by Weekend closure of the Fréjus tunnel
The the Fréjus tunnel will be completely closed in both directions from Saturday, April 6 to Monday, April 8 (32 hours).
The reason for the closure are maintenance works and safety exercises.
In addition, on the following nights in April an alternating traffic schedule will be used along the entire length of the tunnel between 10:30 PM and 4:30 AM:
4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 26, 27
by Closure of the Arlberg tunnel – diversions for HGV traffic
The second renovation of the Arlberg Tunnel on the S16 expressway starts on April 15 and is scheduled to last until November 22. In addition, ASFINAG is renewing the St. Jakob toll booth and the entire toll area. As a result, HGV traffic must use diversion routes with the exception of vehicles that are eligible for exemptions.
❌ Alternative routes
As soon as the tunnel is closed, the B197/L197 road throught the Arlberg Pass will serve as the regional diversion route. Traffic congestion and delays are expected along this route, especially on weekends, which is why drivers are advised to allow addtional time for the journey or tuse one of the alternative routes listed below.
❌ The alternative routes during the closure of the Arlberg Tunnel:
◾ the B 197/L 197 road
◾ the route via Rosenheim to Munich (Germany)
◾ the road through the St. Gotthard tunnel (Switzerland)
◾ the road through the San Bernardino tunnel (Switzerland)
❌ Who is allowed to use the B 197/L 197 road through the Arlberg Pass?
While the Arlberg Tunnel is closed, trailers and articulated vehicles are generally prohibited from using the B 197/L 197 road and have to use alternative routes. However, vehicles whose point of departure or destination are located in communes listed below are allowed to use the B 197/L 197 road. No special permission is required to benefit from the exemption. It should be remembered that lorries with trailers and articulated vehicles are generally prohibited from driving at weekends (from 9:00 AM on Saturdays, to 10:00 PM on Sundays).
❌ Exceptions
◾ Lorries with trailers and articulated vehicles are allowed to use the B 197/L 197 road from 10:00 PM on Sundays to 9:00 AM on Saturdays, if the journeys comply meet the following requirements:
Originating /terminating traffic: if the point of departure or the destination is located in the communes of Bludenz, Feldkirch or Landeck. This means that the place of loading or unloading is located in one of the communes listed above.
◾ Northwest-southeast traffic: if the point of departure or the destination is located in Vorarlberg, in Liechtenstein, in the districts of Lake Constance, Konstanz, Sigmaringen, Tuttlingen, Schwarzwald-Baar or Rottweil, in the cantons of St. Gallen, Thurgau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden or Glarus and in the provinces of Bolzano, Trento or Belluno. In other words, the B197/L197 road cannot be used as a transit route, for example to shorten the journey through the region.
◾ West-east traffic: if the point of departure or the destination is located in Vorarlberg, in Liechtenstein, in the districts of Lake Constance, Konstanz, Sigmaringen, Tuttlingen, Schwarzwald-Baar or Rottweil, in the cantons of St. Gallen, Thurgau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Glarus, Schwyz, Zug, Zurich or Schaffhausen, in the following municipalities/towns in the canton of Graubünden (north of the Chur-Davos line): Ardez, Calfreisen, Castiel, Chur, Conters i. P., Davos, Fanas, Felsberg, Fläsch, Fideris, Flims, Ftan, Furna, Grüsch, Guarda, Haldenstein, Igis, Jenaz, Jenins, Klosters-Serneus, Küblis, Laax, Langwies, Lavin, Lüen, Luzein, Maienfeld, Maladers , Malans, Mastrils, Pagig, Peist, Ramosch, Saas i. P., Samnaun, Says, Schiers, Scuol, Seewis i. P., Sent, St. Antönien, St. Antönien-Ascharina, St. Peter, Susch, Tamins, Tarasp, Trimmis, Trin, Tschlin, Untervaz, Valzeina or Zizers AND in the Tyrolean districts of Landeck, Imst, Innsbruck – Stadt, Innsbruck – Land or Schwaz. In other words, the B197/L197 road cannot be used as a transit route, for example to shorten the journey through the region.
by Austria: additional driving bans in 2024
By virtue of a regulation of March 28, the Federal Ministry of Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology has published a calendar of additional driving bans for 2024.
The ban applies to vehicles or articulated vehicles with a maximum gross weight exceeding 7.5 t on the following dates:
◾ March 29 from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, March 30 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and April 25 from 11:00 to 10:00 PM, on the A 12 motorway in the Inn Valley and on the A 13 motorway via the Brenner Pass if the destination is located in Italy or can only be reached via Italy;
◾ on all Saturdays from July 6 to August 31 inclusive, from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM on the A 12 motorway in the Inn Valley and on the A 13 motorway via the Brenner Pass, if the destination is located in Italy or can only be reached via Italy,
◾ on March 29 and October 3 from 12:00 to 10:00 PM and on all Saturdays from July 6 to August 31 from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM on the A 12 motorway in the Inn Valley and on the A 13 motorway through the Brenner Pass if the destination is located in Germany or can only be reached via Germany,
◾ on all Saturdays from July 6 to August 31 inclusive from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM outside built-up areas in both directions on the following roads:
a) Loferer Straße B 178 from Lofer to Wörgl;
b) Ennstalstrasse B 320 from km 4,500;
c) Seefelder Straße B 177 along its entire length;
d) Fernpass B 179 road from Nassereith to Biberwier;
e) Achensee Straße B 181 along its entire length;
f) Brenner Straße B 182 along its entire length
◾ on all Saturdays from June 29 to August 31 inclusive, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM on the A 4 motorway from the Schwechat junction to the state border at Nickelsdorf in both directions, with the exception of terminating and originating traffic to and from the municipalities of Neusiedl am See, Eisenstadt, Eisenstadt-Umgebung, Rust, Mattersburg, Bruck an der Leitha, Gänserndorf and Korneuburg.
by Tyrol: two extra days of traffic restrictions on the A13
On April 3 and 4, the flow of traffic on the A13 will be limited in order to enable a structural inspection of the Luegbrücke bridge stretching over the Wipttal valley.
The inspection is scheduled to start on April 3. Based on traffic data for 2023, this is likely to cause traffic jams on the A13 motorway. To ensure a smooth flow of southbound traffic, on Wednesday (3.04) and Thursday (4.04) from 9:00 a.m. the number of vehicles from Germany crossing the border in Kufstein/Kiefersfelden will be limited.
by Slovakia: derogation from the HGV driving ban on March 29
At the request of ČESMAD Slovakia, the Slovakian Presidium of the Police Force has granted a general exemption from the driving ban on Friday, March 29, in connection with the upcoming Easter holidays.
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.
Please be advised that that no exemption has been granted on Monday, April 1, which means that the driving ban is in effect as usual from 00:00 to 10:00 PM.
by Traffic jams expected on Italian, German, Austrian and Swiss motorways over Easter
During the long Easter weekend (28.03–1.04), there is a high likelihood of traffic jams, especially on German motorways. Delays can also be expected on popular holiday routes in Austria, Switzerland and Italy.
Maundy Thursday is one of the five days in the year when the volume of traffic on German roads is the highest, and big traffic jams are also very likely this Thursday. The situation on the roads is not expected to improve much on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, but the volume of traffic on motorways is likely to decline on Easter Sunday. According to ADAC, delays are likely to increase on Easter Monday and in the following days which coincide with the end of Easter holidays in the dederal states of Hamburg, Bremen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony-Anhalt.
Currently in Germany there are 1,130 motorway sections where roadworks are underway, which may occasionally cause traffic jams there, especially during heavy traffic.
❌ Long-term closures
◾ A27 Bremen – Bremerhaven in both directions between Uthlede and Hagen probably until the end of March;
◾ A42 Kamp-Lintfort – Dortmund in both directions between Bottrop-Süd and Kreuz Essen-Nord until April 15;
◾ A45 Hagen – Gießen in both directions between Lüdenscheid-Nord and Lüdenscheid until further notice
◾ A49 Südtangente, Gießen towards Kassel between Kassel-Waldau and the Kassel-Mitte junction until 11:59 PM on June 1,;
◾ A49 Südtangente, Gießen towards Kassel between Kreuz Kassel-West and Kassel-Auestadion until 11:59 PM on June 1,.
Traffic jam forecast for Austria and Switzerland
The volume of holiday traffic on long-distance routes is also expected in the neighboring Alpine countries as the holiday break starts in all Austrian states. Similar problems are expected in some regions of Switzerland. Routes with a high probability of traffic jams:
❌ in Austria: motorways A1, A10, A12 (Brenner Pass) and A13 (Innu Valley), B179 (Fernpass) and S16 (Arlberg Tunnel), as well as the federal roads of Tyrol, Salzburg and Vorarlberg. On the A10 motorway between Golling and Pfarrwerfen, the Ofenauer and Hiefler tunnels and the chain of Werden tunnels are being renovated.
❌ in Switzerland, delays can be expected on the route through the Gotthard Pass, on access roads to ski resorts in Graubünden, the Bernese Oberland, and Valais.
❌ in Italy, apart from the route through the Brenner Pass, the roads in the Puster Valleys, Val Gardena, Val Badia and Vinschgau.
Traffic jams are also likely on main routes to Poland and the Netherlands.
Detailed information about HGV restrictions, including a list of derogations and exemptions in specific countries can be found on www.trafficban.com.
by Hungary – buses and coaches in the HU-GO system from April 1
Starting from April 1, buses and coaches with a gross vehicle weight of 3.5 tonnes, can be properly registered as buses in the Hungarian electronic toll collection system (HU-GO) by entering an appropriate vehicle type, as stipulated in the legislation amended at the end of February.
Lorries have been using HU-GO for over 10 years.
Coach and bus companies have to:
✔️ set up the company’s account and register coaches/buses on the hu-go.hu website
✔️ purchase or instal an on-board unit (OBU) that can (also) be used to make toll payments in Hungary. After registering, a platform of prepaid accounts will automatically be created. In this way, the company will have a contractual relationship with Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Administration. EASY on-board units can be purchased via the following website.
❗ VERY IMPORTANT❗ Operators of buses over 3.5 t already registered in the HU-GO electronic toll system are requested to refrain from the use of the HU-GO e-toll system for toll payments until 31 March and not to use their OBUs.
Vehicles not registered in the HU-GO system, can only travel in Hungary after purchasing a route ticket, which is only valid for one-way journey within 24 hours of the purchase date. The price of such a ticket is non-refundable.
There are two bus categories that can be selected when entering vehicle type during the registration process: M2 buses (over 3.5 tons up to 5 tons) and M3 buses (over 5 tons). The infrastructure charge included in the toll is based on the technically permissible maximum laden weight, while the second component, the external cost charge, depends on the number of axles and the environmental classification (EURO standard).
Operators of coaches/buses with a permissible total weight of up to 3.5 tonnes will still be able to pay for road use by purchasing an electronic vignette issued by the National Toll Payment Services, and starting from April 1, they will be classified as category D2 vehicles.
by Le Shuttle: Planned overnight service suspension on 16/17 March
As part of the maintenance schedule for 2024, an essential upgrade of engineering systems that enable the control and management of fixed equipment in the tunnels is planned overnight from Saturday, the 16th, to Sunday, the 17th of March.
The LAST freight shuttle departure on Saturday night will be:
► From Folkestone: at 23:22
► From Calais: at 23:22
The FIRST freight shuttle departure on Sunday morning will be:
► From Folkestone: at 05:52
► From Calais: at 05:52
Local times
In order to minimise the impact on businesses, additional departures have been planned as soon as LeShuttle service resumes. The timetable for this period can be viewed or downloaded from eurotunnelfreightcom ⬅
If you wish to travel on the last departure please check-in no later than 60 minutes before the planned departure time. Both Calais and Folkestone terminals will be closed during this time. Le Truck Village and LeShuttle Freight Truck Park in Calais remain open during this closure. Drivers can check parking availability in real time via the Driver Info app.
by England: closure of M25 – diversion routes
The M25 will be closed for a full weekend for the first time ever as a major project progresses to make journeys safer and reduce pollution. This will be the first of five closures between now and September 2024. Those travelling to Gatwick and Heathrow airports and Channel ports may be affected.
The Junction 10 improvement scheme will see an increase in the number of lanes to make journeys safer and improve traffic flow. It will also make it easier and safer to enter and exit the M25, provide safer entry roads for Wisley, Pyrford, Old Byfleet and RHS Wisley.
The local diversion route below will be in place which is the same for both directions:
Junction 10 – Junction 11: North bound A3 to Painshill Junction, A245 towards Woking, and then A320 to M25 Junction 11.
Junction 11 – Junction 10: A320 south towards Woking, A245 towards Byfleet and Painshill junction, Southbound A3 to Junction 10.
Taking the M25 in the other direction to avoid our closure is also an option.
The next full closure of the M25 is due to take place in April to allow for the installation of the new Clearmount bridleway bridge. Dates are subject to change.
by Tirol: 150 days with HGV inspections in 2024
Approximately 2.4 million lorries crossed the Brenner Pass along the A12 motorway in 2023. This is why the Tyrolean authorities have decided to continue road checks of HGV transit traffic to ensure road safety.
This year, ASFINAG’s mobile inspection facility will be used on Tyrolean roads on 150 days, 38 more days than were originally planned. The regional parliament has decided to allocate approximately EUR 55,000 for this purpose. Every year, the Austrian motorway authority, together with technical inspectors and the police, test over 4,000 trucks. Inspectors check everything, from brakes to axle load and emission levels. ❗Inspections take place at checkpoints in Kundl and Radfeld, on the Brenner Pass, along national roads in Nauders, Leisach and Musau, and at checkpoints located on the lower-level road network and at motorway rest areas.
Technical faults pose the biggest risk to road safety, especially under unfavorable weather conditions. It is therefore important that lorries are roadworthy and their loads are properly secured. In addition to road-side checks, during which traffic police check the driver’s documents, compliance with driving and rest times, winter equipment and load securing, it is also important that the technical condition of vehicles should be carefully verified emphasizes René Zumtobela, a member of the Tirolean parliament responsible for transport.
In 2023, traffic inspectors worked a total of over 64,300 hours, almost 2,000 hours more than in 2022. Nearly 11,500 technical faults were detected. Inspections conducted in Kundl and Radfeld resulted in 3,700 warnings issued to drivers found in violation of HGV driving bans (weekend, night and sector driving bans), and in over 2,300 cases drivers were banned from continuing their journey. The modernization of the checkpoint in Radfeld will begin this year. In addition to infrastructural improvements, the facility will be expanded to increase inspection capacity and efficiency.
In terms of the number of HGV driving bans and the frequency of traffic inspections, Tyrol is one of Europe’s leading regions. Its authorities believe this is the only way in which existing bans can be effective. The number of detected violations is constantly increasing, which sends a clear signal to other drivers that the authorities mean business and will not tolerate any infringements in this area emphasizes René Zumtobela.