Lithuania’s State Border Guard Service has advised travellers heading to Poland to use less busy border crossings, including the Lazdijai route, amid ongoing border controls between the two countries this weekend.
All freight traffic is currently being diverted through the Kalvarija crossing, which is causing increased vehicle flow and longer waiting times, the border service warned.
Drivers are urged to plan their journeys in advance, keep up to date with border traffic conditions, and consider alternative crossings to avoid delays.
In addition to the main Lazdijai–Sejny road, recommended alternative border crossings include Kalediskiai–Markiskes, Galiniai–Burbiskes, Naujieji Alksnenai–Kreivenai, Ziogaiciai–Pasesupe, Vygreliai–Suduva, and Varteliai–Burniskes.
The heightened border controls were reinstated by Poland on 7 July and are set to remain in place until mid-October.
The Polish government cites the need to curb secondary illegal migration, particularly people travelling from Belarus through Lithuania and Latvia to enter Poland.
Polish border authorities have stepped up checks at 13 locations along the Lithuanian and German borders. Regular additional inspections are taking place at key crossings such as Budzisko–Kalvarija, Lazdijai–Ogrodniki, and the Mockava–Trakiszki railway station.
Between July 7 and August 2, Polish border guards reportedly checked over 493,000 people crossing from Germany and Lithuania. During this period, 124 individuals were refused entry at the German border, 61 at the Lithuanian border, and 14 people were detained on suspicion of aiding illegal migrants at the Lithuanian border.
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