Only Vehicles of up to 12 Tonnes Will Pass through the Petrohan Passage from Tomorrow

The movement of heavy trucks through the passage is prohibited

From tomorrow only vehicles of up to 12 tonnes will pass through the Petrohan Passage. This is stipulated by the amendments to the Order RD-11-730 of 5 June 2023, related to the temporary traffic organization in the section of the road I-1 between Mezdra and Lyutidol. The changes will come into force from tomorrow — 22 June, so that carriers can plan their work and routes. The measure is preventive and the aim is to protect the life and health of those travelling on the road II-81 through the pass, as with the onset of the active summer season the traffic intensity increases. Petrohan has an altitude of 1,444 m. The route has large longitudinal gradients and small radii of curves, which is a prerequisite for the occurrence of road accidents with increasing traffic.

There is no change to the other detour routes:

• cars of up to 3.5 t can pass on road III-1004 (Pavolche — Chelopek) — road III-1602 (Chelopek — Lyutybrod) — road II-16 (Lyutybrod — Eliseina — Svoge — II-18 Sofia ring road and vice versa. Drivers have the possibility to drive on all other roads of the national road network that are open to traffic.

For vehicles over 3.5 t the detour routes are:

• road II-13 Krapchene — Krivodol — Borovan — Byala Slatina — Knezha — Dolni Dabnik — road I-3 Dolni Dabnik — Cherven Bryag — Lukovit — Zlatna Panega — Hemus Motorway and vice versa;
• road II-15 Vratsa — Borovan — road II-13 Borovan — Byala Slatina — Knezha — Dolni Dabnik — road I-3 Dolni Dabnik — Cherven Bryag — Lukovit — Zlatna Panega — Hemus Motorway and vice versa.
• for those travelling in the direction of Montana the route is on Hemus Motorway — road I-3 Yablanitsa — Zlatna Panega — road III-103 Zlatna Panega — Batultsi — Roman — Dolna Beshovitsa — Gorna Beshovitsa — Kalen — Gorna Kremena — Dolna Kremena — Mezdra — road I-1 Mezdra — Montana.

Drivers can also use other national roads as detour routes, observing the permanent traffic organisation in force for them. The appeal to the drivers is to drive carefully, at a reasonable speed, to strictly observe the traffic signals and not to undertake risky overtaking which could endanger the safety and lives of all passengers.

The suspension of traffic on the section of the I-1 road between Mezdra and Lyutidol and the introduction of detour routes is necessary because of construction works for the modernization of the first-class road. Traffic was supposed to be restricted last fall, but was postponed due to the upcoming winter months. On 10 June, the traffic in the section was restricted so that the next stage of the modernization of the road Mezdra — Botevgrad could continue. The plan is for widening the route to a four-lane gauge with a dividing strip, as well as the construction of bypass routes that will take transit traffic away from the settlements. The complete closure of the section is also necessary because the lane in the direction of Vidin, in the section between the 161st and 172nd km, will be built in the immediate vicinity of the existing I-1 road, while the lane in the direction of Sofia will be mostly on the existing route of the first-class road. Blasting of slopes, grading and slope failures, installation of slope netting, and a variety of other construction activities will be required to complete all of the planned project activities and roadway doubling. Their safe execution requires a complete closure of the section, thus avoiding serious traffic hazards and the preconditions for traffic accidents. On the section of I-1 road traffic is scheduled to resume in December 2023.

Road Infrastructure Agency apologises to the citizens for the inconvenience caused. After the completion of the construction works on the extension of the road Mezdra — Lyutidol, drivers will be able to travel faster, safer and more comfortably on the newly built route. In this regard, we urge motorists, as well as residents of the settlements in the region, to show understanding and patience while the repair works are underway.

The full text in the amendment of the order — HERE.