More than 200 000 vehicles are expected to leave the Bulgarian capital on Wednesday as people embark on trips for the long weekend.

The long weekend will last from Thursday when Bulgaria celebrates its national holiday (Liberation Day) until Sunday.

Intensive traffic is expected on Wednesday afternoon, especially towards the seaside and the winter resorts.

In Sofia, the heaviest traffic is expected on the boulevards Tsarigradsko shose and Botevgradsko shose, the two main roads leading out of the capital to respectively Trakia motorway and Hemus motorway.

There will be heightened police presence at all key roads and exits of Sofia.

Trains and buses have provided additional seats for passengers, private bTV station informs.

A total of 14 000 additional seats have been provided on trains and 10 000 on buses on Wednesday and Thursday.

Additional seats have also been provided for the last day of the long weekend on Sunday.

As usual, the busiest routes are Sofia-Pleven-Shumen-Varna, Sofia-Ruse, Sofia-Vidin and Sofia-Blagoevgrad.

There will be also restrictions to the passage of trucks.

The movement of trucks above 12 tonnes will be suspended on all motorways and on the busiest sections of the first and second class roads on Wednesday between 16 and 20 o’clock (EET).

The same restriction will be in force on Sunday between 14 and 20 o’clock (EET).

The transit passage of vehicles through the Shipka pass will be suspended due to the traditional celebrations taking place on the historic peak on Thursday.

Transit traffic will be redirected through the Pass of the Republic (Hainboaz).