Croatia road alert for 22 and 23 April
If you are driving to Dalmatia this Wednesday or Thursday, this is a day to check HAK's English traffic report before leaving rather than assuming the main motorway run will stay straightforward. In its 22 April morning update, HAK flags several practical pinch points for self-drive travelers, including a full overnight closure on the A1 between Ploče and Karamatići, a second planned stop window near the Šubir tunnel on 23 April, and night closures on the A2 between Krapina and Trakošćan. Add wet roads, possible rockfall and some wind restrictions on exposed coastal roads, and this becomes a real planning issue for anyone driving south, driving back inland, or crossing into Croatia by road before continuing toward the Adriatic.
What is changing on the main driving corridors
Route | Timing | Official status | What travelers should do |
|---|---|---|---|
A1 Ploče-Karamatići | 22 April, 10pm to 4am | Traffic suspended in both directions for the Kobiljača tunnel exercise | Use the HAK detour via Vrgorac, DC62, ŽC6276 and Ploče/DC8 if you are driving toward Dubrovnik, Pelješac or the lower Neretva area overnight |
A1 Vrgorac-Ploče, Šubir tunnel approaches | 23 April, 11am to 3pm | Traffic may stop for up to 15 minutes in both directions | Build margin into midday drives south of Vrgorac instead of planning a tight hotel arrival or airport pickup |
A2 Krapina-Trakošćan | Nights of 22 and 23 April, 8pm to 5am | Section closed in both directions | If you are entering Croatia from Slovenia or heading back that way, expect the detour on DC1 |
A1 Bisko-Split toward Zagreb | Until 12 June | Long-running closure in the Zagreb direction with detour and likely toll-area delays | If you are leaving Split northbound, recheck the workaround before setting your departure time |
Who should pay closest attention
This matters most for four groups of travelers. First, anyone driving into southern Dalmatia late on 22 April, especially toward Dubrovnik, Pelješac, Ploče or accommodation south of the Neretva valley. Second, drivers coming from Slovenia or Austria through the Zagreb side and using the A2 at night. Third, visitors landing in Split or Dubrovnik and immediately picking up a rental car for a long onward drive. Fourth, families and apartment guests with fixed handover times, because these are exactly the situations where a short planned closure creates a much more annoying arrival than the map suggests.
HAK also reports partly wet and slippery roads, possible rockfall and wind-related vehicle restrictions on exposed stretches around the Rijeka side, the DC8 coastal road from Bakar toward Karlobag and the Omiš bypass. The weather picture at DHMZ supports the need for a cautious driving day rather than a rushed one.
Why this matters even if your hotel is not on the closed section
The biggest traveler mistake on days like this is reading a closure as someone else's local problem. The Ploče-Karamatići closure is important because it sits on the last major inland motorway approach many drivers use before peeling off toward Dubrovnik, Pelješac or the southern coast. The A2 closure matters because it can affect the start of the whole Croatia drive for visitors arriving overland from Central Europe. Even the ongoing Bisko-Split works matter if your return leg depends on leaving Split on a tight schedule.
None of this means you should cancel the drive. It means 22 and 23 April are bad days for optimistic timing. If your plan only works when every toll plaza, tunnel section and motorway junction behaves normally, you are not leaving enough room.
What to do before you leave
Check HAK again close to departure, especially if you are driving after dinner or before sunrise. Save the official report instead of relying on screenshots or yesterday's travel groups. If you are aiming for Dubrovnik or Pelješac overnight on 22 April, note the official detour now rather than searching for it once you are already near Vrgorac. If you are coming through the A2 corridor, treat DC1 as part of the realistic night plan. And if you are threading several time-sensitive steps together, like flight arrival, rental pickup, supermarket stop and apartment check-in, simplify the plan where you can.
FAQ
Is the A1 to Dubrovnik closed all day on 22 April?
No. HAK says the full suspension between Ploče and Karamatići is scheduled from 10pm on 22 April to 4am on 23 April, with an official detour in place.
Will there be more disruption on 23 April even after the overnight closure ends?
Possibly. HAK also says traffic may stop for up to 15 minutes between 11am and 3pm on 23 April near the Šubir tunnel approaches on the Vrgorac-Ploče section.
Who should worry about the A2 closure?
Mainly travelers using the Croatia-Slovenia approach at night. HAK says the Krapina-Trakošćan section is closed in both directions on the nights of 22 and 23 April, with DC1 as the detour.