Le Mans - bridge at Rouen

[Doohickey]

We are travelling down from Zeebrugge to Le Mans and wondered if anyone knew if the bridge at Rouen will be open again or not. If it isn't what's the view on the best alternative? We went through Rouen on the way down last year which was a nightmare and back via the diversion up the A150 where we got stuck in a huge queue at a peage. We will be going on the Thursday and back on the Monday.

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[safrane]

Get a tag for the tolls...saves lots of time and you can jump the queues.

No idea of the bridge...does via Michelin route finder not tell you as it ised to have live road data.

 

[Chrisbassett]

Google maps has the E402 bridge closed in both directions. Basically avoid Rouen if you can!

Edit: there seem to be plenty of alternate routes on the internet if you search for Rouen bridge diversion, or you can take the le harvre road (A29) then across country through Alençon. It's longer but nicer than hitting Rouen at what us bound to be a busy week.

The prediction is to have the bridge back in august, so no good for le mans.

 

[Doohickey]

Thanks. Viamichelin is showing a diversion around it through the city so presumably it is still shut. Will look into the tag.

 

[BennyD]

You would have thought they would be good at repairing bridges. They have had plenty of them to do since 1945.

 

[fcz360]

You would have thought they would be good at repairing bridges. They have had plenty of them to do since 1945.

haha - but this one the destroyed themselves and they couldnt even get that right

the bridge is closed till July so ive been told

 

[BennyD]

It doesn't surprise me at all.

 

[conaero]

We went through Rouen a few weeks ago and it was still shut and will be for Le Mans.

Good call on the toll pass, do you know where we get them from?

 

[Chrisbassett]

www.saneftolling.co.uk

Uses uk bank details for billing and bills in sterling.

 

[conaero]

Thanks. Viamichelin is showing a diversion around it through the city so presumably it is still shut. Will look into the tag.

Thats where we got diverted, if was a nightmare on a Monday so God knows what it will be like during Le Mans, best to route round:

 

[conaero]

www.saneftolling.co.uk

Uses uk bank details for billing and bills in sterling.

Thanks I have just had a read through and it would appear that you still get billed the same fee you would at the toll booth but you just get to use the automated lanes, is that correct?

Reading Trip Advisor it seems when the traffic gets busy, everyone just uses the automated lanes anyway, is that your take on it?

 

[Chrisbassett]

You're right about the fees, but I've always got through quicker using a pass. On holiday days it can save ages queuing, and I think for Le Mans weekend it should come in handy...the other thing it does is highlight how much you spend on tolls, something you tend not to notice if you just stick your card in the machine each time!

 

[conaero]

Yes, it is a rip off, especially when they used EU grants to build the bl00dy things!

We should do the same to them when they come to the UK...£200 charge per foreign car, per trip.

 

[drewf]

For people only doing the odd trip into France, they might be better using this outfit to rent a toll tag for the holiday period:

Tolltickets

 

[drewf]

On my last trip to Le Mans, the queues at the automated toll lanes, in particular the 'no stopping drive through at 30kmh' lanes, were non-existent.

The cash/card lanes had huge queues, probably 15-20 minutes of traffic. For me it's a no-brainer to get a tag, Matt.

 

[Doohickey]

That was certainly our problem coming back last year. Huge queue at the cash/card enviously watching the locals barely slowing down for the tag lane. Looking at the tolltickets website it doesn't look that much cheaper than just getting one direct by the time you've paid for delivery and service charge.

 

[MAF260]

Some of the fun of the LM trip is when pulling away from the peage barriers. Much revs, much music from the exhaust. Here's a picture taken last year doing just that!

 

[Doohickey]

It certainly is but I'd rather not spend 20 mins anticipating it!

 

[safrane]

You can only use the tag lanes if you have a tag...hence the lack of queues. Its only about £25 per year standing charge to have one so I still have mine which has not been used for the last 18 months.

 

[c4sman]

You can only use the tag lanes if you have a tag...hence the lack of queues. Its only about £25 per year standing charge to have one so I still have mine which has not been used for the last 18 months.

Liber Tag is a lot less than £25 per year. I have had mine for 3 years and it works great. 6 euro per year to have it and 5 euro each month you use it plus the tolls. Saves huge time and I will be attaching it to the GTS in June ready for my French adventure (actually traveling on the 21st June past Le Mans but unfortunately not stopping!)

I remember cruising at 75MPH for a couple of hours only to be overtaken several times by another Brit in a BMW X5 driving at 100MPH+ who I kept overtaking when he was queuing at tolls. Quite funny to watch.

https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/support/faq/support-Faq.List/#1.0.