Hours-Long Traffic Jams Expected on Five Motorways. France Prepares for a Difficult Weekend

Drivers travelling through France should prepare for heavy traffic and delays between 17 and 20 July. The most severe congestion is forecast on the A7, A9, A10, A61 and A8 motorways.

Transport operators driving through France should expect significantly increased traffic volumes during the 17- 20 July weekend. The most serious disruptions are expected on the main routes leading to the south of the country, the Mediterranean coast and the Atlantic coast.
According to traffic forecasts published by motorway operator VINCI Autoroutes, the A7, A9, A10, A61 and A8 will experience the highest traffic volumes. Although the forecasts primarily concern holiday traffic involving passenger vehicles, the increased number of vehicles is also likely to result in longer journey times for heavy goods vehicles, particularly on the main corridors used for international freight transport.

The most significant disruptions are expected on the following motorway sections:

❗ A7 - Rhône Valley
The A7 southbound will be the busiest motorway during the holiday weekend.
▫️ Friday (17 July): 09:00-21:00 (with the heaviest traffic in the afternoon);
▫️ Saturday (18 July): 05:00-18:00;
▫️ Sunday (19 July): 09:00-19:00;
▫️ Monday (20 July): delays are possible between 09:00 and 18:00.
In the direction of Lyon, the most severe congestion is expected mainly on Saturday.

❗ A10 - Bordeaux and Spain
Heavy traffic is also forecast on the A10 motorway, linking the Paris region with Bordeaux and the Spanish border.
▫️ Friday: from late morning until the evening;
▫️ Saturday: from early morning until early afternoon;
▫️ Sunday: on the Poitiers–Bordeaux section between 10:00 and 16:00.
Higher traffic volumes are also expected around Le Mans, Angers, Nantes, Orléans, Tours and Poitiers.

❗ A9 - Mediterranean Corridor
On the A9 motorway, the most significant disruptions are expected on the following sections:
❌ Nîmes - Montpellier
▫️ Friday: 10:00-21:00;
▫️ Saturday: 07:00-16:00;
▫️ Sunday: 09:00-16:00.
❌ Heavy traffic is also expected on the Béziers - Narbonne - Spanish border section, particularly on Saturday.

❗ A61 - Toulouse - Narbonne
On the A61 motorway, the heaviest congestion is expected from Friday afternoon until Sunday, especially between Toulouse and Narbonne.

❗ A8 - Aix-en-Provence and Nice
On the A8 motorway, the highest traffic volumes are forecast:
▫️ on Friday afternoon;
▫️ on Saturday, particularly around Aix-en-Provence and Nice.

Drivers planning to travel through France should take into account the possibility of considerably longer journey times, especially on routes leading towards Spain and the southern regions of France.
The heaviest traffic is expected on Friday and Saturday, although local congestion may also persist on Sunday and, in some areas, Monday.