To and From Holiday Destinations
The ANWB expects ‘exceptional traffic congestion’ on European roads on Saturday. Departing and returning holidaymakers cause overcrowded roads to and from popular European destinations, warns the traffic information service.
In France, August 2nd is considered a black Saturday this year, because on that day many residents of the Paris region go on holiday and leave the city. The biggest congestion is expected on the A7 between Lyon and Orange, part of the Autoroute du Soleil. Motorists will also experience delays on the connecting A9 towards the Spanish border, the ANWB expects. The same applies to the A10 towards Bordeaux and the coastal towns in the southwest. It is likely to be busiest on the French roads between eight o’clock in the morning and two o’clock in the afternoon.
In Germany, the summer holidays start in a number of federal states next weekend. Many holidaymakers travel to, for example, Italy and Croatia. At the same time, many holidaymakers are also returning north, says the ANWB. “This combination, together with more than 1200 road works, causes considerable delay.” Long traffic jams are expected, especially around large cities such as Hamburg, Frankfurt and Nuremberg and on the A8 towards Salzburg.
Holidaymakers in Austria and Switzerland experience delays, especially at tunnels. In Austria it concerns the Tauerntunnel and the Karawankentunnel. In Switzerland, the delay at the Gotthard tunnel can be more than two hours in both directions. Traffic in Italy is mainly stuck on routes to the coast and the lakes.
Between August 4 and 10, motorists should take into account extra traffic controls in Europe. So-called flash marathons are held in several European countries during that period.