Hainboaz and Shipka passes are open to traffic in winter conditions

Heavy snowfall began in the early afternoon on January 26 on the Hainboaz mountain pass and has been going on for several hours.

This is the most direct connection between Northern and Southern Bulgaria, through which the traffic is intensive and a large number of heavy goods vehicles use it..

The snowplows have been in place since noon, and the road has already been sanded. At the moment there are 14 machines on the ground, and 96 are ready for cleaning the roads on the territory of Veliko Turnovo District in central northern Bulgaria.

The authorities advise motorists to be extremely well prepared for driving in winter conditions, with suitable tyres, not to take risky maneuvers and to be tolerant to the snow removal equipment.

Code orange weather alert is in place for snowstorms during the night.

At 17.00, traffic through Shipka pass is normal, although the situation is very dynamic. Around 12.00 today, there was a heavy snow. Fall. Snow cleaning immediately began. Some 20 snow ploughing machines are ready to be involved in the cleaning of the roads.

Snowstorms are expected during the night due to strong gusts of wind, so drivers are urged to drive very carefully.

Lorries weighing more than 12 tonnes are temporarily banned to traffic. An organisation for inspection of heavy goods vehicles has been established.

There is a parking lot for lorries at the former airport in Stara Zagora, where they can stop and wait if the pass is closed to traffic.

During the night, some sections is possible to be closed while they get cleaned. There may be fallen branches and trees along the passes.