When heading south on the Rouen, Chartres, Tours trek is there any decent way of avoiding that lovely (!!!) bit between Nonancourt and Dreux. Over the years this section seems to have got worse and there seems to be a permanent traffic jam at that first village, St Remy sur Avre. Anybody got their own favourite way to get through this bit.
------------- Brian
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Well, from Rouen to Tours the A28 goes all the way, but it seems to be a most expensive bit of motorway, so perhaps the route Nationale which parallels it, and just skip on to the autoroute to get past Le Mans, and certainly Tours itself.
Careful Brian. You do realise that you are casting nasturtiums at the route to the holy grail?
I quite agree with you. It is the road to hell. Or it would be if you ever got anywhere. Bite the bullet and pay the toll down the a28 to Le Mans. Even that is tedious but at least you won't lose the will to live
I have done the Rouen, Chartres, Nonancourt and Dreux to Tours route twice each way (2012 and 2014) without any hold ups? April/ May. What time of year are you talking about. I find going through Tours easy using the toll for that bit down to Poitiers.
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As Frederico says, it's generally a good route, if you're going south, used a lot by those of us who have more time than money!! In May/June and on Sundays when we usually travel through there is no real problem. Mid-week, when all the HGVs are heading that way it might be very different.
The problem is the N12, which is a route used by many HGV's and when they're on the roads traffic is much heavier. St Remy has been campaigning for a bypass for many years - and seems to be one of the few places that has missed out.
You could try the radical alternative, suggested by Viamichelin, of using the Paris peripherique - now that really is the road to hell, and the only place we've ever had a four hour traffic jam without moving more than 150 metres!
Quote: Originally posted by frederico on 13/11/2014I have done the Rouen, Chartres, Nonancourt and Dreux to Tours route twice each way (2012 and 2014) without any hold ups? April/ May.
Ditto
both times have been mid week before lunchtime. I note your home town so presume you will be using the M25 + Thames crossing. If you survive that then Nonancourt will be a doddle.
We used a different route this year, from Rouen, nonancourt, then onto the N12 heading for Mortagne au Perche, Le Mans and all points south. Apart from the bit round Rouen, about 2€, it was fairly good, fast free road, and made a pleasant change. Depends where you want to end up of course!
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There no quicker diversion if you are taking that route which I would admit is a depressing start to one's hol. As pointed out, a prettier way is from Rouen, take old N road that follows route of A28 which gives you option of using some of the A28 if you wish.
Taking route past Dreux etc is quickest toll free route to Tours though & the holdup is not that long even if almost back to roundabout, it just seems like it.
But that road can seem slow, with all the many towns en route. We have done it loads of times, and it usually ends with us jumping on the motorway out of sheer frustration! The way we went this year was a nice change, and quicker too.
Must say, I am with Stuart on this one. Having done both, I'd opt for the Alencon route every time. In fact, to avoid the congestion of Rouen we have used the N29 from J12 of the A28 to Totes then South on the A151/A150/N138. We find it a decent road and a big saving on Autoroute tolls.
Each to their own preference I suppose, but even with the Pont Mathilde fixed, we will use that route.
------------- playing at tinkies
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Some interesting routes. We are back on the road to Benidorm again next March past Tours. I have done three routes past Rouen. Over the bridge, Val's route when the bridge was closed and (N29 from J12 off the A28) route. The N29 was the easiest but the others were ok also. I am tempted to use Chartres, Dreux, Chateaudun, Vendome, Tours again but I will have a look at the other suggestions.
Thanks to everyone, some interesting ideas have come out. Shall be heading for Blois or Orleans this year so it will probably be through Dreux that we shall be going. Cheers to all and happy travelling.