French A13 Highway Closure Prompts A14 Toll Relief and Transit Push
The closure of a major French highway connecting Paris to Normandy will trigger months of heavy congestion, prompting government mitigation efforts including making the A14 toll-free on weekdays.
Motorists traveling on France's A13 highway face severe traffic disruptions beginning in late 2026 due to major infrastructure construction around the Saint-Cloud tunnel in the Hauts-de-Seine department. The highway will close in the direction heading from Paris toward the province starting November 16, 2026, and lasting until August 31, 2027.
The affected route serves approximately 80,000 drivers daily and is already heavily congested during peak weekday hours. Transportation Minister Philippe Tabarot acknowledged the severity of the upcoming disruption, stating that authorities are working on the least unfavorable solutions to manage the gridlock.
As part of the mitigation strategy, the government and prefectures have arranged for the A14 highway to be toll-free from Monday through Friday, starting at 12:01 a.m. and running until 11:59 p.m. Toll charges will resume on weekends. The private operating company, Sanef, will be compensated by the state for waiving these fees, though the exact financial amount has not yet been disclosed.
State officials noted that additional measures will include postponing scheduled construction projects on other major regional routes or scheduling them primarily at night. However, authorities confirmed that the A86 highway will not be made toll-free.
Minister Tabarot expressed hope that daily commuters will shift toward public transportation during the construction period. According to the transport ministry, the railway network in western Paris has the capacity to carry about 50 percent of the motorists who typically use the A13. Plans are also underway to reinforce bus lines 7815 and 5117.
While the state does not plan to increase the overall number of trains, the minister promised that every effort will be made to ensure the rail network operates smoothly. Reports noted historical precedent for skepticism regarding this shift, as only seven percent of A13 motorists transitioned to trains in 2024 when severe road cracks previously forced lane closures.