Featured image: Illustration Croatia traffic update/CU
Croatia traffic update for the final weekend of July shows heavy traffic across several of the country’s main travel routes on Saturday afternoon, 25 July, despite generally favourable driving conditions.
Congestion was reported on the A1 motorway in both directions, on routes towards the island of Krk and the northern Adriatic, and at several border crossings with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro.
HAK says drivers travelling on Sunday, 26 July, should prepare for another very busy day, with rain, thunderstorms and strong winds expected to make conditions more difficult in parts of the country.
Slow traffic on the A1 motorway
The A1 Zagreb–Split–Dubrovnik motorway was carrying a high volume of traffic in both directions on Saturday afternoon.
Towards the coast, vehicles were moving slowly with occasional stops between Karlovac and Bosiljevo 2, from Ogulin to the Mala Kapela tunnel, and between Gospić and the Sveti Rok tunnel.
Heavy traffic was also reported towards Zagreb, particularly between the Sveti Rok tunnel, Gospić and Otočac. Traffic density was increased along much of the route northwards towards Karlovac and the Lučko toll station.
There were no significant delays at the Lučko toll station in either direction or at Demerje towards Zagreb at the time of the latest update.
Several broken-down vehicles were reported on the A1 in the direction of Zagreb, including between Ravča and Zagvozd, Prgomet and Danilo, and Ploče and Vrgorac. Traffic remained open, but temporary speed restrictions were in place.
Drivers should also reduce speed near the exit from the Sveti Rok tunnel towards Dubrovnik because of damaged road surfaces. The speed limit there is 80 km/h.
Long queue towards Krk
Traffic heading towards the island of Krk was particularly heavy. A queue extended along the DC102 from the Šmrika roundabout towards Omišalj, while no queue was reported in the direction of the mainland.
On the A7 between Hreljin and Šmrika, vehicles were moving in a slow-moving queue with occasional stops. Drivers travelling towards Crikvenica or Novi Vinodolski were advised to leave the motorway at Hreljin or Križišće.
Increased traffic was also reported on the A7 between Rijeka West and Orehovica in the direction of Križišće.
Delays on the A3 and at Bajakovo
On the A3 Bregana–Lipovac motorway, a traffic accident between Buzin and Kosnica caused a queue of around three kilometres in the direction of Lipovac. The accident investigation had been completed, and the queue was gradually decreasing.
A queue of passenger cars and lorries approaching the Bajakovo border crossing was around two kilometres long in the latest motorway update, also decreasing.
Drivers using the A3 overnight should note that traffic will be stopped several times for up to 15 minutes near the Slavonski Brod East and Slavonski Brod West junctions. The temporary closures are scheduled between 22:00 on 25 July and 04:00 on 26 July.
Similar temporary stops of up to 15 minutes are planned overnight on the A5 between Đakovo, Sredanci and Svilaj.
Roadworks on other major routes
HAK’s latest Croatia traffic update warns of roadworks, lane restrictions and closures on several major routes.
On the A4 Zagreb–Goričan motorway, roadworks between Zagreb East and Popovec are affecting traffic towards Goričan. Vehicles are using narrowed lanes, and part of the route is reduced to one lane with an 80 km/h speed limit. The works are scheduled to continue until 1 August.
Traffic was also limited to one lane on parts of the A2 Zagreb–Macelj motorway. A queue of around one kilometre was reported at the Trakošćan toll station towards Zagreb.
On the DC1 Zagreb–Karlovac–Split road, traffic was moving slowly through the roadworks zone near Otrić, between Gračac and Knin.
The DC547 between Sveti Rok and Jasenice, also known as the Majstorska cesta, remains closed to all vehicles because of road damage.
Stara Gradiška border crossing closed
Traffic was completely suspended in both directions between the Stara Gradiška border crossing in Croatia and Gradiška in Bosnia and Herzegovina because of damage to the bridge.
Travellers must use another border crossing. The nearby Gornji Varoš–Gradiška crossing has been open since 19 May.
Waiting times at several other borders were substantial on Saturday afternoon. Reported delays included:
- up to two hours when leaving Croatia at Jasenovac, Dvor and Hrvatska Dubica;
- up to one hour and 30 minutes at Hrvatska Kostajnica;
- around two hours when leaving Croatia at Karasovići, with waits of around one hour and 30 minutes on entry;
- up to one hour and 30 minutes in both directions at Vitaljina;
- around two hours entering Croatia and one hour and 30 minutes leaving at Bajakovo;
- up to four hours for some traffic leaving Croatia at Tovarnik;
- up to five hours when leaving Croatia at Principovac II.
Border waiting times can change quickly, particularly during the summer weekend changeover.
Ferry changes and cancelled Zadar–Ancona sailing
There were no general difficulties in Croatian maritime traffic on Saturday, but several individual services were changed.
The ferry on route 433 from Molat via Zverinac, Sestrunj and Rivanj to Zadar’s Gaženica port was operating later than scheduled on 25 July. It was expected to arrive in Gaženica at 19:15.
Additional sailings were introduced on the Zadar/Gaženica–Iž Mali/Bršanj route over the weekend. On Sunday, 26 July, the ferry is scheduled to leave Mali Iž/Bršanj for Gaženica at 17:45, followed by a departure from Gaženica for Iž Mali/Bršanj at 19:15.
However, the catamaran Jelena on the Zadar/Gaženica–Ancona route will not depart at 08:00 on Sunday because of unfavourable weather conditions.
Croatia traffic expected to remain heavy on Sunday as storms arrive
Very heavy traffic is expected again on Sunday, particularly on routes connecting the coast with inland Croatia.
According to HAK’s latest Croatia traffic update, queues and delays are expected on the A1 between Bosiljevo 2 and the Lučko toll station, on the A8 between the Učka tunnel and junction, around the island of Krk and the Krk Bridge, through the Otrić roadworks on the DC1, and near tourist destinations along the Adriatic Highway.
Roads may be wet and slippery during the morning, especially in the northern Adriatic and mountainous regions. Locally heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds could further disrupt travel.
Congestion is also expected at ferry ports and at most border crossings with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro.
Drivers are advised to check live Croatia traffic conditions before departure, allow additional travel time, maintain a safe distance and take regular breaks.
Strong bura winds have also caused disruption to air traffic in recent days, with numerous flights diverted from Dubrovnik Airport. Read more in Strong Bura Disrupts Flights in Dubrovnik, Most Aircraft Diverted.
