by Belgium – night closures on two important routes
Difficulties are expected on the E34 and E19.
➡ The E34 road (European route through Belgium, the Netherlands and north-western Germany) will be closed in Retie in the direction of Antwerp from 00:00 on Tuesday, October 31, until 7:00 AM on Wednesday, November 1. Traffic towards Antwerp will be diverted along the emergency L road.
➡ the E19 road (the European route connecting the Netherlands, Belgium and France) in the direction of the Netherlands will be closed near Schoten from 00:00 on Friday, November 10, to 7:00 AM on Saturday, November 11 . Traffic towards the Netherlands will be diverted along the emergency C road.
by Austria prolongs border controls with the Czech Republic
On October 27, the Austrian Minister of the Interior issued an amending regulation which prolongs temporary controls at the internal borders with the Czech Republic until November 16.
by France: an HGV driving ban in Brittany on Thursday
Transport Minister Clément Beaune has announced that HGV traffic will be prohibited in Brittany owing to strong gusts of wind expected during Storm Ciarán.
The holiday driving ban on Wednesday will be retained, especially in prefectures along the coast. The minister has asked drivers to respect the “complete driving ban” in the departments of Finistère, Côtes-d’Armor (Brittany) and Manche (Normandy), where a red alert has been announced.
by Finland closes its land border with Russia
All crossing points on the land border between Finland and Russia will be closed until December 13.
Earlier this month, Finland has closed the crossing points at Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra and Niirala, only leaving its northernmost border crossing at Raja-Joosepin for TIR transports.
The measure has been introduced to combat illegal migration through Russia. The new regulation will come into force on the night of November 29/30.
by Supposedly open borders, but increasingly more border controls
Some European countries have recently reintroduced border controls to combat the growing number of illegal immigrants. This has made life difficult for HGV drivers, who now have to spend more time waiting in queues at the borders. The situation is aggravated by blockades of the border with Ukraine, organized by Polish hauliers.
The following countries have decided to reintroduce border controls:
❌Austria
The land border between Slovenia and Hungary can only be crossed until May 11, 2024. In addition, controls will be carried out at the borders with the Czech Republic until December 6 and with Slovakia until December 2.
❌Germany
In order to increase combat human smuggling and curb illegal migration, temporary border controls have been introduced at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. The controls are scheduled to last until December 5 but can be prolonged if necessary.
❌Poland
Controls have been introduced at the border with Slovakia to prevent illegal migration from the Balkan route. They are scheduled to continue until December 3. Travelers must remember to carry travel documents (identity card or passport). The Polish-Slovak border can be crossed at 17 road crossings:
• Radoszyce
• Evergreen
• Muszynka
• Piwniczna-Zdrój – Mnišek nad Popradom
• Jurgow
• Chyżne
• Korbielow
• Zwardoń – Skalité Platforma
• Leluchów – only for EU and EFTA citizens, as well as their spouses and children
• Konieczna – only for EU and EFTA citizens, as well as their spouses and children
• Niedzica – same as above
• Łysa Polana – same as above
• Chochołów – same as above
• Winiarczykówka – same as above
• Ujsoły – same as above
• Bór – same as above
• Jaworzynka – Čierne – Skalité – same as above
Closed border crossings
❌Finland
To combat illegal immigration from Russia, the Finnish government has decided to temporarily close all crossing points along the land border with Russia until December 13.
Blockades of border crossings with Ukraine
❌Poland
The protest organized by Polish hauliers at the Polish-Ukrainian border in Hrebenne, Korczowa, Dorohusk and Medyka has had a significant impact on the situation of HGV drivers. Only cars, buses, transports of live animals, as well as humanitarian and military relief supplies are allowed through.
❌Slovakia
A protest organized by the Association of Slovak Transport Companies, may cause traffic jams at the Slovak-Ukrainian border in Vyšné Nemecké-Uzhgorod. Slovakia has not officially informed about the blockade of the border crossing or whether its hauliers have joined the protest of Polish transport companies. However, HGV drivers should be prepared for such a possibility.
by Closures of the Heinenoord tunnel in the Netherlands
In December the Heinenoord tunnel on the A29 will be closed for 2 weekends and 2 nights. The renovation work will be continued next year.
Closures of the tunnel in the direction of Bergen op Zoom
• from 10:00 PM on Friday, December 1, until 05:00 AM on Monday, December 4;
• from 00:00 to to 05:00 AM on Thursday, December 7;
Diversion routes for traffic towards Bergen op Zoom (north to south)
• transit traffic will be diverted via A15, A16 and A17.
Closures of the tunnel in the direction of Rotterdam
• from 10:00 PM on Thursday, December 7, to 05:00 AM on Friday, December 8;
• from 10:00 PM on Friday, December 15, until 05:00 AM on Monday, December 18;
Diversion routes for traffic towards Rotterdam (from south to north)
• transit traffic will be diverted via A17, A16 and A15
During the closure of the Heinenoord tunnel, the Kil tunnel in the same direction can be used free of charge.
Diversion routes during the December closures of the Heinenoord tunnel ⬇
by Poland and Austria prolong border controls, and Finland closes other crossing points into Russia
Poland’s Minister of Interior and Administration has prolonged border checks along the state border with Slovakia from November 23 until December 3. The Finnish government has temporarily closed all crossing points along the border with Russia, except the northernmost one at Raja-Joosepin.
Poland-Slovakia
Border checks will only be continued in the case of travellers entering Poland, who will be able to cross the border at designated places. In response to requests made by residents of the region along the border, traffic restrictions have been implemented at some border crossings. The measure has been introduced to prevent illegal migration from the Balkan route. Travelers are advised to carry travel documents – an ID card or passport.
The Polish-Slovak border can be crossed at the following points:
17 road border crossings:
• Radoszyce
• Periwinkle
• Muszynka
• Piwniczna-Zdrój – Mnišek nad Popradom
• Jurgów
• Chyżne
• Korbielów
• Zwardoń – Skalité Platforma
• Leluchów – only for citizens of the EU, the EFTA, and their spouses and children
• Konieczna – cannot be used by buses and minibuses, only for citizens of the EU, the EFTA, and their spouses and children
• Niedzica – same as above
• Łysa Polana – same as above
• Chochołów – same as above
• Winiarczykówka – same as above
• Ujsoły – same as above
• Bór – same as above
• Jaworzynka – Čierne –Skalité – same as above.
3 railway border crossings:
• Slate – Palota
• Muszyna – Plaveč
• Zwardoń–Skalité
2 pedestrian border crossings:
• Ożenna – only for citizens of the EU, the EFTA, and their spouses and children.
• Zwardoń – Mýto.
Austria-Slovakia
By virtue of an amendment to the regulation on the temporary reintroduction of border controls at internal borders with the Slovak Republic, published in the Federal Journal of Laws, Austria has prolonged controls along the border with Slovakia until December 2.
Finland-Russia
To combat illegal migration, the Finnish government has temporarily closed all crossing points along the border with Russia, except for the northernmost border crossing at Raja-Joosepin, which is open 4 hours a day for TIR transports. Three other border crossings – Kuusamon, Sallan and Vartiuksen – will be closed from 00:00 on November 24, until December 23. The closure may later be prolonged.
by Slovenia: a derogation from the driving ban on October 31
The exception applies to vehicles with a total permissible weight above 7.5 tons bound for the Port of Koper.
On Tuesday, October 31, lorries and vehicle combinations with a total permissible weight over 7.5 tons will be exceptionally allowed to travel provided they are transporting goods to or from the Port of Koper. To benefit from the derogation, drivers need to present shipping documents confirming that they are going to or have left the port of Koper to pick up or unload goods transported by sea.
by Austria prolongs controls at the border with Czechia
By virtue of a regulation issued by the Austrian Minister of the Interior, checks at the Austrian-Czech border will continue until December 6, 2023.
The amending regulation regarding the temporary reintroduction of border controls at the internal borders with the Czech Republic was published in the Federal Journal of Laws on November 15.
by In a bid to curb illegal migration, Finland closes 4 crossing points on the border with Russia
From November 18, the border crossings of Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra and Niirala will be closed.
The measure is intended to stop the flow of Middle Eastern and African migrants into Finland. The government is ready to take even more radical measures if necessary. The border crossings will remain closed until February 18, 2024.
1/4 Hallitus on päättänyt sulkea rajan Kaakkois-Suomessa. Vaalimaan, Nuijamaan, Imatran ja Niiralan rajanylityspaikat suljetaan 18.11.2023. Asiasta päätettiin torstaina valtioneuvoston istunnossa. Päätös on voimassa 18.2.2024 asti. https://t.co/SLijpPPxZ6