Bulgaria restricts lorry traffic over Unification Day 2026 long weekend
Bulgaria’s Road Infrastructure Agency has announced restrictions on lorry traffic during the September 2026 Unification Day long weekend.
In 2026, September 6, Unification Day, is on a Sunday, making Monday September 7 a special public holiday, resulting in a three-day weekend.
Traffic for heavy lorries over 12 tons will be temporarily restricted on the busiest roads – Trakia Motorway, Hemus Motorway and Struma Motorway and the section of road I-1 in Blagoevgrad district.
On September 4 from 3pm to 8pm, the movement of heavy lorries leaving Sofia will be restricted. Vehicles over 12 tons travelling to Bulgaria’s capital city will not be subject to restrictions.
On September 5 from 9am to 2pm, the movement of vehicles of more than 12 tons leaving Sofia will be restricted.
On September 7 from noon to 8pm, the movement of heavy lorries of more than 12 tons travelling to Sofia will be restricted. Those leaving the capital city will not be subject to restrictions.
On the Hemus Motorway in the section from Sofia (km 0) to the road connection to the roundabout with road I-4 (km 87), on the Struma Motorway and the national road I-1 in the section from the Simitli junction (km 376) to the Kresna junction on the Struma Motorway ( km 402), the restriction does not apply to road vehicles over 12 tons that are carrying out public passenger transport, as well as to motor vehicles that are carrying out transport of dangerous goods, live animals, perishable food products and temperature-controlled goods and special carcass lorries.
For the Trakia Motorway, the restriction does not apply to road vehicles of more than 12 tons that are carrying out public passenger transport. In the direction of Sofia on the motorway, the ban does not apply to motor vehicles that are transporting dangerous goods in the section from the Ihtiman junction (34th km) to the Vakarel turnoff (23rd km).
In another section with expected heavy traffic – road I-1 in the Simitli region, there will be reverse traffic. This will increase traffic safety for those travelling to Bansko and the other tourist complexes in the region, the Road Infrastructure Agency said.
On September 4 and 5, the crossing in the direction of Kulata will be carried out in two lanes, and traffic towards Sofia will be carried out in one lane. On September 7, two lanes will be provided for cars travelling to Sofia and one for Kulata, the road agency said.
(Photo: Johka/ sxc.hu)
