Driving through Rouen, France.

[Reg1958]

Hi all,
I am travelling to France for the first time in September and we need to go through Rouen.
I have heard stories of motorhomes getting trapped in an underpass with a low height barrier.
I am just under 3m and scared stiff of the sat nav taking me towards this route.
can anyone tell me the name of the underpass or the road that takes me to it, or better still, a route through Rouen that will avoid this underpass,
thanks to all who help,

 

[David and Sally]

Can you input your dimensions into the sat nav? Does it give you the option of choosing the vehicle you are driving?

 

[Littlewheels]

Don’t worry you would have to be traveling with your eyes shut to miss the signage and overhead warnings ,if you wish to avoid the underpass rely on SatNav and signage you will be fine.

 

[Lofty1]

If you approach the underpass ignore the left turn keep going straight on ie keep right and the road will bypass it

 

[NicandJay]

We've been through Rouen all different ways numerous and never even seen the really low underpasses even when the big bridge was closed and with a generic satnav although now our satnav knows our dimensions so hopefully we never will

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[slowdriver]

Ditto I went through Rouen for the first time on the 3rd of feb going south and back last Friday- following my sat nav without any probs. Obviously keep a lookout for signage but you’d have to be off the main through routes I think to encounter this. I switched my sat nav from “avoid tolls” to “ accept tolls” before approaching Rouen both on the southbound and northbound journeys. The toll fees were minimal

 

[Reg1958]

Yeah I do have my dimensions in the sat nav to be fair, though never having been tested I’m just probably over thinking things, but thanks gain for the reassurance, cheers

 

[adonisito]

We must have travelled South/ North through Rouen at least a hundred times and never seen this underpass. I’ve heard the stories too, I think it’s somewhere on the North bank of the river if you travel West through town.

 

[Marty Gilly and Pup]

We drove under a very low one this year when going through in a car thankfully. Unfortunately as we were lost at the time I can’t tell you where it is! Would have definitely not allowed any motorhome under it that’s for sure.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Get yourself behind a Spanish lorry and just follow it untill your through Rouen.

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[Gaston aires]

If you need an aire, Pont d,larche is just south of Rouen. Much to recommend.
Phil

 

[Vanderek]

We drove through southbound last week, its very easy to miss the height restrictions , just watch Keith Chesterfields YouTube video, its called "Rouen and beyond" make a note of where he branches off.

 

[Reallyretired]

The underpasses are under roundabouts and are not well signposted. We nearly went down one some years ago. Satnavs seem to avoid them now but if you see one just keep right and go round the roundabout instead.

 

[royandsharont]

Reg1958 we too have travelled through Rouen many times and have seen the underpasses that do seem very low so have avoided them in the van but used them in the car. As I recall there has always been an adjacent slip road to take you up and over tge purpose of the underpass, usually a crossing road.

We personally know of someone who has been stuck in one! The police came and lowered his tyre pressures to be able to pull him out, so it can and does happen.

We now tend to get to the end of the motorway heading south and then take the D6015 avoiding the city centre totally. This takes you alongside the river Seine and we head for Pont de L’Arche and go from there.

Depending on your sat nav, I use a Tom Tom for ease of being able to dictate my route, you can set way points so you could add the D6015 as a way point to ensure it takes you that specific way. I also disable ‘intelligent routes’ for the same purpose or else it would be finding better routes Re traffic etc and I want to go my way

 

[namwaldog]

For some reason, I cannot post a link to a 2020 thread on this subject but if you search 'a close call in Rouen' you will find this thread which covers the routes through Rouen....

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[Littlewheels]

If you approach the underpass ignore the left turn keep going straight on ie keep right and the road will bypass it

As Lofty1 says stay right, can you see this signage?

 

[Nyvern]

the underpass says maximum 2m. we went through, by mistake, with 2m.60, only just, and very scary during rush hours.

 

[Nyvern]

on the first bridge wall I seem to remember it said 2m.

 

[gus-lopez]

I think it’s somewhere on the North bank of the river if you travel West through town.

They are .i've been through in the car in 2013 when the bridge was shut after the fire. I was more concerned that they looked like they would fall in on me & as though they existed from the war?

 

[suavecarve]

I post this irregularly on Rouen convertible threads for future reference


Over many years we have not found a sensible alternative to bypass Rouen. The motorway becomes Dual carriageway at the city's edge and drops down through a tunnel. Exit this in the inside lane and in 1.5km take the 3rd exit signed to Vernon. The slip road ends in traffic lights - go in the centre lane to turn left across a dual carriageway. You should now be in the right hand lane for the next set of lights. Go straight on then bear right onto the D6015 signed for Vernon. In a little while the Seine appears on your right and you are clear of the City

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[brynric]

I tend to avoid Rouen. I follow this route ( I think it was originally posted by another Funster but I can’t remember who.)

From A28 junction 11
A29 toYvetot then
D131, D490, D193, D313
(This sounds complicated but is really all one road.)
A13
A28
You cross the Seine at the Brantonne bridge and it’s an attractive area to drive through.
You go past good supermarkets and an excellent Aire on the banks of the river at La Malleraye sur Seine.
It adds a few miles but reduces the stress.

 

[DavidG58]

Two simple ways to avoid any chance of getting to the tunnels, we have used the aires at either La Mailleraye or Pont De L’arche every trip to France for years, both recommended although La Mailleraye is now our favourite

 

[3 cabbages]

This is only the 6th March , you are not driving for another 6 months !
will you still remember any answers you get today!
I wouldn't.

Leo

Hi all,
I am travelling to France for the first time in September and we need to go through Rouen.
I have heard stories of motorhomes getting trapped in an underpass with a low height barrier.
I am just under 3m and scared stiff of the sat nav taking me towards this route.
can anyone tell me the name of the underpass or the road that takes me to it, or better still, a route through Rouen that will avoid this underpass,
thanks to all who help, 6th march

 

[Waveski]

I’ve been through Rouen numerous times and once through the notorious under pass with a caravan as I was following a couple of UK caravans…bad idea. The secret is easy: go through the tunnel, over the bridge and you reach a decision point. It’s dual carriage way and you fork RIGHT at the green direction thingy in the middle of the 2 lanes. You’ll know when you see it, it takes you round in a clockwise circle onto the ring road. Easy Peasy.

 

[gus-lopez]

I post this irregularly on Rouen convertible threads for future reference


Over many years we have not found a sensible alternative to bypass Rouen. The motorway becomes Dual carriageway at the city's edge and drops down through a tunnel. Exit this in the inside lane and in 1.5km take the 3rd exit signed to Vernon. The slip road ends in traffic lights - go in the centre lane to turn left across a dual carriageway. You should now be in the right hand lane for the next set of lights. Go straight on then bear right onto the D6015 signed for Vernon. In a little while the Seine appears on your right and you are clear of the City

Yes that is the way i have been since the bridge was destroyed & still do even after they replaced it

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[EuroTrotters]

We've been through Rouen all different ways numerous and never even seen the really low underpasses even when the big bridge was closed and with a generic satnav although now our satnav knows our dimensions so hopefully we never will

SAme here

 

[Lenny HB]

We used to keep to the east of the river but last few trips found a much easier way.
Come in on the A150 (free Autoroute) which turns into the N1338 then the N338 down to to the A13 (free), back across the river then the Dm321 across to the & 6015.

 

[suavecarve]

I ought to add, depending on where you are going after Rouen, if heading very South then dont discard the Peripherique of Paris. Done it 4 times last year and easier than the M25 (This is the M25 equivalent not the north Circular equivalent which is a bit hairy on a Friday afternoon)

 

[Lenny HB]

I ought to add, depending on where you are going after Rouen, if heading very South then dont discard the Peripherique of Paris. Done it 4 times last year and easier than the M25 (This is the M25 equivalent not the north Circular equivalent which is a bit hairy on a Friday afternoon)

You must be barmy John the Perpherique makes the M25 look like a fast race track.
Last time I was on it in a car, no choice doing a job in Paris. Took longer to do 20 miles on the Perpherique than the following 120 miles to Dieppe.

 

[suavecarve]

You must be barmy John the Perpherique makes the M25 look like a fast race track.
Last time I was on it in a car, no choice doing a job in Paris. Took longer to do 20 miles on the Perpherique than the following 120 miles to Dieppe.

Timing is all to do with it.
I try to do it from 1000 hrs to 1500 hrs.
6 times now and really no issues.

I wonder if we see it as equivalent to the M25. Easily caught on that and try to detour round it but at the end of the day it gets us round London.

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