Massive Tailbacks on AM ‘Hemus’ Towards Sofia: Vehicles in Gridlock Amid Emergency Situation
Drivers heading towards Sofia on the Asenovgrad-Sofia (AM ‘Hemus’) highway faced hours of delays and massive tailbacks on Monday morning following an emergency situation. The congestion was caused by a combination of a serious incident and routine road maintenance.
Reports from three major news outlets, DarikNews, Blitz, and Focus News Agency, paint a grim picture of the scenario. The traffic chaos began around 8:00 AM and has since left thousands of commuters stuck on the highway, with some journeys taking over four times the usual travel time.
The initial cause of the disruption was an accident that occurred between the tunnel at ‘Praveški Hanove’ and the ‘Vitinya’ and ‘Echemiyska’ tunnels. Details of the crash are still sketchy, but it’s understood that it involved multiple vehicles, leading to a complete knock-out of traffic in the direction of Sofia.
Adding further to the gridlock was scheduled road maintenance near the ‘Lovec’ interchange, which closed several lanes of the highway. The combination of the accident and the roadworks led to a standstill on the major artery, with traffic stretching back kilometers.
Drivers took to social media to vent their frustrations, with many expressing their shock at the sheer scale of the traffic jam. One motorist, who had been on the road for over two hours, tweeted, "I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s like the highway is at a standstill."
Authorities have urged motorists to exercise caution and plan their journeys accordingly. Alternate routes, such as the Ihtiman-Sofia road, have been suggested to alleviate the congestion. However, with the peak travel period approaching, commuters are advised to expect delays.
This latest traffic nightmare on AM ‘Hemus’ comes just weeks after similar chaotic scenes following a major crash near the ‘Zlatnite-mostove’ interchange. Road safety advocates have once again called for more stringent enforcement of speed limits and a greater emphasis on driver awareness.
As of the time of writing, efforts to clear the backlog continue. Motorists are advised to monitor traffic updates and adjust their travel plans accordingly.
