Avoiding Rouen!
Discussion
This is JUST a suggestion.....after driving round in circles last year (Following the guy with the Sat Nav!)...we got into a situation where we were temporarily unsure of our geographical position on planet earth!
Having just studied the map for an hour or so - I MAY have found an alternative route that circumvents Rouen.
Please have a look at a map if you would - and consider this:
From the A28(north of Rouen) take the A29 west to Jct9
Then the N29 toward Yvetot
Then south on the D131,D490,D913,,D313 toward Bourg-Achard and.....the N138!!
Questions I have are:
1) Is this route viable/worth doing?
2) Anybody tried this or a similar route?
3) Anyone got any other alternative routes avoiding the Rouen log-jam?
Thanks for your comments............Le Mans here we come!
Forget SatNav and use the road signs. Le Mans is well signposted right through Rouen (Green Signs) and there's really only one place you could possibly go wrong, as you go over the river you must be in the correct lane or you'll be stuffed.
Coming home just follow Green signs to Calais.
Morceau de pisse.
Coming home just follow Green signs to Calais.
Morceau de pisse.
Last year our group discussed this. I went through Rouen and had quite a clear run. The others went via the Pont de Brotonne. Took exactly the same time and if there was any hold up in Rouen (which there normally is) it would be quicker. Nice roads too, no stress and they have even removed the toll booths on the bridge so you just drive straight over with no risk of any delays. You also pass petrol stations as well which may be of use to those on here worried about filling up.
When in france the other week, my Girlfreind decided to send us a different route around Rouen (more direct on the map!) not sure of the road numbers but it was to the east Rouen as you look at it on the map. It got us round Rouen but it seemed to take ages to get through, I'll try and have a look at the map and see what roads we took! We did miss a Toll though which was a bonus! We missed another by getting diverted off the motor way into a farmers field due to an accident!!
Yeh I've looked at the east side of Rouen too.........seems possible......though depending on how far east you go - it's trying to find a suitable river crossing!
I'll google the Pont de Brotonne.......sounds like a good option also.
As for the fields of France - my front spoiler isn't THAT low..but I still dont think it would cope with them!!!!
Rouen is more than likely a lottery at the best of times with congestion (as per most towns/cities)....but during the Le Mans dash it's almost certain to be
snarled up!
The only attraction i can think off is to listen to those TVR, Lambo,Ferrari and Porsche(PSE) boys give it large noise in the tunnels on the approach to Rouen!
I'll google the Pont de Brotonne.......sounds like a good option also.
As for the fields of France - my front spoiler isn't THAT low..but I still dont think it would cope with them!!!!
Rouen is more than likely a lottery at the best of times with congestion (as per most towns/cities)....but during the Le Mans dash it's almost certain to be
snarled up!
The only attraction i can think off is to listen to those TVR, Lambo,Ferrari and Porsche(PSE) boys give it large noise in the tunnels on the approach to Rouen!
goodlife said:
Forget SatNav and use the road signs.
God, don't do that!
Did that one year and the signs took us off the road we were on, left up some narrow cobbled street and then... dumped us in the middle of some industrial area!
Much time later we learnt an important lesson for Rouen - the bridges all go from a road 2 back from the river. This we learnt after driving up and down the one next to the river, then the one a street back from the river!
This was followed by a small strop with my navigator after they navigated me out of Rouen, ignoring my please to be navigated to a petrol station before everything shut. This is of course optional.
dI think the problem that most people have with Rouen is that they don't pay enough attention to the signs. I do the trip often and it can be confusing, but especially as you arrive from the UK end. Watch out for the turn off on the four lane road after the motorway ends just as you get into town. There used to be a dearth of signs for Le Mans on the other side but now they have put it right; just don't take the Paris motorway exit but carry straight on at this point. Sme miles later the A28 Le Mans is signposted. Just be aware and you'll be all right as you come through. It is, when you get used to it, quite easy and going back couldn't be easier since it is marked Calais all the way through.
We found this the first year we went, and have used it ever since:
The most direct route from Calais to Le Mans is via Abbeville, Rouen and Alencon but Paris is not much of a detour if you want to take it in as a part of the trip (remember the A16 south of Boulogne is now open making the trip to Rouen much faster). From Calais follow signs to Boulogne and then to Abbeville. The autoroute is payage (toll road about 50 Francs) to Abbeville. Then pick up free autoroute to Rouen (signposted Rouen). At Rouen remember to stay in nearside (right hand) lane as you exit the tunnel. Cross the river and take the slip road that turns back underneath. Follow this road around the east side of Rouen following signs for Le Mans. After joining Paris/Cherbourg autoroute take second exit (Signposted Le Mans). This is where the autoroute runs out. Very soon you come to a petrol station where you turn left. This junction is not very well signposted and the turn is easily missed. You are now on the RN138 to Le Mans. Skirt round Alencon on the bypass and keep heading south to Le Mans.
lowdrag said:
...and going back couldn't be easier since it is marked Calais all the way through.
[pedant]aren't the signs actually for 'Boulogne'[/pedant] and you have to ignore the 'Rouen' signs once you get close to the city as that'll all end in tears.
The traffic seems worse on the Monday than the Sunday actually.
Shellz_Mach1 said:
We found this the first year we went, and have used it ever since:
The most direct route from Calais to Le Mans is via Abbeville, Rouen and Alencon but Paris is not much of a detour if you want to take it in as a part of the trip (remember the A16 south of Boulogne is now open making the trip to Rouen much faster). From Calais follow signs to Boulogne and then to Abbeville. The autoroute is payage (toll road about 50 Francs) to Abbeville. Then pick up free autoroute to Rouen (signposted Rouen). At Rouen remember to stay in nearside (right hand) lane as you exit the tunnel. Cross the river and take the slip road that turns back underneath. Follow this road around the east side of Rouen following signs for Le Mans. After joining Paris/Cherbourg autoroute take second exit (Signposted Le Mans). This is where the autoroute runs out. Very soon you come to a petrol station where you turn left. This junction is not very well signposted and the turn is easily missed. You are now on the RN138 to Le Mans. Skirt round Alencon on the bypass and keep heading south to Le Mans.
Its good, not now ianccurate as the new autoroute which shodows the N138 might confuse things., Does this junction come earlier or later then the N138?
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