Snow and blizzards on Saturday: Motorists advised to travel with vehicles equipped for winter conditions

The Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) urges motorists to travel with vehicles equipped for winter conditions. Met office is forecasting snow for Saturday, January 20. There will be blizzards and drizzle conditions in north-central and northeastern Bulgaria, as well as on mountain passes.

The regional road infrastructure administrations are monitoring the forecasts and together with the road maintenance companies are taking the necessary actions. As a precautionary measure, pavements are being treated with chemicals, salt and sand to reduce the chances of icing and slipperiness when temperatures drop. Priority is given to motorways, the busiest routes on the first and second class roads and the mountain passes providing links between Northern and Southern Bulgaria.

To improve traffic safety, some sections may be closed for treatment with aggregates. Where necessary due to high winds, snow drifts or low visibility, traffic may be temporarily restricted until weather conditions get better and the road is cleared. If necessary, it is also possible to temporarily restrict the traffic of heavy trucks in certain sections to allow snow ploughs to clear the route, avoid traffic jams and blocking traffic, RIA said.

Motorists are urged to drive with caution and at a reasonable speed, not to take risky manoeuvres, keep the necessary distance, and not to overtake the snow-ploughing machines. The blocking of traffic by vehicles not prepared for winter conditions hampers the journey of all other drivers and the work of specialised equipment, RIA added.