 00:00 to 05:00. During this time, drivers will have to use alternative routes.
Alternating traffic at night
From Monday to Friday alternating traffic along the entire length of the tunnel may cause additional delays. Since no work will be carried out on Saturday and Sunday evenings, traffic disruptions are not expected during these times.
Detailed schedule of closures and traffic management in the Fréjus Tunnel for February 2025
by Austria: temporary entry bans in the Salzburg-Umgebung district
On 23 January, the Salzburg district administration issued a driving ban, which prohibits drivers from entering certain urban areas during semester breaks, and school holidays connected with Easter, Ascension, Pentecost and Corpus Christi.
The holiday travel regulations are based on Section 44a Paragraph 1 of the Road Traffic Regulations 1960 (StVO) and introduce measures to prevent vehicles from avoiding traffic jams, in particular by prohibiting entry to vehicles that do not meet certain requirements. In each case the ban is accompanied by additional signs informing about the following exceptions for:
– cyclists
– vehicles departing from or heading for destinations located in the federal state of Salzburg.
The ban applies on the following dates:
◾ Semester break: from 10:00 AM on Friday, 31 January➡ to 8:00 PM on Sunday, February 2;
◾ Semester break: from 10:00 AM on Friday, February 7➡ to 8:00 PM on Sunday, February 9;
◾ Semester break: from 10:00 AM on Friday, February 14➡ to 8:00 PM on Sunday, February 16;
◾ Easter break: from 10:00 AM on Friday, April 11➡ to 8:00 PM on Monday, April 21;
◾ Ascension holiday break: from 10:00 AM on Wednesday, May 28➡ to 8:00 PM on Sunday, June 1;
◾ Pentecost holiday break: from 10:00 AM on Friday, June 6➡ to 8:00 PM on Monday, June 9;
◾ Corpus Christi holiday break: from 10:00 AM on Wednesday, June 18➡ to 8:00 PM on Sunday, June 22.
Municipalities affected by the ban
⭕ Municipality of Anif
a) on the B159 – Salzachtal Straße towards Hallein at km 0.0+4m,
b) on Ahornstraße at the intersection with B160 – Berchtesgadener Straße towards Niederalm;
c) on Neu-Anifer Straße at the intersection with B160 – Berchtesgadener Straße towards Niederalm;
d) on Kirchenstraße at the intersection with B159 – Salzachtal Straße towards Grödig;
e) on Schloss-Lasseregg-Straße at the intersection with B159 – Salzachtal Straße towards Grödig.
⭕ Municipality of Elsbethen
◾ on the L105 – Halleiner Landesstraße towards Hallein at km 4.0-56m.
⭕ Municipality of Grödig
a) on Neue-Heimat-Straße, at the intersection with the B160 road – Berchtesgadener Straße towards the district of Grödig;
b) on Moosstraße after the intersection with the Jagerbauernweg towards Fürstenbrunn/Grödig;
c) at the beginning of the access road to the Leube company (Gutrathbergweg) at km 1.8+20m of the B 160 road – Berchtesgadener Straße towards Hallein;
d) on the L104 road – Grödiger Landesstraße at km 8.0+28m towards Niederalm;
e) on the L104 road – Grödiger Landesstraße road at the junction with the B 160 road – Berchtesgadener Land in the direction of Grödig;
f) on the L237 road – Glanegger Landesstraße road at the junction with Moosstraße in the direction of Fürstenbrunn;
g) on the B 160 road (Berchtesgadener Straße) directly at the border crossing Hangendenstein in the direction of Salzburg.
⭕ Municipality of Großgmain
a) on the L237 road (Glanegger Landesstraße) at the junction with the L114 road – Großgmainer Landesstraße road in the direction of Fürstenbrunn;
b) on the L 114 road (Großgmainer Landesstraße) in Großgmain directly at the border crossing in the direction of Salzburg.
⭕ Municipality of Wals-Siezenheim
a) on Viehhauser Straße at the motorway junction towards Viehhausen
b) on Lagerhausstraße and Edelweißstraße (signposted in each case at the junction with the B1 – Wiener Straße towards Wals city centre)
c) on Schulstraße at the junction with Kasernenstraße towards Walserfeld
d) at the junction with the B1 road – Wiener Straße towards Viehhausen
e) on Josef-Hauthaler-Straße at the junction with Laschenskystraße towards Moosstraße
f) on the B 1 road (Wiener Straße) km. 312.074 towards Salzburg.
by Italy – additional HGV driving ban on the A22 Brenner motorway
According to information announced by the government commissioner for the province of Bolzano, the Austrian authorities have introduced an HGV driving ban for vehicles with a GVW over 7.5 tonnes, which applies on the northbound carriageway of the Brenner motorway from Sterzing to the state border at Brenner on all Saturdays from January 11 to March 15, between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Vehicles affected by the ban which are already traveling on the Brenner motorway in the province of Bolzano when the ban comes into effect, can stop at the SA.DO.BRE parking lot in Sterzing / Vipiteno or at other places along the motorway in the neighboring communes or in parking lots designated by the traffic police.
The following transports are exempt from the ban:
◾ Transports of slaughter cattle or livestock, mail items and periodicals, supplies of drinks to tourist areas, urgent deliveries to petrol stations, catering establishments and events or repairs of cooling systems, towing services, roadside assistance, assistance in emergencies, medical care, the use of vehicles by road maintenance companies or to maintain road traffic, in road or rail construction, the use of vehicles by public security services, fire brigades, the use of vehicles for garbage collection, waste disposal, to maintain the operation of water treatment plants or the use of vehicles by companies providing regular passenger transport services, as well as journeys of vehicles used by travelling carnivals, incl. teams of lighting and sound engineers travelling to and from the venue, urgent journeys involving trucks, articulated vehicles or trucks with trailers used by the Austrian armed forces, journeys of self-propelled agricultural machines, humanitarian aid transports performed by recognized organizations;
◾ Journeys involving combined rail-road freight transport from the consignor to the nearest technically suitable loading station or from the closest technically suitable unloading station to the consignee and back to the next loading station, provided that a fully completed document can be presented showing that the vehicle or its superstructures (swap bodies, containers) are to be transported by rail or have already been transported; this applies mutatis mutandis to combined water-road freight transport.
◾ Journeys performed exclusively to transport goods to or from airports or military airfields that are used for civil aviation purposes.
by Austria: new HGV driving bans on the A12, A13 and A14 motorways
The Austrian Federal Minister for Climate, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology has issued a regulation introducing additional HGV driving bans on the A12, A13 and A14 motorways in 2025.
The restriction is related to the general renovation of the Lueg Bridge and will apply on days with high traffic intensity days. It was published in the Federal Law Gazette (RIS – BGBLA_2024_II_409).
The driving ban applies:
❌ to lorries and articulated vehicles with a gross combination mass exceeding 7.5 tonnes.
❌ on A12 Inntal, A13 Brenner and A14 Rheintal/Walgau motorways:
◾ Every Saturday from 11 January to 15 March 2025, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
◾ on Saturday 12 April, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
◾ Every Saturday from 7 Juneto 27 September, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
◾ on Thursday 17 April, Friday 18 April, Wednesday 28 May, Wednesday 18 June and Thursday 2 October, from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
◾ The ban applies if route to the destination leads via the A 13 motorway section from the Nößlach junction to the Brenner Nord junction towards the national border.
❌on the A13 Brenner motorway (from the Italian/Austrian border to the Nößlach junction):
◾ Every Saturday from 11 January to 15 March 2025, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
◾ Every Saturday from 5 July 2025 to 30 August 2025, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
◾ The ban applies if the route to your destination leads via the motorway section from the Brenner Nord junction to the Nößlach junction in the direction of Innsbruck.
❗ATTENTION – ASFINAG, in cooperation with local authorities, has prepared a detailed traffic calendar on the Lueg Bridge, which came into force on January 1, 2025.
by Tirol: traffic restrictions on the Lueg Bridge in 2025
In cooperation with the local authorities, the ministry and partners, ASFINAG has prepared a detailed schedule of traffic measures on the Lueg Bridge, which comes into effect on 1 January 2025.
The schedule is supposed to to enable drivers to plan their journeys on the A13 motorway once single-lane traffic on the bridge is in place. The measure is necessary to reduce the load exerted on the bridge and ensure traffic safety. Innovative traffic management solutions will be used to minimise disruptions, but drivers should expect periodic changes and adapt their travel plans to the new conditions.
Two-lane traffic on selected days
To minimise disruptions, ASFINAG plans to allow two-lane traffic in each difrection on 180 days when traffic intensity is predicted to be much higher. On these days:
❌ Vehicles with a GVW of over 3.5 tons will be obliged to use the inner lane (closest to the middle of the bridge).
❌ Cars will be able to use both lanes.
Depending on the situation, two-lane traffic will be enabled on the southbound or the northbound carriageway, or in both directions at the same time.
HGV driving bans
Despite two-lane traffic, considerable traffic jams may occur on some days. This is why there will be 14 days with an HGV driving ban for vehicles with a GVW of over 7.5 tons on the southbound carriageway. In total, in 2025, there will be:
❌ 36 days with an HGV driving ban on the southbound carriageway,
❌ 21 days with an HGV driving ban on the northbound carriageway.
Intensive preparations for the introduction of the new traffic organization have been underway for several months. Work will continue in 2025 according to the following schedule:
❌ January 1, 2025 – the introduction of single-lane traffic on the bridge.
❌ end of January 2025 – weather permitting, first days with two-lane traffic.
❌ Spring 2025 – completion of the installation of the automated traffic control and management system.
In the event of snowfall, two-lane traffic cannot be introduced because snow removal trucks will not be able to use the outer lanes of the bridge.
by Slovakia: derogation from the HGV driving ban
At the request of ČESMAD Slovakia, the Slovakian Presidium of the Police Force has granted a general exemption from the driving ban on 24 December 2024 and 6 January 2025.
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.