Belarus to ease up seasonal motorway restrictions for heavy trucks

MINSK (BelTA) – Seasonal motorway restrictions in Belarus will be reduced this year, BelTA learned from Sergei Leonchik, Head of the Motorway Maintenance and Motorway Service Office of the Central Office for Motorways of the Belarusian Transport and Communications Ministry, on 25 February.

The official reminded that every year seasonal restrictions are put in place to keep Belarusian motorways in good condition for safe travels in spring and summer. “This year we have decided to make life easier for truckers and forwarding companies,” said Sergei Leonchik.

The length of the motorways where the seasonal restrictions will be enforced has been reduced. Trucks have been granted considerable preferences with regard to axle load.

The spring restrictions will be enforced in Belarus on 14 March to last through 22 April.

Speaking about restrictions in summer, Sergei Leonchik informed they intend to restrict traffic for asphalt roads from 23 May through 31 August. In the past restrictions for trucks with the axle load of six tonnes were in effect in daytime if the air temperature was over 25C. This year the air temperature threshold has been raised to 27C.

The time when heavy trucks were forbidden to use the roads has been reduced. In the past heavy traffic was forbidden to use Belarusian roads from 11:00 to 21:00. The period will be reduced to 12:00 and 18:00. “In other words, we are giving trucks four more hours every day so that they could deliver their cargoes,” added Sergei Leonchik.