Germany: Weekend closure of the A7 – recommended diversion routes
Owing to the construction of the new A7/A26 HH-Hafen intersection, the A7 will be completely closed in both directions between the HH-Heimfeld (32) and the HH-Volkspark (27) junctions from 10 PM on Friday, February 16, until 5:00 AM, on Monday, February 19.
Slip lanes at the junctions HH-Volkspark (27), HH-Bahrenfeld (28), HH-Othmarschen (29), HH-Waltershof (30), HH-Hausbruch (31), and HH-Heimfeld (32) will be closed from 9 PM on Friday, February 16.
Recommended diversion routes:
Long-distance traffic is diverted along the A1, A21 and B205 in both directions.
❎ Traffic from the south from the Bucherholzer intersection (43) / Horster intersection (40) is diverted through the Maschener Kreuz intersection (39) and then along the A1 motorway
❎ Traffic from the north, from the Neumünster-Süd junction (15) is diverted along the B205 road
The diversion route is indicated by the traffic control system (VMS panels).
Diversions in the city center and southbound diversions:
❎ Traffic towards Hannover – drivers should follow the “Elbbrücken” signs at the HH-Stellingen junction (26) on the B5 to A1 and A7
• along the streets Kieler Straße -Sportplatzring – Koppelstraße – Julius-Vosseler Straße Vogt-Wells-Straße (Elbbrücken) – Osterfeldstraße – Lokstedter Weg – Eppendorfer Marktplatz – Heinickestraße – Hudtwalkerstraße – Winterhuder Marketplatz – Barmbeker Straße – Bachstraße – Her derstraße – Winterhuder Weg – Land wehr – Sievekingsallee to the Horner roundabout, then along A24 to A1 towards the Elbe bridges
• or continue along the B5 via Burgstraße – Grevenweg via Eiffestraße to the HH-Billstedt junction (33) along the A1 motorway towards Bremen
❎ Southbound traffic towards Altona-West is diverted along the U33 at the HH-Volkspark junction (27) and at the Schnackenburg / Binsbarg intersection turns left towards Altona.
❎ Alternative routes are also available to reduce traffic congestion:
• from the HH-Schnelsen-Nord junction (23) through the airport ring road B432 and B433 along Alsterkrugchaussee,
— from there along the Ring 2 road towards the east,
— or continue along the B5 towards Elbbrücken, for example towards the Centre
• from the HH-Schnelsen junction (24) on the B447, follow the signs for Elbbrücken or Centrum.
Diversions in the city center and northbound diversions:
❎ Towards Flensburg, traffic at the HH-Heimfeld junction (32) is diverted via the U7, following the “Elbbrücken” signs.
• Stader Straße – Buxtehuder Straße – Hannoversche Straße, and then along Neuländer Straße through the HH-Harburg junction onto the A1
• from there continue along the B75, first following the signs for “Flughafen”, then along the B5 from Barmbeker Straße and Vogt-Wells-Straße towards the A7 via the HH-Stellingen junction (26)
• or continue along the eastbound A1 motorway to the Horner roundabout and then onto the A24
• or to the HH-Billstedt junction (33) along the B5 towards HH-Centrum
❎ Traffic from the south towards the port can take the U21 diversion at the HH-Heimfeld junction (32) towards the port.
For traffic from Lüneburg/Uelzen towards Lübeck or Kiel, the following diversion is recommended:
❎ From the A39 via the Handorf junction (5), then take the B404, A25, A1 towards Lübeck or the A21 towards Kiel.
For traffic from from Lüneburg/Uelzen towards HH-Centrum the following diversion is recommended:
❎ From the A39 via the Handorf junction (5) then take the B404, A25, A1 towards Lübeck and at the HH-Billstedt junction (33) on the B5 towards HH-Centrum or via the A24 from the HH-Ost junction (31).
Abnormal loads
Vehicles carrying abnormal loads must, if possible, avoid the area affected by the A7 closure, since there are no possibilities of travelling in either direction. Traffic restrictions for vehicles carrying abnormal loads will be clearly indicated in front of the following parking areas:
❎ Southbound traffic:
A7: Aalbek; Holmmoor; Bönningstedt
A23: Steinburg; Rantzau
❎ Northbound traffic:
A7: Harburger Berge; Seevetal
A261: Rosengarten.
Finland: border crossings with Russia closed until mid-April
During the meeting on February 8, the Finnish government decided to prolong the closure of all land border crossings between Finland and Russia until April 14.
This means that it is not possible to apply for international protection at land border crossings between Finland and Russia.
It is believed that there are hundreds, and possibly thousands, of migrants in the vicinity of the Russian border waiting to continue their journey to Finland. The prolongation of the border closure is therefore necessary to protect national security and public order.
Closures of M25 and A3 closures as junction 10 project enters next phase
National Highways is warning road users who use the M25 and A3 in and around Surrey about weekend closures that will take place throughout the year.
Junction 10 on the M25 – the interchange with the A3 at Wisley – is one of the busiest in the country and experiences large queues and heavy congestion on a daily basis. It also has one of the highest recorded collision rates across England’s motorway and major A roads nationally. This project will reduce collisions by around a third but also create a better connection and smoother traffic for the 270,000 drivers who use it every day.
For the safety of road users and the operatives undertaking the work, a number of weekend closures of the M25 and A3 in Surrey will be needed throughout the year to enable the works to be completed safely and efficiently. The first closures will take place in February and March:
✅ A3 between Send and junction 10 (Wisley): Full carriageway closure, both directions – from 9pm on Friday 23, to 6am on Monday ,26 February. Bridge demolition work.
✅ M25 between junction 11 (Chertsey Interchange) and junction 10 (Wisley): Full carriageway closure, both directions – from 9pm on Friday, 15 March, to 6am on Monday, 18 March. Bridge demolition and gantry installation.
Further closures of the M25 and A3 are planned throughout the year. National Highways will be sharing the detailed information on the scheme website to keep road users informed. Due to the nature of the works, all closures are subject to change if events outside of National Highways control occur – such as adverse weather conditions. National Highways M25 junction 10 upgrade is expected to be complete in summer 2025.
Disruptions on the Alpine route – closures of the Mount Blanc tunnel
Traffic in the tunnel will be completely suspended on from 10 PM on January 15 to 6 AM on January 16.
Night alternating one-way traffic restrictions are also scheduled between 10:30 PM and 6:00 AM on:
◾ January 16/17.
◾ January 17/18.
◾ January 18/19.
◾ January 22/23.
◾ January 23/24.
◾ January 24/25.
◾ January 25/26.
Changes in the Hungarian road toll system. Fines for a wrong axle category
From January 1, lorries with five or more axles must be classified into the J5 category, and not to J4, as was the case before.
One of the changes in the Hungarian road toll system from January 1, 2024 is the introduction of the J5 axle category, which includes five-axle vehicles combinations even if one of the rear axles is lifted while driving. Failure to enter the correct number of axles may result in fines. From January 1 the J4 category can only be applied to four-axle vehicles. Operators of vehicles with five or more axles can provide information about the number of axles via the HU-GO website or their on-board devices.
France:additional HGV driving ban in winter and summer
Every year additional restrictions are introduced for heavy goods vehicles in winter and summer. They apply to lorries and vehicle combinations with a GVW over 7.5t, with the exception of special vehicles and agricultural machinery and vehicles.
The ban applies:
a) in the winter:
on some parts of the road network in the Rhône-Alpes region on the following Saturdays, from 07:00 AM to 6:00 PM and from 10:00 PM to 00:00:
◾ February 10, 17 and 24
◾ March 2 and 9
❗Note: on these days HGV traffic is allowed from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
HGV traffic is banned along the following routes in the Rhône-Alpes region
b) in the summer:
The ban is in effect across the entire road network on the following Saturdays from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM:
◾July 6, 20 and 27
◾ August 3, 10, 17, 24,
❌In addition to the above, the general driving ban also applies:
◾ from 10:00 PM to 00:00 on Saturdays and on the eve of holidays,
◾ from 00:00 to 10:00 PM on Sundays and holidays.
Tirol: 24 days with limited cross-border HGV traffic in the 1st half of 2024
As in previous years, on specific days listed in the restriction schedule (below) HGV traffic from Germany at the Kufstein-Nord border crossing on the A12 Inntal motorway in the direction of Innsbruck will be limited to 300 lorries per hour.
The measure has been criticized by international organizations on a number of occassions, but so far to no avail.
Days with restrictions in the 1st half of 2024
➡ January 8 (Monday)
➡ February 5 (Monday)
➡ February 12 (Monday)
➡ February 19 (Monday)
➡ February 26 (Monday)
➡ March 4 (Monday)
➡ March 11 (Monday)
➡ March 28 (Thursday)
➡ April 26 (Friday)
➡ May 2 (Thursday)
➡ May 3 (Friday)
➡ May 6 (Monday)
➡ May 7 (Tuesday)
➡ May 8 (Wednesday)
➡ May 10 (Friday)
➡ May 17 (Friday)
➡ May 18 (Saturday)
➡ May 21 (Tuesday)
➡ May 22 (Wednesday)
➡ May 23 (Thursday)
➡ May 27 (Monday)
➡ May 28 (Tuesday)
➡ May 29 (Wednesday)
➡ May 31 (Friday).
Slovenia: more traffic and the HGV driving ban on February 8
Because Thursday, February 8, is a public holiday in Slovenia, there is driving ban for heavy goods vehicles.
The ban applies to lorries and vehicle combinations with a maximum authorised mass exceeding 7.5 tons from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. HGV traffic is expected to increase on Wednesday (Feb 7) before the holiday and on Friday (9/02) after the holiday. Difficulties are also expected on the route from Postojna to Cerklje ob Krki (A1/A2) on Friday due to increased traffic of military vehicles accompanied by military police.
Germany: After 10 years, the end of HGV driving as the new bridge in Leverkusen is open to traffic
Lorries can now use the first part of the new bridge across the Rhine. Until the second part of the bridge is completed, three lanes are available in both directions. The speed limit on the entire bridge section is 80 km/h and overtaking is prohibited.
Since the new bridge was officially opened on February 4, three narrowed lanes are available from the Leverkusen intersection to the Cologne-Niehl junction towards Koblenz/Twir., The main carriageway of the A1 in the direction of Dortmund at the Cologne-Niehl junction has been narrowed from three to two lanes. Between the Niehl junction and the Leverkusen Bridge, the slip lane serves as a third lane, so there are three narrowed lanes in this direction from the Rhine Bridge. Along he entire section between the Leverkusen intersection and the Cologne-Niehl junction narrowed lanes are marked with yellow road lines. The speed limit on the entire section is 80 km/h. Lorries, coaches and vehicle combinations with trailers are not allowed to overtake.
Since the new bridge has been opened, all previous weight restrictions (for vehicles with a MAM over 3.5 tons) no longer apply. This means that lorries, coaches and all other vehicles can cross the bridge again.
During the total closure at the end of January, five truck barriers were dismantled (on the A1 motorway in the direction of Dortmund and in the direction of Koblenz, on the road parallel to the A1 motorway at the Cologne-Niehl junction in the direction of Dortmund, on Industriestrasse before the Cologne-Niehl junction in the direction of Dortmund and on the A59 motorway at the Leverkusen junction West in the direction of Koblenz).
Spain relaxes driving and rest time regulations in response to road blocks in France
The Spanish Ministry of Transport has approved a temporary relaxation of driving and rest time for hauliers affected by protests of French farmers.
In the face of difficulties experienced by tens of thousands of Spanish hauliers caused by protests started two weeks ago by French farmers against the new environmental, tax and social policies introduced by the government of Galicia and the European Union, FENADISMER, a major Spanish transport association, has asked the Ministry of Transport to introduce temporary derogations from driving and rest times. About 30% of the entire Spanish transport fleet, or approximately 100,000 lorries, are affected by protests as they try to cross France heading for destinations in the rest of Europe. Every day, over 11,000 trucks cross the Spanish border in La Junquera, and about 10,000 in Irun. Financial losses sustained by Spanish hauliers due to these protests amount to EUR 10 million a day.
As a result, the Spanish Ministry of Transport has extended the maximum driving time for hauleirs affected by road blocks in France. These derogations are in force from January 22 to February 4.
By virtue of the derogation
◾ the daily driving time has been extended from 9 to 11 hours and weekly driving time – from 56 to 60 hours
◾ the total fortnightly driving time has been extended from 90 to 120 hours,
◾ the daily rest period has been reduced from 11 to 9 hours. In addition, drivers may take two consecutive reduced weekly rests of at least 24 hours, under certain conditions.
❗The temporary derogation applies only to hauliers who can present documents confirming that they are transporting goods through France during the period specified above.