In brief
Heavy goods trucks above 12 tonnes will be barred from the Hemus Motorway on November 13, 15, and 16, 2026, with alternative routes and partial suspensions in place. Traffic should resume around December 18, while further arrivals on 2027 schedule suggest ongoing work until April.
Bulgaria’s Transport Infrastructure Agency announced 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 in November, as a major repair operation begins at the Topli Dol Tunnel.
On Friday, November 13, trucks traveling out of Sofia will be barred from the motorway section between kilometre 0 and kilometre 47 from 3 pm to 9 pm. On Sunday, November 15, the restriction will apply to heavy goods vehicles headed toward the capital between 2 pm and 9 pm, while on Monday, November 16, traffic will be suspended in both directions from 7 am to 9 am. These dates and times are intended to minimise disruption to the main carriageway during construction activities.
The revised traffic arrangement obliges motorists to use alternative routes, including the Petrohan Mountain Pass and the second‑class road II‑16 that connects Sofia, Svoge and Rebrovo, weather permitting. The same alternative routes will be accessible to trucks traveling toward Sofia on Sunday. If traffic volumes drop below a threshold, the Traffic Police may open the motorway earlier than scheduled, and officials may add further measures to improve safety as the situation evolves.
According to the RIA, traffic through both tubes of the Topli Dol Tunnel is expected to be restored around December 18, just before the Christmas and New Year holidays. After the holiday period the agency stated that from around January 11, 2027, the tube leading toward Sofia will again be restricted until the full construction works are completed. The projected deadline for finishing the repairs is April 2027. In parallel, traffic arrangements on a two‑kilometre stretch of the Trakia Motorway in the Sofia Region will change from Friday until November 17 to accommodate partial road‑surface repairs.
Effect on Freight and Logistics
Logistic operators are advised to update delivery schedules to accommodate the November restrictions. The heavy‑vehicle ban will affect flows to and from Sofia, Vratsa, Montana, and Vidin, potentially delaying material deliveries and increasing alternate routing costs. The RIA and Traffic Police are expected to monitor traffic volumes closely and can lift or adjust restrictions if conditions are favourable. Firms are encouraged to seek real‑time updates through the agency’s communication channels, especially during peak hours and extreme weather, when restrictions may be tightened or eased.
The temporary nature of the restrictions has prompted several freight companies to explore shuttling strategies, including convoy arrangements that exploit the shorter 7 am–9 am window on Monday. Meanwhile, authorities plan to maintain mirror signs to guide drivers along the detour paths and will coordinate with road‑maintenance crews to clear any obstructions that could impede the expressed routes.
While the agency has outlined a clear timetable for resumption and subsequent restrictions, questions remain about the exact extent of the repair work within each tube, and whether earlier or later closures might be necessary if unexpected structural issues arise. Additionally, the agency has not yet confirmed whether the proposed alternative routes will see increased traffic loads, and how that might affect local communities or the safety record of the detour roads. These uncertainties are expected to be addressed in forthcoming briefings before the full repair scheduling is finalized.
