In brief
On November 13, 15, and 16, authorities imposed time‑specific bans on trucks exceeding 12 tonnes on the Hemus Motorway between the Sofia exit and Botevgrad. The measures aim to safeguard major repairs in the Topli Dol Tunnel and are expected to end by December 18, with further restrictions until the project completes in April 2027. Transport operators, commuters, and the wider economy grapple with detours and timing constraints as traffic is redirected through alternative routes such as the Petrohan Mountain Pass and the II‑16 road.
BTA reported that heavy goods vehicles weighing more than 12 tonnes will face temporary traffic restrictions on the Hemus Motorway between the Sofia exit and the Botevgrad road junction on Friday, Sunday, and Monday as the Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) undertakes major repairs to the Topli Dol Tunnel.
On Friday, November 13, trucks traveling out of Sofia were barred from using the motorway between 3 pm and 9 pm. The restriction was to apply only to vehicles heavier than 12 tonnes, with lighter trucks and passenger cars permitted to continue. The ban covered the stretch from kilometre 0 to the Botevgrad road junction at kilometre 47.
On Sunday, November 15, the penalty reversed; heavy goods vehicles traveling toward the capital were not allowed on the motorway between 2 pm and 9 pm. Trucks moving in the outward direction from Sofia were unaffected. These time windows were designed to limit traffic during critical phases of the tunnel’s rehabilitation work.
On Monday, November 16, the RIA suspended truck traffic in both directions between 7 am and 9 am. The brief halt was intended to allow maintenance crews to finish the final structural adjustments before the remaining section of the tunnel reopened. Traffic volumes were anticipated to fall, so local traffic police could lift the earlier ban if the conditions allowed.
During the Friday restriction, weather permitting, heavy goods vehicles heading toward Vratsa, Montana and Vidin could use alternative routes via the Petrohan Mountain Pass and along the second‑class road II‑16, which links Sofia, Svoge and Rebrovo. The same detour options remained available on Sunday for trucks opposing the direction of traffic toward Sofia, again depending on weather conditions.
Recognizing the impact on freight logistics, the RIA warned that if traffic volumes decreased, authorities could permit trucks to pass before the scheduled end of the restrictions. In addition, the agency kept the option of implementing further measures to improve traffic management and road safety, as it assessed conditions on the ground.
The RIA indicated that 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, heavy goods traffic will be again restricted, with a window beginning around January 11, 2027, until the construction work is fully completed in April 2027.
Besides the Hemus Motorway changes, the RIA also temporarily altered traffic arrangements along a two‑kilometre section of the Trakia Motorway in the Sofia Region, starting on Friday, to accommodate partial repairs to the road surface. This adjustment lasted until November 17.
For local commuters, the detours add travel time and fuel costs, while freight companies face potential schedule delays that ripple through the supply chain. For the national economy, the restrictions underscore the tension between maintaining aging infrastructure and sustaining commerce. The RIA’s decisions reflect a balance between safety and economic activity, rendering the traffic changes a matter of public accountability and institutional oversight.
Governance bodies responsible for transportation have issued statements explaining that the restrictions are temporary, with the primary goal of ensuring the long‑term safety and reliability of the motorway corridor that connects Sofia to northern Bulgaria. The RIA has set a projected deadline of April 2027 for the completion of the Topli Dol Tunnel repairs, after which all heavy vehicle restrictions on the corridor will be lifted.
