Road closures weekend: check out the marathon routes

Road closures and traffic restrictions will affect central Ljubljana this weekend due to the arrival of twelve European Union presidents for a meeting hosted by Slovenia’s president, Nataša Pirc Musar. The event, part of an informal group known as Arraiolos, has led to extensive road closures and limited access to certain areas around the presidential palace and nearby hotels. Starting at 15:00 on Friday, roads surrounding the presidential palace will be completely closed until 23:00. These include Prešernova Street from its junction with Rimska to its junction with Erjavčeva Street, and Gregorčičeva Street from its junction with Prešernova Street to its junction with Igriška Street. Parking restrictions have also been imposed in these areas. Traffic disruptions began earlier in the day, with partial closures in effect near the Grand Plaza hotel. On Slovenska Cesta heading towards Bežigrad, half the road will be closed, and left turns from Gosposvetska onto Slovenska Cesta, as well as right turns from Tavčarjeva and Trdinova streets onto Slovenska Cesta, will be prohibited. Additional restrictions apply to Pražakova Street and the pedestrian area on Trgu Osvobodilne Fronte leading toward the train station. From 10:00 to 18:00, traffic will be affected by the movement of escorted convoys. By 10:00, partial closures will be in force near the Grand Plaza hotel. On the northern ring road, between Tomačevo and Kosez, heavy goods vehicles exceeding 7.5 tonnes in weight will face restricted movement until 10:00. Traffic on the route from Ljubljana to Brdo near Kranj will also be disrupted between 8:00 and 10:00. The city's usual congestion problems were exacerbated by the additional road closures and traffic management measures. In some instances, escorted convoys had to navigate through crowded streets, causing delays and frustration among drivers. One convoy was observed driving along a pedestrian path near the Admiral casino on Gosposvetska Street, highlighting the challenges posed by the increased security presence. Policemen were deployed to manage traffic flow at key intersections, ensuring that vehicles could move efficiently despite the constraints. Drivers were advised to pay close attention to police instructions and the signals from escort vehicles. The situation in central Ljubljana was described as being almost entirely gridlocked, with little movement possible during peak hours. The road closures and traffic restrictions will remain in place throughout the duration of the summit, which continues into Saturday. The impact on local traffic patterns is expected to persist until the event concludes, with specific adjustments made to accommodate the movements of dignitaries and their entourages.