Club Arnage

Going this year in a fully loaded minibus so we are looking to avoid the holdups that is ROUEN!!

Any advice??

Which channel port are you using?

Ah important information I guess!!
Folkstone to Calais via tunnel

I have to admit that I think in the 50+ times I've done this trip I have tried every apparent route from Calais but still come to the conclusion that Rouen is quicker (if much more frustrating) even if you get held up for an hour!  Mr Termite used to use the A29 and get virtually into Le Harvre, then cross the Pont de Normandie (stop at Honfleur for lunch - fab!) then take the A13 East again but it's a heck of a long way round (just look at the map!) A shorter but more windey way to do this is to come off the A29 at Bolbec and use the Pont de Tankerville. The bloomin' Seine just gets in the way, and many of the old crossings involve narrow windy roads to get to them.
One I haven't done but which looks a possibility is to take the A29 and come of at Yvetot then take the road going South through the Foret de Brotonne, crossing the river by the Pont de Brotonne and join the top of the A28 at Bourg-Achard.

Dont use Vong Vay Van der Veer as a tour guide. ::)

When I went to the classic last year with Mr Rick (yes the trip did get confusing) We went straight throught Rouen, At first it look like driving out of the frying pan and into the fire! It seemed quicker then the ring road though.
I am sure someone else will dis-agree though!

Always use this route if we would get to Rouen at a bad time.

Even better now as the detour comes out at the start of the new motorway. ;D

If you need details robbo, pm me.

I concur, the Pont de Brotonne route is very good, nice uncrowded roads.

However Rouen is not the nightmare it once was. I think we have manged to go the same way the last 3 years without getting held up or lost!

Anyone tried the N338 through Rouen? From Google Maps it looks like a dual carriageway...no traffic light or roundabouts, just sliproads. Only slow bit should be the first mile through Rouen centre, the dual carriageway all the way to the A13.

I think that is the same route I was talking about. Never navigated it myself but Mr Rick was driving and new where he was going. Seemed quite good and delivered us not far from the motorway route south.

Only problem I seem to find is coming back - never get any real hold up on the way out on the tuesady, it's just the Sunday evening rush of lots of french people heading west-east from Caen towards Paris that seems the issue.

MG Mark

Mark, stay the extra night. Chill out on the half empty campsites, finish off the beer, watch in amusement at some of the rubbish that the pikeys take away and watch the firework display at HA roundabout. Take a leasurly drive back on Monday morning and as long as you don't get there before 10ish Rouen is a breeze, no hold ups atall

i agree.. sunday night deafens you with the silence also!!

those pikeys are amazing to watch 8)

We will never head back on the Sunday as it kills the week off really quickly. Stay the sunday night then chill out driving/moving all the way back to Calais. I have sprinted down on Wednesday and back on Sunday and said "NEVER AGAIN". Ferry booked for 4pm ish from Caen. Nice easy clear up MB style and a slow drive back home. With a couple of beer stops!  ;D

Did anyone have to queue for the toll booths at Rouen on the way back?  Alencon had an hour queue in 04

First time was Friday night out, Sunday night back.  Never again.  We gradually extended the trip to the full week.

Rouen was bad in 05 and 04 because of road works, and you have to miss the rush hour, but we cope.

This year its via Le Havre, so Pont de Tankaville, and miss the lot.  Magic

Tip: Use the CB (cards) queue - they accept UK plastic.

Queued somewhere for tolls last year - wasn't too long and there were pretty French maids handing out bottles of water for free.

Hello termie.

Having just driven back through France (and Switzerland) from Italy, and given that I visit France a few times each year, can you give me any information on the "t" symbol at the toll booths? I assume it is either a pre-pay system or an account type system, but I guess what I would like to know, is wether it is worth getting for a casual French Visitor.

Thanks.

I would be very intrested on the info as well, look on green with envy as people drive through while I'm stuck in the tailback.

Coming back from the last classic , at the tolls at the end of the A28, there were staff taking payment for the tolls while you were waiting, another member of staff manual opened the barrier when you gave them the signed ticket.
Worked very well and speeded things up a lot.

The info is here
http://www.cofiroute.fr/cofiroute.nsf/web/liber-t.htm
In French of course.
Some discussion on the subject here
http://www.totalfrance.com/france/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10877

Thanks termie, I will read through that when I get a chance.

Once you see the plastic cows adorning the roundabout you know you're on the right road.

'Excusez moi, je cherche le rond point avec les vaches' worked well last year.

Worth repeating - when you get to the tunnel at Darnetal (just before Rouen) stick in the slow lane and when you exit DO NOT LEAVE THAT LANE no matter how much you may want to!  Then you will automatically be taken across the river and round underneath the inner ring road to the industrial estate - straight on to the cows then!  Post cows, follow signs for the A28 signposted Bordeaux.

Also, if you're following 6 porkers, and 5 of them turn off what you're fairly sure is the right road, don't be tempted to follow them. You'll find yourself exchanging quizzical looks with other brits at a series of random roundabouts.

IF anyone's driving through Rouen between now and next June, can they video the correct way through Rouen, and post the video on youtube?

That way we can all look at it and not get lost.

This has got to be the most simple and accurate instuction yet. It works every time. You can't go wrong.

That bit worked fine last year, but I went wrong when I didn't see the sign for bordeaux.

I just wanted to start the fretting early, so everyone's nice and jumpy in time for the ACO letters ;)

Going out there, I generally come off at the motorway at the junction just at the top of the hill into Rouen, and then follow the old N road down inbto the town and across the river further west, towards the industrial port, this then takes you straight onto a fast dual carriageway, pretty much as soon as you have crossed the river, which links up with the motorway - still takes you through a few sets of traffic lights, but they are fewer and it's a much quieter route.

MG Mark

Our little convoy usually goes down the east bank of the river towards Elbeuf and onward south on our 'back roads' tour.  Have a look in the CA guide for the route.