Bulgaria introduces truck bans: Trakia, Struma and the route to Greece
In August, Bulgaria will introduce temporary traffic restrictions for trucks with a gross vehicle weight of more than 12 tonnes. The bans will apply to the Trakia and Struma motorways and to the I-1 route towards the border with Greece. Additional restrictions may be introduced during periods of extreme heat.
In August, Bulgaria is introducing eased traffic restrictions for heavy goods vehicles with a maximum permissible weight exceeding 12 tonnes, including vehicle combinations with trailers and semi-trailers. The bans will apply on selected days on the Trakia and Struma motorways and on the I-1 road section towards the Greek border.
On the Trakia Motorway and the Struma–I-1 route, the restrictions will apply in specific directions depending on the day.
Trakia Motorway
❌ Sofia → Burgas: 14, 21 and 28 August, 16:00 - 20:00.
❌ Burgas → Sofia: 16, 23 and 30 August, 16:00 - 20:00.
Struma Motorway and I-1 Sofia - Kulata road
The restrictions apply to the section from km 376+100 to km 443+100.
❌ Sofia → Kulata border crossing: 14, 21 and 28 August, 16:00 - 20:00.
❌ Kulata → Sofia: 16, 23 and 30 August, 16:00 - 20:00.
The bans apply to heavy goods vehicles with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 12 tonnes, including vehicles with trailers and semi-trailers.
Additional bans during periods of extreme heat
Regardless of the scheduled restrictions, additional bans may be introduced due to high temperatures. If the air temperature exceeds 35°C and the asphalt temperature reaches 50°C, the movement of heavy goods vehicles with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 20 tonnes may be temporarily restricted on the national road network, with the exception of motorways. Under such conditions, the ban applies from 13:00 to 20:00 and may cover the following regions: Ruse, Veliko Tarnovo, Razgrad, Targovishte, Pleven, Lovech, Gabrovo, Silistra, Haskovo, Pazardzhik, Plovdiv and Stara Zagora.Bulgarian authorities may introduce such restrictions to protect road surfaces from damage caused by high temperatures. Information on currently applicable restrictions is published by the Bulgarian Road Infrastructure Agency. Exemptions include, among others, passenger transport, special vehicles intended for the transport of fallen animals, and vehicles carrying dangerous goods under ADR regulations, live animals, perishable goods and goods requiring controlled temperatures.
