The Société des autoroutes du Nord et de l’Est de la France, Sanef, will begin a major project on the A13 and A14 motorways, which should reduce driving times.
A new system is starting to make its way in France, the so-called “free-flow motorways”, which no longer have physical tolls on the road. Thanks to the installation of gates on the road which record the plate numbers, payment can be made afterwards, saving time. And it is this system which arrives on two main roads in the north of the country.
A project which is a first in France
These are new works which are currently starting on the route between Paris and Caen. The A13 and 14 motorways on this section will be cleared of their 14 toll barriers, to make way for registration identification gantries.
If the system is already in place elsewhere in the country, “ This is the first time that a complete existing network has been transformed. This very large project on this 210 km axis is a challenge » explained project manager Joselito Bellet.
“ Future gantries, equipped with intelligent sensors, will detect each vehicle and identify its category (light vehicle, heavy goods vehicle, motorcycles) using devices calculating its volume, profile and number of axles. » indicated for his part the construction director François Cornier.
30 minutes saved
In total, 120 million euros will be invested in this project, a budget financed for a third by a 0.22% increase in prices over the next three years. The first sites will be deployed next year, and the entire system should be in place in 2027.
According to Sanef, the highways, once completely free-flowing, should allow much faster journeys, eliminating the slowdowns and stops caused by tolls. A Paris-Caen weekend trip could thus be completed 30 minutes faster.
But be careful, if this system appears very attractive at first glance, it could also be tricky. Because if the motorist carrying a toll badge will have nothing to do, others must not forget that this is not a free route. They will either have the choice of registering on the Sanef website or paying their dues within 72 hours. If they do not do so, they risk having to pay a fine, which could go up to 375 euros.
Source : The echoes
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