Toll surprise for holiday drivers

Main road to Spain is upgraded to motorway – with two péages - and no real alternative route

DRIVERS travelling on the RN10 between Bordeaux and Bayonne will get an unpleasant and expensive surprise from May – when a 104km section becomes an autoroute with two péages.

The RN10 is a well-travelled link road from Poitou-Charentes through Aquitaine to Spain and the old dual-carriageway is being replaced by the autoroute with no easy alternative route available.

Drivers who want to avoid the two tolls at Saugnac et Muret and Castets will have to take a detour east towards Mont-de-Marsan, adding 80km to the journey. The tolls at the two péages will cost a total of €6.30.