Slovakia: Bôrik tunnel on the D1 near Poprad closed at night in September and November
Anyone driving through the High Tatras on the central Slovak D1 motorway between Bratislava and Košice will need to prepare for full night-time closures in November. The state motorway company NDS will completely close the Bôrik Tunnel in the Mengusovce-Poprad West section on four nights (16 to 20 November 2026).
The reason is the tunnel's annual autumn maintenance: the tunnel walls, carriageway and drainage system will be cleaned, and the lighting and fans will also be inspected. In November, NDS will additionally install four new flow valves, which provide the tunnel's ventilation. The closures will each run between 8pm and 5:30am, in some directions until 8:30pm. During the day, the tunnel will remain open to traffic throughout.
Diversion via Svit
During the night-time closures, traffic will be diverted off the D1 at the Mengusovce junction and routed back to the motorway at Poprad West via road I/18 through the town of Svit. Anyone travelling through the High Tatras at night towards Prešov, Košice or further on towards Ukraine should allow extra travel time for this section, particularly at weekends when there is heavier travel traffic into the mountain region.
Further restrictions on the D1 in the High Tatras
The Bôrik Tunnel is not the only construction site in the region: a few kilometres further east, in the Poprad area, NDS is resurfacing sections of the D1 carriageway until 15 November 2026; lane closures are to be expected there. With its four lanes, the D1 is the country's most important motorway and also the main route for anyone travelling from Bratislava to the hiking areas of the High Tatras or further towards Košice. Travellers should check for current roadworks before setting off, as several closures may overlap this autumn.
Slovakia toll at a glance
For cars (including those with trailers) and motorhomes registered as cars, the digital vignette requirement applies regardless of weight on the signposted sections of motorways and expressways; for a combination over 3.5 t gross vehicle weight, the trailer also needs its own vignette. It is a flat amount for a fixed period. Motorcycles are exempt from the vignette requirement.
For trucks and buses over 3.5 t gross vehicle weight, the distance-based toll via On-Board Unit applies instead, the amount of which depends, among other things, on road category, distance travelled, and emission class. On 1 January 2027, Slovakia will switch the distance-based toll to a new system: anyone currently using an on-board unit from operator SkyToll must re-register their vehicle (with national provider CzechToll from 1 December 2026) and will receive a new on-board unit. Rates and the tolled road network will remain unchanged. Motorhomes registered as passenger cars (class M1) only ever need the vignette, regardless of weight. There is no separate special toll in Slovakia.
All details on tolls in SlovakiaThe vignette flat rate explained
With our vignette flat rate, you save yourself the hassle of buying individually for each trip: for just 12,80 €* per month, it covers the included vignettes in 8 European countries. For each trip, simply select the appropriate vignette, and the toll fee is then already covered by your flat rate. You are not tied to any single country.
* ASFINAG toll fee (10-day vignette): 12.80 €, toll fee fully covered by DMC, flat price (per monthly billing period): 12,80 €, notice period 0 days.
- One flat rate, 8 countries
- Travel flexibly
- Termination directly in the administration
The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant journey!
Whether through the Bôrik tunnel, via the diversion through Svit, or further towards Košice: with a valid vignette for Slovakia, you're always legally on the safe side on the D1. We wish you a good and safe journey through the High Tatras!
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything important about the closure of the Bôrik tunnel on the D1
What diversion applies during the closures at the Bôrik tunnel?
Traffic is diverted off the D1 at the Mengusovce junction and routed via road I/18 through Svit back onto the motorway at Poprad-West.
When is the Bôrik tunnel on the D1 closed?
Do I need an additional vignette for the diversion route via Svit?
Is the closure at the Bôrik tunnel the same as the construction work in the Tatra foothills?
