Test period for the operation of barriers on the Vršič road
13. 10. 2025
The Slovenian Infrastructure Agency will carry out a test operation of the barrier system regulating access to the Vršič Pass area between 13 and 27 October 2025.
The purpose of the system is to improve traffic and parking management in this heavily frequented tourist and transit area.
Barriers are installed at both entry points to the Vršič road. On the Kranjska Gora side, they are located past Lake Jasna, while on the Trenta side, they are placed before the turnoff for the Soča spring. At these points, the road widens into two lanes.
The left lane will serve as a transit route over the pass, while the right lane will be for visitors wishing to park their vehicles at the top of the pass along a 700-metre section of road where parking spaces will be arranged.
Drivers entering the right lane to park at the top of the pass must take a parking ticket at the barrier and place it visibly inside their vehicle upon arrival. When leaving, the barrier will open automatically after license plate recognition. If the system fails to recognize the plate, exit will still be possible by inserting the parking ticket into the terminal.
During the test period, parking will be free of charge, and parking meters will not be in use.
The left lane is intended for all other users who do not intend to park at the top of the pass. This includes transit traffic, motorcyclists, cyclists, and visitors wishing to park elsewhere along the Vršič road (e.g. at mountain huts, the Soča spring, the Russian Chapel, or private properties).
The barrier system on the left lane will also recognize license plates and open automatically. Vehicles whose plates cannot be read (e.g. motorcycles, tractors, sports cars) will receive a transit ticket to present at the exit terminal when leaving the area.
A turning area will be arranged in the widened section next to the left lane. Drivers may use it if all parking spaces at the top are full or if a queue forms on the right lane. This allows them to turn safely without entering the barrier zone.
It is important to note that if the right lane is occupied up to the widening point, vehicles must not stop on the left transit lane, as this would block traffic. In such cases, the driver must either use the turning area or continue driving on the left lane without access to parking at the top.
During the test period, stewards will be present both at the barrier points and at the top of the pass to assist drivers and ensure the proper functioning of the system.
In October 2025, only 39 of the planned 92 parking spaces will be temporarily available, as construction work is still ongoing. Parking will remain free of charge until the end of the test period.
The Infrastructure Agency urges all road users to remain patient, follow traffic signs, and comply with the stewards’ instructions, as this is essential for an effective test of the system that aims to improve traffic safety and spatial management in the Vršič Pass area.
Figure 1: Before the barrier, an additional lane appears on the right, intended for visitors to the top of the Vršič Pass.
Figure 2: The left lane is intended for all vehicles that do not plan to park along the 700-metre section of the road at the top of the Vršič Pass, as well as for motorcyclists and cyclists. The right lane is reserved for visitors who wish to park at the top of the pass.
