here’s how to avoid traffic jams, according to Bison Futé

TRAFFIC – Before opening the presents and eating the log with grandma, you will first have to arrive at your destination. On the eve of the start of the Christmas holidays, traffic on the roads will be very disrupted in the direction of departures on Friday, before several days classified orange in Île-de-France, according to Bison Futé.

If departures on vacation to gather with family cause crowds on the roads, Bison Futé still specifies that Christmas Day falling on a Wednesday will allow departures to be spread out between Friday December 20 and Tuesday 24. If traffic should be difficult across the country on Friday, traffic will be usual the following days, except in Île-de-France and on the outskirts of large cities.

Very difficult traffic on Friday

Friday is classified orange throughout France in the direction of departures, and even red for Île-de-France, alert Bison Futé. The latter provides for particularly congested roads towards the Alps (A43 and access to the Mont-Blanc Tunnel), and the Mediterranean coast (mainly A7, A50). Motorways serving border countries are also expected to experience slowdowns, such as the A1, A25, A31 and A35 motorways.

For the Paris region, traffic will be even more difficult, since Île-de-France is classified in red in the direction of departures. Driving will be complicated from late morning around the various tolls, particularly towards the A6. The North-South transit (A3, A86 and A6B) to reach the A6 and A10 motorways as well as the ring road will concentrate the main traffic difficulties, specifies the road information organization. Specificity linked to the end of year celebrations, the commercial areas will be particularly busy.

In the direction of returns, the whole of France is classified as green.

Bison Futé therefore advises leaving Île-de-France early in the morning and avoiding the following roads:

• The A1 motorway, between Paris and Lille, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.,
• The A25 motorway, between Lille and Socx, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.,
• The A31 motorway, between Nancy and Luxembourg, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.,
• The A7 motorway, between Vienna and Marseille, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.,
• The A50 motorway, between Marseille and Toulon, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.,
• The A46 motorway and the N346 national road for the eastern bypass of Lyon, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.,
• The Mont-Blanc tunnel (N205), between France and Italy, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Traffic disrupted in Île-de-France from Saturday to Tuesday

From Saturday December 21 to Tuesday December 24, traffic will be difficult in Île-de-France, in the direction of departures. The region is classified in orange by Bison Futé, except on Sundays. The first difficulties will appear from late Saturday morning, particularly towards shopping centers. On Monday, the first slowdowns will appear on the axes which converge towards the A6 and A10 motorways. On Tuesday, it is advisable to leave early in the morning. Then, traffic will be difficult throughout Île-de-France until the early evening.

For these three days, Bison Futé advises from Île-de-France to:

• Leave or cross Île-de-France before 5 a.m. or after 4 p.m. for Saturday,

• Leave or cross Île-de-France before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m. on Monday,

• Leave or cross Île-de-France before 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 24.

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