Southeast roads black-flagged

MOTORISTS are advised to avoid the roads south of Lyon tomorrow.

French national traffic monitor Bison Futé
has black-flagged roads in the Rhône-Alpes region and on the Mediterranean coast - the highest warning level it can issue for traffic problems.

Meanwhile, it has issued a red warning across the whole of France, which means lengthy tailbacks are expected.

It has suggested that travellers in the southeast wait until Sunday, if possible, before starting their journeys, when most roads have been rated ‘green’, though those in the southeast are still rated ‘orange’.

Bison Futé has advised that motorists should try to avoid travel in the south and west of the country between 3pm and 7pm this afternoon. It has warned that traffic is expected to be particularly heavy around Lyon and Bordeaux between 11am and 7pm. Traffic around Orange, Vaucluse, is also expected to be heavy between 11am and 8pm.

All major routes in France are forecast to be busy between 9am and 7pm tomorrow. Routes in and around Lyon between 5pm and 7pm and Paris between 7am and 1pm have been flagged as particularly difficult.

Major traffic arteries in Brittany and Normandy, as well as the southern half of the country are expected to be busy between 11am and 6pm tomorrow, while traffic in the northern half of France will build to a peak between 3pm and 7pm.

Bison Fute expects that the southeast quarter of the country - particularly the A8, A9, A7 and A61 will still be very busy on Sunday from 11am to 6pm, and advised holding off travel around major cities until early evening, between 6pm and 9pm if possible.

Photo: Phillip Capper