Tirol: 24 days with limited cross-border HGV traffic in 2024
According to the official restriction schedule, there are 24 days when the number of lorries passing through the checkpoint at the Kufstein-Nord border crossing on the A12 Inntal motorway will be limited to 300. On the days listed in the schedule, the measure will be applied starting from 05:00 AM.
The restrictions will be implemented on the following days in the first 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).
❗ Remaining dates until the end of this year:
➡ November 15 (Wednesday)
➡November 16 (Thursday)
➡ November 22 (Wednesday)
➡ November 23 (Thursday)
➡ November 29 (Wednesday)
➡ November 30 (Thursday)
➡ November 12 (Monday)
➡ December 12 (Tuesday).
Germany prolongs border checks until at least December 15
Nancy Faeser, German Minister of the Interior, has prolonged checks along the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland until December 15.
The federal police can now continue to use the entire package of stationary and mobile border police measures flexibly, depending on the current situation. The ministry’s spokesman ha sconfirmed that the border checks are an effective and necessary means of preventing illegal immigration. Since October, 3,300 illegal entries have been detected along the Polish-German border.
Bundesinnenministerin @NancyFaeser verlängert die #Grenzkontrollen zu Polen, Tschechien & der Schweiz bis zum 15. Dezember. Die Bundespolizei kann nun weiterhin flexibel, je nach aktueller Lage das gesamte Bündel an stationären & mobilen grenzpolizeilichen Maßnahmen einsetzen.
Poland prolongs controls at the border with Slovakia
The Polish Minister of the Interior and Administration has prolonged border checks at the Polish-Slovak border until November 22.
The border can only be crossed in designated places. Border controls have been introduced to prevent illegal migration along the Balkan route. Travellers crossing the Polish-Slovak border must be in possession of valid travel documents (ID card or passport).
The border can be crossed at the following points:
▶️9 road border crossings:
• Radoszyce;
• Periwinkle;
• Muszynka;
• Leluchów;
• Piwniczna-Zdrój – Mnišek nad Popradom;
• Jurgów;
• Chyżne;
• Korbielów;
• Zwardoń – Skalité Platforma.
▶️ 3 railway border crossings:
• Łupków – Palota;
• Muszyna – Plaveč;
• Zwardoń–Skalité.
▶️ 1 pedestrian border crossing:
• Zwardoń – Mýto.
Poland once again prolongs controls along the border with Slovakia
Poland’s Minister of the Interior and Administration has decided to prolong checks along the border with Slovakia from December 4 to January 2, 2024.
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.
Until January 2, 2024, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ⬇