French roads watchdog issues traffic warning for August holiday weekend

France’s roads watchdog Bison Futé has warned that summer holidaymakers heading back home from popular resorts are likely to make conditions on the country’s major routes particularly difficult over the long weekend.

The worst of the difficulties are forecast for Saturday and Sunday, when nationwide red and amber warnings are in place – but will spill over into Thursday – the eve of Friday’s public holiday – as well as Monday.

Here’s a look at the warnings in place and the most difficult roads;

Thursday, August 14th

Plenty of drivers will be setting off on Thursday evening to enjoy the long weekend.

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In the outbound direction, most congestion is expected on roads serving the west, north, and southwest, with a yellow traffic alert in force, while the Mediterranean arc and roads around Île-de-France will also be busy.

Map: Bison Futé

For outgoing journeys, motorists are advised to:

• Leave or cross the Île-de-France before 10am or after 10pm;
• Avoid the A13 between Paris and Caen from 4pm to 10pm;
• Avoid the A84 between Caen and Rennes from 5pm to 9pm;
• Avoid the A11 between Le Mans and Nantes from 3pm to 8pm;
• Avoid the N165 between Nantes and Quimper from 4pm to 7pm;
• Avoid the A10 between Paris and Orléans from 10am to 9pm and between Tours and Bordeaux from 8am to 8pm;
• Avoid the A63 between Bordeaux and Bayonne from 9am to 7pm;
• Avoid the A71 between Orléans and Bourges from 9am to 7pm.

Those heading the in the other direction should:

• Avoid the A9 between Spain and Narbonne from 10am to 12pm and between Narbonne and Orange from 10am to 8pm;
• Avoid the A54 and the N113 between Nîmes and Salon-de-Provence from 4pm to 6pm;
• Avoid the A8 between Italy and Aix-en-Provence from 8am to 8pm;
• Avoid the A7 between Marseille and Lyon from 9am to 7pm.

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Friday, August 15th

Traffic will be heavy in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, particularly on the A7 between Orange and Lyon and on the RN205 leading to the Mont Blanc tunnel into France.

Map: Bison Futé

Bison Futé particularly warned motorists on return journeys on Friday to:

• Avoid the A7 between Orange and Lyon from 9am to 11pm;
• Avoid the Mont Blanc tunnel (N205) into France from 1pm to 7pm.

Saturday, August 16th

The busiest day on the roads in France over the long weekend, with a nationwide amber alert in place for outward-bound journeys – particularly in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes – and red for returns, with congestion expected to start building from early morning and continue late into the evening.

Map: Bison Futé

For outward journeys on Saturday, Bison Futé’s advice is:

• Leave or cross the Île-de-France region before 7pm or after 3pm;
• Avoid the A7 between Lyon and Orange from 8pm to 6pm and between Orange and Marseille from 12pm to 7pm;
• Avoid the A8 between Le Luc and Italy from 10pm to 5pm;
• Avoid the A9 between Orange and Narbonne from 9pm to 4pm and between Narbonne and Spain from 8pm to 4pm;
• Avoid the A71 between Orléans and Clermont-Ferrand from 8pm to 7pm;
• Avoid the A61 between Toulouse and Narbonne from 9pm to 5pm;
• Avoid the Mont Blanc tunnel (N205) into Italy from 11am to 2pm.

For return journeys on Saturday, it warns motorists to:

• Reach or cross the Île-de-France region before 11am or after 9pm;
• Avoid the A13 between Caen and Rouen from 6pm to 8pm;
• Avoid the A11 between Nantes and Le Mans from 10am to 7pm and between Le Mans and Paris from 1pm to 3pm;
• Avoid the N165 between Quimper and Nantes from 12noon to 2pm;
• Avoid the A63 between Spain and Bayonne from 11am to 6pm and between Bayonne and Bordeaux from 9am to 8pm;
• Avoid the A10 between Bordeaux and Orléans from 8am to 7pm, and between Orléans and Paris from 11am to 9pm;
• Avoid the A9 between Spain and Narbonne from 9am to 5pm and between Narbonne and Orange from 9am to 11pm;
• Avoid the A8 between Italy and Le Luc from 10am to 8pm and near Aix-en-Provence from 6am to 6pm;
• Avoid the A7 between Marseille and Orange from 1pm to 8pm and between Orange and Lyon from 12noon to 7pm;
• Avoid the A75 between Béziers and Clermont-Ferrand from 2pm to 8pm;
• Avoid the A71 between Clermont-Ferrand and Vierzon from 9am to 9pm and between Vierzon and Orléans from 10am to 4pm;
• Avoid the A61 between Narbonne and Toulouse from 9am to 7pm;
• Avoid the Mont Blanc tunnel (N205) into France from 3pm to 7pm.

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Sunday, August 17th

Traffic will again be heavy in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and along the Mediterranean Arc on Sunday, notably on the A7, A8, A9, and A61, while roads in Île-de-France will see heavy traffic.

Map: Bison Futé

For outward journeys on Sunday, Bison Futé advises:

• Avoid the A7 between Lyon and Marseille from 9am to 8pm;
• Avoid the A8 near Aix-en-Provence from 8am to 9pm and between Le Luc and Italy from 5pm to 8pm;
• Avoid the A9 between Orange and Nîmes from 9am to 11am, between Nîmes and Narbonne from 9am to 5pm, and between Narbonne and Spain from 9am to 11am;
• Avoid the A61 between Carcassonne and Narbonne from 9am to 6pm;
• Avoid the Mont Blanc tunnel (N205) into Italy from 11am to 2pm.

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For return journeys, motorists should:

• Reach or cross the Île-de-France region before 11am or after 12midnight;
• Avoid the A63 between Spain and Bordeaux from 10am to 11pm;
• Avoid the A9 between Spain and Narbonne from 11am to 3pm and between Narbonne and Orange from 10am to 9pm;
• avoid the A8 between Italy and La Fare-les-Oliviers from 8am to 7pm;
• Avoid the A7 between Marseille and Orange from 11am to 1pm and between Orange and Lyon from 12noon to 8pm;
• Avoid the A6 motorway between Lyon and Beaune from 11am to 7pm;
• Avoid the A61 motorway between Narbonne and Toulouse from 10am to 10pm;
• Avoid the Mont Blanc tunnel (N205) into France from 2pm to 9pm.

Monday, August 18th

Traffic will be heavy on roads leading to the Mediterranean from the Île-de-France (A8 and A9) and from the southwest (A61). Access to the Mont Blanc tunnel from France to Italy will also be congested. In the return direction, roads will be very busy in the southeast of the country, specifically in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and around the Mediterranean.

Map: Bison Futé

Those heading towards holiday destinations on Monday should:

• avoid the A8 near Aix-en-Provence from 7am to 7pm and between Le Luc and Italy from 8am to 8pm;
• avoid the A9 between Orange and Narbonne from 8am to 5pm;
• avoid the A61 between Carcassonne and Narbonne from 10am to 5pm;
• avoid the Mont Blanc tunnel (N205) into Italy from 10am to 4pm.

Those on return journeys are advised to:

• avoid the A9 between Spain and Orange from 11am to 7pm;
• avoid the A8 between Italy and Le Luc from 8am to 7pm and near Aix-en-Provence from 7am to 6pm;
• avoid the A7 between Marseille and Orange from 8am to 6pm and between Orange and Lyon from 9am to 9pm;
• avoid the A6 between Lyon and Beaune from 2pm to 4pm;
• avoid the A61 between Narbonne and Carcassonne from 10am to 5pm;
• avoid the Mont Blanc tunnel (N205) into France from 2pm to 7pm.