Situation update in France: extensive truck traffic bans and list of disruptions

Due to heavy snowfall and icy conditions, the French authorities have introduced extensive restrictions on heavy goods vehicle traffic in areas covered by an orange snow and ice alert. The bans apply to vehicles with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) exceeding 3.5 tonnes and are in force in numerous departments in central, western, northern and south-eastern France.

DEPARTMENTS COVERED BY ALERTS AND BANS

As of Wednesday, 7 January, the orange alert applies, among others, to 21 departments where bans or significant restrictions on truck traffic have been introduced:
- Aisne (02)
- Allier (03)
- Ardennes (08)
- Aube (10)
- Charente (16)
- Charente-Maritime (17)
- Cher (18)
- Corrèze (19)
- Creuse (23)
- Indre (36)
- Indre-et-Loire (37)
- Loir-et-Cher (41)
- Loiret (45)
- Marne (51)
- Nièvre (58)
- Nord (59)
- Seine-et-Marne (77)
- Deux-Sèvres (79)
- Vienne (86)
- Haute-Vienne (87)
- Yonne (89)

MAIN ROAD AXES AFFECTED BY DISRUPTIONS

Road services advise against planning journeys on the following motorways and national roads, where snowfall and freezing rain are still occurring:
- A10, A19, A20, A28, A71, A711
- A83, A837, A85, A87, A89

In addition, disruptions are possible in:
- the Rhône Valley
- Languedoc
- Provence
- on motorways A7, A8 and A9.

KEY TRUCK TRAFFIC BANS AND RESTRICTIONS

⭕ A71 motorway
- completely closed to vehicles >3.5 t
- from the Puy-de-Dôme / Allier departmental border to the Allier / Cher border
- until further notice

⭕ Time-based bans (vehicles >3.5 t or >7.5 t)
- from 03:00: Seine-Maritime (76), Eure (27), Orne (61), Sarthe (72), Maine-et-Loire (49), Vendée (85), Indre-et-Loire (37), Loir-et-Cher (41), Eure-et-Loir (28), Loiret (45)
- from 05:00: Charente (16), Charente-Maritime (17), Deux-Sèvres (79), Vienne (86), Haute-Vienne (87), Corrèze (19), Creuse (23), Yonne (89 – selected routes)
- from 08:00 to 18:00: Marne (51), Ardennes (08), Aube (10), Nièvre (58), Yonne (89)

- Allier (03): from 10:00
- Aube (10): 05:30–18:00
- Saône-et-Loire (71): 14:45–18:00
- Cantal (15): from 7 January, 20:30 to 8 January, 10:00
- Landes (40): ban for vehicles >7.5 t until 22:00

PARTIAL LIFTING OF BANS

In some regions, a gradual lifting of restrictions has begun; however, services warn of a delayed return to normal traffic flow due to the large number of trucks waiting in parking areas:
- from 15:00: Île-de-France and the Hauts-de-France region (including Aisne, Nord, Oise, Pas-de-Calais, Somme)
- Ardennes (08): lifted at 16:45
- Vendée (85): lifted at 16:00
- Charente-Maritime (17): lifted at 16:00 (except for the A10)
- Maine-et-Loire (49):
• 12:00 – local road networks
• 13:00 – motorways (RN249 remains subject to restrictions)

⭕ A10 (Charente-Maritime)
- Bordeaux → Paris direction: ban for vehicles >3.5 t
- Paris → Bordeaux direction: traffic permitted

⭕ Mayenne (53)
- ban on truck traffic on the A81 towards Le Mans
- vehicles >7.5 t subject to bans on the departmental P2 and P3 road networks

⭕ Loire-Atlantique (44)
- reduction of the permitted speed limit by 20 km/h
- overtaking ban for trucks

The road situation in France remains dynamic. Decisions taken by prefectures are updated on an ongoing basis and may be extended or lifted locally. Carriers are advised to continuously monitor road operator announcements and to factor in the risk of long stoppages and operational delays.