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Hi All, I'm off to the Vendee area of France soon and was wondering if anyone can tell me if the motorway from Rouen to Le Mans is open yet? I think its the E402 or is it the A28? I have previously taken the N138 which runs parallel to the proposed/new motorway. Thanks In Advance.
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Not all the way. Rouen to Alencon is via the old N138 then at Alencon you can choose to use the m'way or stay on the 138. I believe the whole route will be opening in Spring next year (in time for next year's 24h du Mans in June).
If you are travelling from the Channel ports (Calais or Dunkirk in particular) you could use www.mappy.com to plot a route via Chartres which is motorway pretty much door to door. I did this route for the 24h in June, towing a caravan, and it was an absolute joy compared to towing along the N138. Obviously tolls cost a bit but with the 'van on I saved a lot of fuel by being able to keep at constant speed. Overall journey was a bit further (30m IIRC), but time was actually a bit quicker.
The route took us quite wide west of Paris, avoiding the Periphique, although that part of the journey was still relatively slow. I had to play around a bit with waypoints in mappy to force this diversion as it wanted by default to send me round the East periphique. Mappy also tells you about fixed speed camera locations and gives you great driving directions.
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It's the A28 and is due to open at the end of October.
You can see its progress here. www.alis-sa.com/index_gb.php
Where are you heading for and at which port are you arriving?
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Head for the Isle d'Oleron the rest of the Vendee coast is Essex Sur Mer
{sweeping generalisation 102}
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somkie - thanks very much for that info, I will study what you have advised.
Robbie - Calais - La Tranche
Huw - THanks for that :-)) LOL.
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From Calais take the E402 to Boulogne, then A16 - E402/A28 to Rouen. At Rouen head for N154 Evreux, Dreux, Chartres. At Chartres take the A11 to Le Mans - Tours - Angers, then A87 to la Roche-sur-Yon.
The N154 is now a good, fast road - most is now dual carriageway to autoroute standards.
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I support this advice from Robbie. I use the section of the route Calais - Chartres regularly. Avoid the shortest route via W of Paris at all costs, especially at this time of year.
Watch for mobile speed traps on N154.
--
pmh (was peter)
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From Calais take the E402 to Boulogne, then A16 - E402/A28 to Rouen. At Rouen head for N154 Evreux, Dreux, Chartres. At Chartres take the A11 to Le Mans - Tours - Angers, then A87 to la Roche-sur-Yon. The N154 is now a good, fast road - most is now dual carriageway to autoroute standards.
Thats the way to do it
Book a BB hotel and enjoy and eat as much as you can breakfast for about E5
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A friend in France tells me that the new Rouen - Alencon section of the A 28 was opened today.
The Eccomoy - Tours section will open in December.
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I drove down the N138 last week, it must be the worst road in France. Just next to it was the unopened A28, lovely virgin tarmac, I was dying to nip through a barrier! I am not surprised to hear it is now open. This will be the best way to Le Mans from Calais, I hate the Evreax to Dreaux road.
I can recommend a hotel that we stayed at in Vivonne, near Poitiers ,the Hotel St George, it was very good and the plumbing worked well.
France is a wonderfull country to drive in, most of the roads are terrific and virtually empty. You usually get a flash of headlights when the Gendarmes are about, and I saw about 5 speed cameras usually in dangerous places with warnings. It seems that most French drivers are obeying the speed limits.
In the Gers department, on D roads, I was averaging 61.5mpg after 75 miles in my Passat 130 TDI. On the whole trip she averaged 47.8mpg over 2300 miles, I feel lucky to have such a good car!
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I've done the N138 from Alencon to Le Mans late at night when there is no other traffic about. It's not so bad then: but during the day when the trucks are out and about it is a different story.
I arrived at Le Mans (for Testing Weekend) at about 01:30 so thought I'd do a lap or two of the Public parts of the track. Hundaires (sp - Mulsanne to most) straight was wonderful - then through Indianapolis way too fast. I forgot about the 90 degee turn at the White House (Maison Blanche) and wasted a good few mill of my tyres as a result.
When you leave Le Mans after the 24h race the local people come out to wish the English farewell. There are whole families out for the late summer afternoon, picnics etc, waving at the Brit cars as they pass. It's obviously some kind of tradition, that would go on for over 90 miles, in every village you pass through. The new motorway will certainly be quicker but will deprive the locals (and us) of the fun of that part of the jourey...
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