Drivers should drive with increased caution, at a reasonable speed and set off with cars prepared for winter conditions, the Agency for Road Infrastructure warned, quoted by BTA.
The meteorologists' forecasts are for a decrease in temperatures, and on the night of Christmas Eve and Christmas in Northwestern and Northern Bulgaria the rain may turn into snow. The synoptic analyses are constantly monitored by the road departments and road maintenance companies and actions are being taken to treat the road surfaces against slipperiness and icing in the event of a decrease in temperatures and expected precipitation. The goal is to start preventive and then snow removal activities as quickly as possible to ensure road traffic, the RIA indicates. The priority is the motorways, the busiest routes on the first-class and second-class road network and the passes providing connections between Northern and Southern Bulgaria.
Drivers need to drive with increased caution and at a reasonable speed, keeping a distance, not making sudden maneuvers and not overtaking specialized machines that process the pavements. Blocking traffic by vehicles that are not prepared for winter conditions makes it difficult for all other drivers to travel and for snow removal equipment to work, the road agency reminds.
On December 30, the movement of heavy trucks will be stopped between 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., with the restriction applying to vehicles leaving Sofia. On the last day off of the new year – January 4, 2026, the ban on the movement of vehicles over 12 tons will be between 12:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and will be for vehicles traveling to Sofia.
The restriction does not apply to vehicles performing public passenger transport.
On the „Hemus“ and „Struma“ highways, the ban does not cover vehicles over 12 tons carrying dangerous goods (ADR), live animals, perishable food products and temperature-controlled cargo and specialized carcass trucks.
On the „Trakia“ highway in the section from the „Ihtiman“ (at 34th km) to the v. “Vakarel“ (at 23rd km) in the direction of Sofia, the ban will not apply to vehicles over 12 tons carrying dangerous goods (ADR).
In the Blagoevgrad region today between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., reverse traffic will be introduced on the section of the I-1/E-79 Sofia - Kulata road, at the connection of the first-class road with the “Struma“ highway and the “Simitli“ road junction. The goal is to facilitate travel on weekends in the expected heavy traffic. Two lanes will be provided in the direction of Kulata and one lane in the direction of Sofia. In case of heavy traffic and at the discretion of the “Traffic Police“ Other changes in the traffic organization may be introduced to facilitate travel and ensure safety.
Drivers may use other republican roads as alternative detour routes, while respecting the permanent traffic organization in force for them.