by InTrieste
The regional government of Friuli Venezia Giulia has reached an agreement with Autostrade Alto Adriatico to facilitate the movement of heavy trucks along the Lisert-Villesse highway segment during the closure of Slovenia’s H4 expressway. The initiative aims to minimize disruption to regional logistics and local communities.
Cristina Amirante, the regional councillor for Infrastructure and Territory, announced the plan following the regional council’s approval of the framework agreement with the highway operator.
Under the arrangement, tolls on the Lisert-Villesse stretch will be reduced for heavy trucks that stop at the Interporto Sdag logistics hub in Gorizia. The regional government has allocated €200,000 to reimburse transport companies through Autostrade Alto Adriatico. The measure will remain in effect for the full duration of the H4 closure and may be extended to a second planned closure in 2026.
The H4 closure, which began on August 18, 2025, is part of infrastructure upgrade works and is expected to last 100 days. A second closure of 120 days is scheduled for summer 2026. The shutdown will reroute truck traffic through the Sežana/Fernetti border crossing, raising concerns about road congestion, customs delays, and economic effects, particularly in the Gorizia area.
Amirante said the regional authorities had engaged in extensive discussions with both Italian and Slovenian officials, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, and logistics operators. “Thanks to these institutional dialogues, the closure period has been reduced from two years to seven months, split between 2025 and 2026,” she said. “We also presented the issue at the Northern Italy Logistics Forum to ensure broad coordination across the supply chain.”
The regional government has allocated €550,000 through its budget stabilization law to fund mitigation measures. The first initiative, supported with €250,000, offered free parking at Sdag facilities to reduce pressure on local roads and distribute truck traffic more evenly. The new agreement with Autostrade Alto Adriatico complements this effort, providing financial support for toll reductions and encouraging trucks to use the highway as a safer and more efficient route.
Amirante emphasized the region’s pragmatic approach: “We continue to act swiftly to mitigate the negative impacts of this closure, providing dedicated resources and practical tools. Our dual goal is to protect the local economy and ensure the smoothest possible flow of goods under challenging circumstances.”
The agreement is set to remain in effect until the H4 is fully reopened in 2026, contingent on budget availability and monitoring results from the initial closure period in 2025. Autostrade Alto Adriatico has also been asked to actively promote the initiative.
