In brief
Heavy goods vehicles will face temporary traffic restrictions on the Hemus Motorway between the Sofia exit and Botevgrad junction on November 13, 15 and 16. Restrictions include bans at specific hours, with alternative routes via Petrohan Mountain Pass. Normal traffic is expected to resume by December 18 and full reopening is planned for April 2027 with additional partial restrictions around January 11.
Bulgarian authorities announced that heavy goods vehicles exceeding 12 tonnes will be restricted on the Hemus Motorway for three days in November while the Topli Dol Tunnel undergoes major repairs.
On Friday, November 13, trucks traveling out of Sofia were barred between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. on the section between the Sofia exit and the Botevgrad road junction.
Sunday, November 15, the ban applied to heavy trucks heading toward the capital between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m., while on Monday, November 16, traffic was suspended in both directions from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
During the Friday restriction, and weather permitting on Sunday, trucks bound for Vratsa, Montana and Vidin could use alternative routes via the Petrohan Mountain Pass and the second‑class road II‑16 that connects Sofia, Svoge and Rebrovo.
The Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) said traffic through both tubes of the Topli Dol Tunnel is expected to resume around December 18, ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays.
After the holiday period, around January 11 2027, the tube leading toward Sofia will be restricted again until the construction is fully completed, with the projected deadline of April 2027.
Separately, traffic arrangements will be temporarily adjusted from Friday until November 17 along a two‑kilometre section of the Trakia Motorway in the Sofia Region to allow partial road‑surface repairs.
