Lower Normandy Road Network and Travel
Lower-Normandy's road network is well-developed with 7,730 km of roads.
Thanks to high regional financial supports, huge road works have been done from 2000 to 2006, improving the road network of Lower-Normandy region, so the links between this region and the rest of France are good.
Pay attention: if you drive to Caen or Cherbourg, you will probably face traffic jams in the surroundings of these cities.
| Travelling to Lower-Normandy by Road | |
|---|---|
| Road network | National roads: 560 km Secondary roads: 1,060 km Local roads: 4,140 km |
| Main motorways | A13: Caen-Rouen-Paris A84: Caen – Rennes A28: Tours - Le Mans - Alençon - Rouen **Future A88***: Caen-Falaise-Sées. The A88 will be opened by June 2010. |
| Main national roads | RN 12: connects Alençon and the Orne department with Parisian region. RN 174: connects the RN 3 (north) to the A84 (southern estuary's motorway) |
| Distances | Driving distance from Paris to Caen: 235km (about 2h35) Driving distance from London to Caen: 452km (about 5h45, of which 45 min of ferry) |
| Useful contacts | Car Rental: www.hertz.fr, www.avis.fr, www.rentacar.fr, www.europcar.com, www.easycar.com Trafic Information: www.autoroutes-trafic.fr, www.infotrafic.com, www.bison-fute.equipement.gouv.fr Itineraries: |
* The construction of the A88 is a very important project for the Lower Normandy region, as it will bring lots of improvements to the area:
- open-up the ports of Lower Normandy by connecting them to the motorways which serve the Centre region, as well as the West and South-West of France.
- reinforce the role of Caen
- strengthen the connection with the Calais - Bordeaux - Bayonne axis
- develop the industrial functions and services of Falaise, Sées, etc.
- provide a better access to the touristic areas of Lower-Normandy.
- ease the inter-regional exchanges
