A13 between Paris and Normandy to close for nine months from November
The closure will affect traffic towards Normandy as safety work is carried out on the Saint-Cloud tunnel
Published
Motorists planning to travel from Paris towards Normandy are set to face disruption as part of the A13 motorway is set to close for nine months.
The closure will affect the Paris-province direction of the A13 from November 16, 2026 until the end of August 2027. The affected section runs through the Saint-Cloud tunnel in Hauts-de-Seine, between the Paris ring road and the Vaucresson interchange.
The southbound tube of the tunnel, used by vehicles travelling towards Paris, will remain open.
Why is the tunnel being repaired?
The Saint-Cloud tunnel is almost 100 years old. Its northern tube was built in the 1930s, using construction methods from that time, with some sections of the tunnel roof made from non-reinforced concrete.
Reinforcement work is now needed to improve the tunnel’s long-term safety and ensure its durability.
The work has been brought forward because a tunnel boring machine for the Grand Paris Express Line 15 West project will pass underneath the motorway in 2027. The reinforcement work must be completed before this happens.
The project will involve building a new reinforced concrete structure inside the existing tunnel at an estimated cost of €35million, according to Le Monde.
The A13 is one of the main roads linking Paris with Normandy, carrying up to 80,000 vehicles per day, including commuters travelling from the western suburbs and seasonal traffic heading to Normandy.
The closure is expected to cause longer journey times, especially during busy periods (holidays and peak hours).
The Direction des routes d’Île-de-France (DiRIF) advised drivers in its announcement to use public transport, car-sharing, or change their travel times where possible.
Alternative routes
Two main diversion routes will be available for drivers leaving Paris towards western Île-de-France:
via RD910 and RN118, with connections towards the A86, RN12, A12 and the A13 further west;
via RN13 and A14, joining the A13 further west.
Local roads around Saint-Cloud, Meudon and nearby areas may also see increased traffic.
The closure will also see repair work carried out on the Saint-Cloud viaduct, the elevated section of the A13 crossing the Seine.
The motorway will be closed in both directions at the viaduct during July and August 2027. Work will include repairs to the bridge’s waterproofing and replacement of parts that support the structure.
