Slovenia faces typical summer traffic chaos: jams, accidents plague highways

Slovenia's highways are currently experiencing significant congestion, delays, and accidents, characteristic of the peak summer travel season. Traffic jams are forming not only on major highways but also on regional roads as holidaymakers navigate popular tourist routes.

The Pomurska highway is particularly affected, with a lane closure between the Dolinsko rest area and the Turnišče junction towards Lendava due to a traffic accident. Previously, one entire side of the highway was closed in this direction. The Karavanke Tunnel is now open in both directions after being temporarily closed due to a vehicle breakdown. Similarly, the Primorska highway is open between Ravbarkomanda and Postojna after earlier disruptions.

Further delays are reported on the Podravska highway approaching the Gruškovje border crossing with Croatia. The Štajerska highway has traffic jams between the Slovenske Konjice junction and the Golo Rebro tunnel towards Ljubljana, and between the Dramlje junction and the Pletovarje tunnel towards Maribor. The Primorska highway is congested between the Kozarje junction and Brezovica, and between Unec and Ravbarkomanda towards Koper, as well as between Razdrto and Ravbarkomanda towards Ljubljana.

The Gorenjska highway sees a 500-meter queue towards Austria before the Karavanke Tunnel. Traffic is also heavy on the Lesce-Bled, Šmarje-Dragonja, and Lucija-Izola roads in both directions. The Ljubljana southern ring road has a closure at the Ljubljana center exit due to construction work. The Štajerska highway has its Šentjakob entrance closed towards Ljubljana due to third-lane construction, with traffic rerouted via the Sneberje entrance.

The Slovenian Traffic Safety Agency is reminding drivers to plan their journeys, depart on time, carry sufficient drinking water, and crucially, to form emergency lanes during traffic jams to allow for swift passage of emergency vehicles. The Vipava expressway will operate under a new traffic regime until mid-November between Nanos and Vipava, affecting traffic flow and rerouting heavy goods vehicles.