Certain heavy goods vehicles are prohibited from circulating on the Inner Ring Road of Porto, the VCI, from September 15th. The measure is part of Decree-Law No. 155-A/2026, published on July 31st, and applies on weekdays between 7am and 9pm, throughout the entire length of one of the country's highest-traffic roads, which includes sections of highways A1/IC1, A20/IC23, A28/IC1 and A44/IC23.
The prohibition covers cargo transport vehicles with gross weight exceeding 3,500 kilograms, three or more axles, and height equal to or greater than 1.1 meters measured vertically from the first axle, generally corresponding to toll classes 3 and 4. The objective is to divert to the Porto Outer Regional Circular, the CREP, the heavy through-traffic, meaning vehicles that merely pass through the Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia area without carrying out operations in these cities.
Heavy vehicles with origin or destination in Porto or Vila Nova de Gaia may continue to circulate during the restricted hours when carrying out loading or unloading operations in these municipalities, but they must previously obtain authorization through a digital platform made available by both municipalities. From September 15th, anyone who disregards the prohibition without benefiting from a valid exception commits a minor offense punished with a fine between 150 and 750 euros, and is also prevented from continuing their journey until the prohibition period ends.
