Motoring in France is set to become more expensive as the country embarks on an extensive programme of motorway improvements.
The €1 billion project was announced on Sunday by France’s transport minister Alain Vidalies.
Motorists are to help underwrite the project through price hikes in toll fees which are to increase every year for three years from 2018 to 2020.
In addition to already agreed fare rises, there will be increases of 0.3% and 0.4% to cover some costs, Vidalies told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper. The remaining amount would be funded by local authorities.
The first of 30 planned major improvement projects is to begin at the end of 2017, and continue until 2020. The upgrades include environmental enhancement, noise barriers and “eco-bridges” for animals to get across the road safely.
The scheme also includes creating carpool areas.
The projects are dotted around the country, but network roads in the northwest and east regions are in line for particular attention.
Vidalies said the scheme would create 5,000 jobs by 2019.
Comments
Something is wrong because, with the exception of a few bridges, the UK's roads are free to travel for everyone including French visitors, whereas it is very expensive for a Brit to travel in France. The crossing between the countries is completely irrelevant and I don't know why you raised it.
I take on board Peter Booker's point but I think UK tolls will come one day anyway - when they run out of other stealth taxes.
Ideally we should charge an entry fee for lorries which create the most damage and pollution. A vignette system similar to Switzerland's. Perhaps this would also be a better system for Portugal.
With GPS technology, complex route planning has become easy.
As in Portugal, a lot of through traffic is using secondary roads to keep expenses down.
The country's motorways are free, apart from a section of the M6, unlike in France where autoroute travel incurs a charge.
The reason there are so many toll roads in France is simply because unlike the UK the main roads are not owned by the government they are operated by different companies.
The point being made above by Chip is that to get anywhere quickly via motorway in France will cost you, whereas in the UK it is 99.99% free with charges only on some bridges such as those over the Severn.
French motorists pay to cross to the UK, and must pay any tolls required of them while in the UK. UK motorists pay to cross to France, and must pay any tolls required of them while in France.
Please explain what "something" is "wrong".