One of the key road links between southern Poland and Slovakia will become unavailable for heavy goods vehicles for five weeks. From 23:00 on July 12 until 08:00 on August 17, the Slovak D3 motorway will be fully closed on the Svrčinovec–Skalité section, near the Zwardoń–Skalité border crossing.
The restriction directly affects the route where Poland’s S1 expressway connects with Slovakia’s D3 motorway. For many carriers, this crossing is an important corridor for traffic between Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and further south toward the Balkans.
For vehicles with a gross weight of up to 7.5 tonnes, an alternative route will be available through the Svrčinovec–Skalité section of national road I/12. But trucks above 7.5 tonnes will not be allowed to use that road. In practice, this means that heavy vehicles should not be routed toward Zwardoń during the closure period.
As K2Cargo News previously reported in Europe Introduces Summer Truck Driving Restrictions for 2026, summer road restrictions and temporary closures are becoming a major operational issue for European road freight. The D3 closure adds another challenge during an already difficult travel season.
What Will Be Closed
The main problem is the complete closure of the Slovak D3 motorway between Svrčinovec and Skalité.
According to information shared by the Silesian police, the closure will begin late on July 12 and continue until the morning of August 17. During that period, traffic will not be able to pass normally through the affected motorway section.
The works are part of a planned reconstruction on the Slovak side. Because both carriageways are expected to be closed, the disruption will not be limited to one direction or a short night-time restriction.
For passenger cars and lighter vehicles, the designated detour through national road I/12 may reduce the impact. For heavy trucks, however, the situation is much more serious because that detour is not available to vehicles above 7.5 tonnes.
Why Heavy Trucks Are Most Affected
The key issue is not only the motorway closure itself, but the weight restriction on the alternative road.
The I/12 route between Skalité and Svrčinovec has been designated as a detour for the repaired section. However, transit by heavy goods vehicles above 7.5 tonnes is prohibited on that road. This removes the most obvious local alternative for international truck traffic.
As a result, transport companies should avoid sending heavy vehicles toward the Zwardoń–Skalité crossing unless they have confirmed a legally valid route. A truck that reaches the area without a usable detour may face delays, forced rerouting or serious disruption to delivery schedules.
The problem is especially important for carriers operating time-sensitive shipments. A missed crossing plan can affect driver working hours, customer delivery windows, parking availability and return loads.
Planning Must Start Before Departure
The closure requires early planning, not last-minute decisions near the border.
Dispatchers should check which vehicles are scheduled to move between Poland and Slovakia from July 12 to August 17 and identify those above the 7.5-tonne threshold. These vehicles will need alternative border routes and revised travel times.
Companies should also inform drivers clearly that the Zwardoń route is not suitable for heavy trucks during the works. This is important because navigation systems may still suggest the shortest route unless restrictions are updated correctly.
Customers should also be warned about possible delays. Even if a carrier chooses another crossing, additional traffic may increase congestion on other routes. Longer distances may also affect fuel costs and driver rest planning.
A Wider Summer Logistics Problem
The closure comes during a sensitive period for road freight.
July and August are already difficult months for European carriers. Holiday traffic increases, roadworks are more frequent, and many countries apply weekend or seasonal truck restrictions. When an important cross-border route closes at the same time, the effect can spread beyond the immediate region.
The Zwardoń–Skalité crossing is not only a local border point. It forms part of a wider network used by carriers moving goods between Central Europe and southern markets. If trucks are redirected to other crossings, pressure may increase elsewhere.
This means that the closure could affect not only Polish and Slovak carriers, but also companies operating international routes across the region.
What Carriers Should Do
Transport companies should treat the five-week closure as a fixed operational constraint.
The first step is to remove Zwardoń–Skalité from route plans for heavy vehicles above 7.5 tonnes during the affected period. The second is to calculate alternative corridors before assigning loads. The third is to review driver hours, delivery appointments and parking points along the new route.
Companies should also monitor updates from police and road authorities, especially after August 17, when further partial restrictions may still apply during the final stage of works.
The closure is temporary, but its impact can be serious for carriers that ignore it. For heavy trucks, the Zwardoń route will effectively be unavailable for five weeks.
For logistics operators, the message is simple: plan around the closure now, or risk losing time at the border later.
Read also: Europe Introduces Summer Truck Driving Restrictions for 2026
