In brief
The Road Infrastructure Agency announced that heavy goods vehicles exceeding 12 tonnes will face temporary restrictions on the Hemus Motorway on 13, 15, and 16 November to conduct major repairs on the Topli Dol Tunnel. Trucks can use alternative routes via the Petrohan Mountain Pass and road II‑16, and traffic is expected to be fully restored by late December, with final completion projected for April 2027.
According to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), heavy goods vehicles weighing more than 12 tonnes will be temporarily restricted on the Hemus Motorway between Sofia and Botevgrad on three dates in mid‑November as part of major repairs to the Topli Dol Tunnel.
On Friday, 13 November, BTA reports that trucks travelling out of Sofia are barred from using the motorway between 3 pm and 9 pm. The restriction applies to the stretch from kilometre 0 to the Botevgrad junction at kilometre 47.
Sunday, 15 November will see a reciprocal restriction: BTA says trucks heading toward the capital are prohibited between 2 pm and 9 pm. Truck traffic in both directions is fully suspended on Monday, 16 November from 7 am to 9 am, BTA reports.
The Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) has provided alternative routes for affected traffic. BTA notes that vehicles heading toward Vratsa, Montana and Vidin can use the Petrohan Mountain Pass and the second‑class road II‑16, linking Sofia, Svoge and Rebrovo, weather permitting. The same detour is available for trucks traveling toward Sofia on Sunday, BTA states.
BTA indicates that if traffic volumes decrease, the Traffic Police may allow trucks through earlier than scheduled, and the authorities may introduce additional measures to improve traffic management and road safety depending on their assessment.
Both tubes of the Topli Dol Tunnel are expected to be open again by around 18 December, BTA says, ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays. After the holiday period, approximately 11 January 2027, traffic through the tube leading toward Sofia is scheduled to be restricted again until construction is fully completed, BTA reports.
The projected deadline for completion of the repair work is April 2027, BTA adds, and the RIA will keep motorists informed of any changes.
Separately, BTA reports that traffic arrangements will be temporarily altered from Friday until 17 November along a two‑kilometre section of the Trakia Motorway in the Sofia Region, to allow for partial repairs to the road surface.
