Traffic conditions ‘extremely difficult’ across France this weekend

The first weekend in August always sees both returning and departing holidaymakers, causing severe difficulties on the roads at peak hours, especially on Saturday

Traffic can get extremely busy on weekends in August due to holidaymakers departing and returning
Hannah Thompson
Published Last updated

Traffic is set to be very heavy across France today (August 5) and Saturday, as some holidaymakers return home and others flock to the coasts for summer breaks.

French traffic forecast service Bison Futé is predicting significant difficulties today and Saturday, and some on Sunday, especially in the south of the country.

Friday: Traffic is on yellow alert (“difficult” traffic) for the traffic departing from major cities across the whole country, and for the southeast quarter of the country in the returning direction.

Saturday: Will see a red (“very difficult”) and black (“extremely difficult”) alert, with red across the country for both departing and returning directions, and black in the southeast quarter of the country in the departing direction.

Sunday is back to normal (green) except for the southeast quarter of the country, which will remain on yellow alert in both directions.

Friday August 5

Map:Bison-fute.gouv.fr

Departing direction (away from major towns):

  • avoid the A61, between Toulouse and Narbonne, from 18:00 to 20:00
  • avoid the A62, between Bordeaux and Toulouse, from 15:00 to 21:00
  • avoid the A20, between Limoges and Brive-la-Gaillarde, from 15:00 to 18:00
  • avoid the A8, between Aix-en-Provence and Nice, from 15:00 to 20:00
  • leave or cross the Île-de-France region before 12 noon
  • avoid the A13, between Paris and Rouen, from 16:00 to 20:00
  • avoid the A10, between Orleans and Tours, from 12:00 to 20:00, and around Bordeaux from 16:00 to 19:00

Returning direction (towards major towns):

  • avoid the A61, between Narbonne and Toulouse, from 17:00 to 20:00
  • avoid the A63, between Bayonne and Bordeaux, from 17:00 to 20:00
  • avoid the A13, between Rouen and Paris, from 17:00 to 19:00
  • avoid the Mont-Blanc tunnel towards France, from 15:00 to 19:00 (delays of more than an hour)

Saturday August 6

Map:Bison-fute.gouv.fr

Departing direction (away from major towns):

  • avoid the A7, between Salon-de-Provence and Marseille, from 14:00 to 18:00
  • avoid the A6, between Beaune and Lyon, from 09:00 to 13:00
  • avoid the A75, between Clermont-Ferrand and Montpellier, from 11:00 to 13:00
  • leave or cross the Île-de-France after 12:00
  • avoid the A13, between Paris and Rouen, from 12:00 to 17:00, and between Rouen and Caen, from 11:00 to 17:00
  • avoid the A11, between Paris and Le Mans, from 11:00 to 16:00
  • avoid the A71, between Orléans and Clermont-Ferrand, from 09:00 to 12:00

Returning direction (towards major towns):

  • avoid the A7, between Marseille and Salon-de-Provence, from 09:00 to 14:00
  • avoid the A75, between Montpellier and Clermont-Ferrand, from 12:00 to 14:00
  • return to or cross the Île-de-France region before 14:00
  • avoid the A11, between Le Mans and Paris, from 15:00 to 17:00
  • avoid the A10, between Bordeaux and Poitiers, from 12:00 to 16:00
  • avoid the Mont-Blanc tunnel towards France, from 15:00 to 19:00 (delays of more than an hour)

Sunday August 7

Map:Bison-fute.gouv.fr

Departing direction (away from major towns):

  • avoid the A62, between Bordeaux and Toulouse, from 16:00 to 21:00
  • avoid the A20, between Limoges and Brives-la-Gaillarde, from 15:00 to 18:00
  • avoid the A6, between Beaune and Lyon, from 10:00 to 13:00
  • avoid the A8, between Salon-de-Provence and Marseille, from 15:00 to 10:00
  • avoid using the Fleury toll on the A6 motorway towards the provinces, from 09:00 to 12:00
  • avoid the A71, between Orléans and Clermont-Ferrand, from 11:00 to 15:00

Returning direction (towards major towns):

  • return to or cross the Île-de-France before 14:00
  • avoid the A8, between Nice and Aix-en-Provence, from 10:00 to 14:00
  • avoid the A71, between Clermont-Ferrand and Orléans, from 11:00 to 15:00

Next weekend is also set to be “extremely difficult”, Bison Fute shows, especially Friday, August 12, and Saturday 13.

Most weekends in August tend to be very busy, due to holidaymakers leaving and returning, while the weeks are generally normal. So far, predictions for September are “normal”.

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