by Disaster on Norway’s E6: Detour Extends Route by Over 300 km
A major rockslide has completely blocked both directions of the E6 highway in Rosten (Gudbrandsdalen region), one of Norway’s most vital transport arteries. The incident has brought transit traffic to a standstill, forcing carriers to take lengthy detours, leading to increased costs and operational challenges.
The landslide occurred overnight between March 30 and 31. A massive rockfall, plummeting from a height of approximately 50 meters, swept down boulders, trees, and soil, completely obstructing the roadway. The E6 serves as a key north-south transport corridor, connecting the regions of Trøndelag, Møre og Romsdal, and Oslo with southern Norway and Sweden. Geologists from the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens vegvesen) are currently assessing the site, but there is no clear timeline for reopening the road. Officials warn that clearing the debris and securing the slope could take considerable time.
The Norwegian Road Transport Association (NLF) responded immediately to the crisis. NLF regional director Guttorm Tysnes has urged authorities to temporarily allow modular truck combinations on county roads 27 (via Venabygdsfjellet) and 29 (Folldal–Hjerkinn). He emphasizes that these routes are already accessible to heavy vehicle combinations up to 24 meters in length and 60 tons in weight, which would enable standard modular transport units (TSL) to pass.
For carriers who regularly rely on the E136, the detour through Østerdalen adds as much as 340 kilometers to their round-trip journey. This makes it significantly more difficult to comply with drivers’ working hours and results in substantial additional costs says Tysnes.
Østerdalen Detour – The Only Alternative
Norwegian road authorities have identified national road 3 (Rv. 3) in Østerdalen as the only viable detour:
➡️ From the south: E6 Kolomoen – Rv. 3 Elverum – Rv. 3 Østerdalen – E6 Ulsberg
➡️ From the north: E6 Ulsberg – Rv. 3 Østerdalen – E6 Kolomoen
➡️ From the west: E6 Dombås – E6 Ulsberg – Rv. 3 Elverum – E6 Kolomoen
Drivers and transport operators are urged to plan their routes ahead of time and stay updated with announcements from Norwegian road authorities.
by A7 in Hamburg and the Elbe Tunnel – Full Weekend Closure
This coming weekend, drivers traveling on the A7 motorway near Hamburg must prepare for significant disruptions. From March 28 to March 31, the section between the Hamburg-Stellingen and Hamburg-Heimfeld interchanges will be completely closed in both directions, including the Elbe Tunnel.
The full closure, lasting 55 hours, is necessary to carry out work related to the installation of new overhead traffic sign gantries and updating the traffic control system in the Elbe Tunnel. According to Autobahn GmbH, the new software aims to improve safety and traffic flow in this critical transport corridor for northern Germany.
⭕ Closure of the A7 motorway between Flensburg and Hanover in both directions:
▪️ From Friday, March 28, at 10:00 PM to Monday, March 31, at 5:00 AM.
⭕ Gradual closure of on-ramps and off-ramps at the following interchanges:
Hamburg-Stellingen, Hamburg-Volkspark, Hamburg-Bahrenfeld, Hamburg-Othmarschen, Hamburg-Waltershof, and Hamburg-Heimfeld
▪️ Starting Friday, March 28, from 9:00 PM.
Detour routes will be designated for drivers, but it is strongly advised to avoid traveling through Hamburg during the closure period.
by A complete closure of the bridge on the border between Romania and Bulgaria
The road-rail bridge over the Danube connecting Giurgiu (Romania) and Ruse (Bulgaria) will be closed on March 27, starting from 9:00 AM. During the closure is required to enable concreting spaces between new road panels.
The bridge will be reopened to car traffic the same day at 12:00, but drivers of HGVs will have to wait until 9:00 AM on March 28. All drivers are advised to plan their route in advance to avoid traffic jams and long waits near the bridge.
by Belgium: the Bolivar Tunnel in Antwerp closed for 10 nights
The Bolivar Tunnel, which connects Leien with the A112 motorway and the Antwerp ring road (R1), is scheduled for maintenance work between the 16th and 28th February. In this period, the tunnel shaft leading out of the city will be closed between 9pm and 6am. No work will be conducted on the nights from Friday to Saturday and Saturday to Sunday.
Further closures are planned in March, in each case from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM:
• March 16: in the direction of the city centre;
• March 17: in both directions;
• March 18: in both directions;
• March 19: in both directions;
• March 20: in the direction of the city centre.
Diversion routes along normal roads (as opposed to tunnels, bridges or overpasses) will always be available during the closures.
by A nighttime closure of the A12 in both directions – a diversion via Innsbruck
As part of a major renovation of the A12 motorway in the Inn Valley, the bridge over the motorway between Hall-West and Innsbruck-East will be demolished on Saturday, March 22.
As a result, the A12 motorway will be closed in both directions from 8:00 p.m. to around 6:00 a.m. Traffic will be diverted through the city of Innsbruck.
The demolition work has been deliberately scheduled to take place during the weekend night so as to benefit from low traffic intensity, and will be carried out with the help of enough resources to ensure it can be completed overnight. The bridge over the motorway near Ampass/Peerhöfe will be rebuilt by the end of the year.
by Slovakia: a temporary closure of one section of the D3 motorway
The section of the D3 motorway in Slovakia between Zwardoń and Svrcinovec (Świerczynowiec) will be closed from March 21 to April 16. Additionally, the Poľana and Svrčinovec tunnels on the D1 motorway are also to be closed for maintenance work and in connection with a film project carried in the tunnels.
The following diversion routes are available
▶️ Traffic from the direction of Čadca towards Poland will be diverted to Český Těšín along road 1/11 via Svrcinovec Zatky (Świerczynowiec).
▶️ Traffic from Poland to Svrcinovec (Świerczynowiec) will be diverted to road C12. Vehicles over 7.5 tonnes will not be able to use this road, so a diversion has been designated along S52 towards Cieszyn.
▶️ In the case of the D1 tunnels, traffic in the Bratislava-Žilina will be diverted via the D3 motorway, starting from the Žilina junction. In the opposite direction, traffic will be diverted to the I/64 road from the Žilina – Solinky junction.
by Belgium: disruptions in the Liefkenshoek and Bevrijdings tunnels
Drivers travelling through Belgium must be ready for disruptions in the Liefkenshoek and Bevrijdings (A12) tunnels in Wilrijk, which are connected with maintenance and repair work.
⏺️ Liefkenshoek
Maintenance work is scheduled to take place on Thursday, March 20 and Friday, March 21.
➡ On March 20, the tunnel will be closed in the direction of Ghent/Beveren, from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
➡ On March 21, the tunnel will be closed in the direction of the Netherlands/Stabroek, from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Diversion routes
Signed diversion routes will be available during the closures.
⏺️ Bevrijdings
The resurfacing of the Bevrijdings tunnel (A12) in Wilrijk will start on Monday, 24 March and will last for four nights.
➡ the road in the direction of Brussels will be closed on the night from March 24 to 25 and from March 25 to 26, from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
➡ the road in the direction of Antwerp: on the night from March 26 to 27 and from March 27 to 28, also from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Traffic will be diverted via Antwerpen-Zuid – Vogelzanglaan – Jan van Rijswijcklaan/Boomsesteenweg (N177).
During the closure of the tunnel road in the direction of Brussels, no diversion will be possible via Craeybeckx Tunnel owing to extensive maintenance work, which has been carried out in the tunnel since the beginning of the year, which also takes place between 9pm and 5am.
by Mont Blanc Tunnel maintenance: closures in February and March
Due to scheduled maintenance work, the Mont Blanc Tunnel, which connects Italy and France, will be completely closed on several dates in the second half of February and in March.
Complete closures:
❌FEBRUARY
◾ from 10:00 PM, February 11, to 6:00 AM, February 12,
◾ from 10:00 PM, February 12, to 6:00 AM, February 13,
◾ from 10:00 PM, February 13, to 6:00 AM, February 14,
◾ from 10:00 PM, February 17, to 6:00 AM, February 18,
◾ from 10:00 PM, February 18, to 6:00 AM, February 19,
◾ from 10:00 PM, February 19, to 6:00 AM, February 20,
◾ from 10:00 PM, February 20, to 6:00 AM, February 21,
◾ from 11:30 PM, February 24, to 2:00 AM, February 25,
❌MARCH
◾ from 10:00 PM, March 10, to 6:00 AM, March 11,
◾ from 10:00 PM, March 11, to 6:00 AM, March 12,
◾ from 10:00 PM, March 12, to 6:00 AM, March 13,
◾ from 10:00 PM, March 13, to 6:00 AM, March 14,
◾ from 10:00 PM, March 17, to 6:00 AM, March 18,
◾ from 10:00 PM, March 18, to 6:00 AM, March 19,
◾ from 10:00 PM, March 19, to 6:00 AM, March 20,
◾ from 10:00 PM, March 20, to 6:00 AM, March 21,
Alternating traffic
❌FEBRUARY
◾ from10:30 PM, February 26, to 6:00 AM, February 27,
◾ from 10:30 PM, February 27, to 6:00 AM, February 28,
❌MARCH
◾ from 10:30 PM, March 24, to 6:00 AM, March 25,
◾ from 10:30 PM, March 25, to 6:00 AM, March 26,
◾ from 10:30 PM, March 26, to 6:00 AM, March 27,
◾ from 10:30 PM, March 27, to 6:00 AM, March 28,
◾ from 10:30 PM, March 31, to 6:00 AM, April 1,
There may be delays in the hour preceding the complete closure and in the hour after the tunnel reopens, owing to the passage of escorted vehicles.
by Germany: Traffic restrictions on the Norderelbe Bridge on the A1
As part of the expansion of the A1, work has begun on the new Norderelbe Bridge, which is to connect Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg with Rothenburgsort. Its construction is scheduled to be completed in 2029-2030, but in the meantime it is necessary to ensure the safety and stability of the existing bridge. For this reason, the Norderelbe Bridge will be completely closed for several days from 14 March.
Traffic restrictions on the Norderelbe Bridge
To relieve the most important elements of the bridge, including the supports and lanes, traffic organization will be changes as follows:
➡️ Existing road markings will be moved to the left in order to relieve the outermost lane, the service path and the barriers;
➡️ a 60 km/h speed limit, especially for trucks, will be imposed in order to protect the bridge structure;
➡️ an overtaking ban for trucks and an obligation to maintain a distance of 50 meters between vehicles, even in the event of traffic jams.
➡️ speed and distance will be constantly monitored.
Despite these restrictions, vehicles transporting abnormal loads can still pass across the bridge provided such journeys have been previously registrated and approved.
Changes in traffic organization on the A1 in Hamburg
Additional measures have been introduced to ensure the smooth flow of HGV traffic, including:
➡️ an overtaking ban on the A1 will be extended from the HH-Harburg junction (38) to the HH-Moorfleet junction (34) beyond the Norderelbe bridge,
➡️ The road connecting A255 RiFa Süd with the A1 RiFa Lübeck at the Norderelbe triangle will be closed to vehicles with a GVW over 7.5 tonnes which will be diverted via the HH-Harburg junction (38).
The bridge will be completely closed in both directions over the weekend:
➡️ from 10:00 p.m. on Friday, March 14, to 5:00 a.m. on Monday, March 17,
Diversions:
➡️ Southbound traffic: from the HH-Billstedt junction (33) via the B5, B75 and A255 to the A1 (diversion U26).
➡️ northbound traffic: from the Norderelbe junction (36) via the A255, B75 and B5 to the HH-Billstedt junction (33) (diversion U85).
➡️ Diversions for drivers heading towards the B75: via the A255, B75 and B5 to the HH-Billstedt junction (33).
➡️ For drivers heading for Bremen: Exit at the HH-Südost junction (1), towards Lübeck and then diversion via the HH-Billstedt junction (33).
Further work and closures in 2025
More closures and maintenance works are planned on the Norderelbe bridge in the future, including:
➡️ 25-28 April: closure of RiFa-Nord to replace temporary structures.
➡️ 9-12 May: asphalt renovation on the Norderelbe Bridge.
➡️ 23-26 May: closure of RiFa Süd, replacement of temporary structures.
The progress of work on the Norderelbe Bridge largely depends on the weather. If the work cannot be completed in March, an alternative weekend will be scheduled. In this case, the work will be carried out from 10 p.m. on April 11 to 5 a.m. on April 14.
by Changes on the Paris ring road, A1 and A13 – a special lane and an HGV driving ban
Since March 3, a a special lane has been added to the Paris ring road and sections of the A1 and A13 motorways. The lane is designated for vehicles with at least two people on board, for public transport and taxis ad cannot be used by vehicles with a GVW over 3.5 t transporting good.
Where and when does the new lane apply?
Since March 3, 2025, the left lane of a section of the Paris ring road and a section of the A1 and A13 motorways has been designated for public transport and mass transport vehicles. Initially, the lane is located along the section between quai d’Issy and porte de Bercy, which runs through the northern part of Paris (in both directions). In the next phase, this traffic organisation will be extended to the entire ring road. The use of the left lane on selected routes is a pilot project. The first evaluation of its effectiveness will take place in September and December 2025, and then in March 2026.
The left lane designated for public transport and mass transport is activated from Monday to Friday during the following hours (with the exception of weekends and public holidays):
➡️ 7:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
➡️ 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
During these periods, the lane can only be used by:
➡️ vehicles with at least 2 people on board.
➡️ Public transport (buses, coaches and vehicles transporting children to school).
➡️ Taxis.
➡️ VTC vehicles (carrying at least one customer).
➡️ Emergency and security service vehicles, including private ambulances.
➡️ Motorcycles and scooters (when driving between lanes or with a passenger).
➡️ Vehicles of disabled people if their users have a mobility card (CMI) or a European parking card. In this case, prior registration in the Handi’Stat system is necessary to avoid a fine.
Vehicles with a GVW over 3.5 t carrying goods are NOT allowed to use this lane when this traffic organisation is in effect.
How to recognize the special lane?
The lane is marked with a square sign featuring a white rhombus. When the sign is illuminated, the lane can only be used by vehicles of public and mass transport; when the sign is off, the lane can be used by all vehicles. In addition, the lane can be temporarily closed by the police prefecture in the event of road accidents, emergency situations, days with exceptionally low traffic. Drivers will also be informed whether the special lane is in use by VMS panels placed along the road.
What are the penalties for violating the driving ban?
For the first two months (March-April 2025), i.e. the transitional period, if the system detects a vehicle with a single occupant, it will display a warning message on the VMS panels, but the driver will not be fined. Starting from May, drivers who fail to comply with the ban will face a fine of €135. Compliance will be monitored by a computer-assisted camera system that can identify vehicle type (e.g. taxi, bus), count passengers from the front and from the back of the vehicle, and recognise license plates. Camera footage will be analysed by authorised officers, who will ultimately decide whether a breach has occurred and whether a fine should be issued.