Bulgaria: truck bans on 17 and 19 July 2026 – affected sections and detours
Temporary traffic restrictions for trucks over 12 tonnes will apply in Bulgaria on 17 and 19 July. The bans will cover the A1 and A3 motorways as well as the I-1 road towards the border with Greece.
On Friday, 17 July, and Sunday, 19 July, temporary traffic restrictions will be in force in Bulgaria for heavy goods vehicles with a maximum permissible weight of over 12 tonnes. The bans will apply to selected sections of the Trakia Motorway (A1), the Struma Motorway (A3) and the national road I-1 Sofia–Kulata. Detour routes have been designated for the duration of the restrictions.
The restrictions apply to vehicles with a maximum permissible weight of over 12 tonnes, including combinations with trailers and semi-trailers. On Friday, the bans will be in force from 16:00 to 23:00, while on Sunday they will apply from 15:30 to 22:00.
The most significant disruption is expected on the Struma Motorway, the main corridor linking Sofia with the Kulata border crossing with Greece. The restrictions will cover sections between Sofia, Pernik, Dupnitsa, Kocherinovo and Simitli, as well as the section of national road I-1 Sofia–Kulata from km 376+100 to km 443+100.
The bans will also apply to selected sections of the Trakia Motorway, which connects Sofia with Burgas. Disruptions are expected in the areas of Sofia, Pazardzhik, Plovdiv, Nova Zagora, Yambol, Karnobat and Burgas.
The only difference between the restrictions in force on Friday and Sunday concerns the Sofia–Pernik section. On 17 July, the ban applies in the direction of Pernik, while on 19 July it applies in the direction of Sofia. On all other sections, the scope of the restrictions and the designated detour routes remain unchanged.
The information on the restrictions was published by the Association of International Road Carriers AEBTRI on the basis of a decision issued by the Bulgarian road authorities. The restrictions were introduced due to the expected increase in traffic during the weekend.
