The Vyšné Nemecké – Uzhhorod border crossing (živnosť - trade license) on Thursday, August 20, will partially restrict the passage of freight transport towards Slovakia for two hours. This was reported by the Financial Administration of Slovakia. The reason is a scheduled metrological measurement of road axle scales.
The restriction will be in effect from 10:30 to 12:30. The crossing will not be fully closed: traffic will mostly be stopped in one lane, and the working lane will be marked with temporary road signs. The restriction applies specifically to freight delivery. There is no mention of changes for passenger cars in the announcement.
What will happen at the crossing
Axle scales at the checkpoint weigh every truck entering Slovakia and control overloading. They need to be calibrated regularly, so the Financial Administration announces such work in advance.
Spokesperson Daniel Kováč asks truck drivers to be especially careful when crossing the border, to follow the temporary traffic organization and the instructions of customs and police officers.
If you often cross this border, details about routes and travel between cities are collected on our page about transport in Slovakia.
Why this crossing is important
Vyšné Nemecké is the busiest checkpoint on the Slovak-Ukrainian border and the main gateway from Ukraine to the Schengen zone in this direction. Therefore, even short restrictions here are felt by hundreds of carriers.
Queues at the crossing are common even without technical work. For example, in November 2023, trucks stood in long lines due to changes in EU customs legislation, which not all carriers were prepared for. Then the Slovak side advised choosing alternative checkpoints, including on the border with Hungary.
The crossing is being modernized for 9 million euros
In March 2024, the Financial Administration announced a large-scale reconstruction of this checkpoint. The project costs over 9 million euros, partly funded by the EU.
The reconstruction covers both the entry and exit parts of the crossing. Its goals are:
- to speed up control for passenger transport;
- to check cargo and passenger flow more efficiently;
- to prepare infrastructure for the European Entry/Exit System (EES), which the EU is introducing at external borders for automatic registration of entry and exit of third-country nationals.
On the Ukrainian side, the “єЧерга” (yeCherha - eQueue) system operates for trucks
If you are a carrier and regularly transport goods through Uzhhorod, note: from April 24, 2024, updated electronic queue rules apply in this direction here.
Previously, empty and loaded trucks stood in separate queues, but this division was canceled. Now all freight vehicles over 3.5 tons register in a single queue in the “єЧерга” system. The goal is to make border crossing times more predictable and equalize conditions for all carriers.
What drivers should do on Thursday
If your trip to Slovakia is on August 20, allow extra time or reschedule crossing before 10:30 or after 12:30. The two-hour restriction at the busiest crossing will most likely cause truck congestion on both sides of the border.
Carriers should also book a place in the “єЧерга” in advance and monitor announcements from the Financial Administration: technical work at this checkpoint is done regularly, and the administration announces each new restriction separately.
