A close call in Rouen

No sympathy with the locals. Someone designed those underpasses, and signed off on the exact height. Someone decided where to put those signs. Remember, the purpose of signs is to inform and guide those people who need to be informed and guided. Not a box-ticking exercise to say you've followed the regulations. If they are constantly not working, someone should fix them.
 
The thing is, if and when you know that they are there, it's simple but until you do they are the last thing you are thinking about, and if the satnav says go that way why would you not, I had honestly not seen any sign telling me the height till we hit the chains, luckily for us there was nothing behind us and we reversed out with no trouble.
But folks who say they are not there or you should see them or don't follow your satnav or whatever are just causeing trouble for first timers who don't know any different.
 
chaser said:
The thing is, if and when you know that they are there, it's simple but until you do they are the last thing you are thinking about, and if the satnav says go that way why would you not, I had honestly not seen any sign telling me the height till we hit the chains, luckily for us there was nothing behind us and we reversed out with no trouble.
But folks who say they are not there or you should see them or don't follow your satnav or whatever are just causeing trouble for first timers who don't know any different.
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Same as us Chaser, except it was rush hour with hundreds of cars behind us and a concrete wall each side so I couldn't switch lanes.

There we were - a brand new van looking at this tunnel and thinking WTF do I do? We had hit the warning chains so I was convinced we would hit the tunnel roof, but amid lots of horn sounding and shouting we crept through the tunnel without further incident. After we had exchanged pleasantries and hand signals with various locals we pulled off at the next aire to inspect the damage. Luckily the roof was undamaged but the front sky light was smashed.
 
suavecarve said:
The route through Rouen.

Found this post from a few years ago and has worked every time since. Worth printing out and putting in glove box.

"Over many years we have not found a sensible alternative to bypass Rouen. The motorway becomes Dual carriageway at the city's edge and drops down through a tunnel. Exit this in the inside lane and in 1.5km take the 3rd exit signed to Vernon. The slip road ends in traffic lights - go in the centre lane to turn left across a dual carriageway. You should now be in the right hand lane for the next set of lights. Go straight on then bear right onto the D6015 signed for Vernon. In a little while the Seine appears on your right and you are clear of the City.

I would be really tempted to keep these instructions they were written by a driver for a driver and worked really well for us."
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If you miss the slip road and end up crossing the bridge take the next slip which turns 270° back under the bridge with the river on the left. Continue through several sets lights and will pick up signs for Evron and Pont de L'Arche. Don"t just continue straight if you miss the slip, "there be a dragons",or rather roof removers!
 
I never got stuck, but I’m guilty of a few close shaves going where I don’t think I should have done, as for the pot holes their something else.
 
My preferred route from Calais avoids Rouen. Via Yvetot, which you by-pass, from where you head south and cross the Seine by the Pont de Brotonne (toll-free).

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SpeedyDux said:
My preferred route from Calais avoids Rouen. Via Yvetot, which you by-pass, from where you head south and cross the Seine by the Pont de Brotonne (toll-free).
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Ditto but we are usually coming the other way (y)
 
suavecarve said:
The route through Rouen.

Found this post from a few years ago and has worked every time since. Worth printing out and putting in glove box.

"Over many years we have not found a sensible alternative to bypass Rouen. The motorway becomes Dual carriageway at the city's edge and drops down through a tunnel. Exit this in the inside lane and in 1.5km take the 3rd exit signed to Vernon. The slip road ends in traffic lights - go in the centre lane to turn left across a dual carriageway. You should now be in the right hand lane for the next set of lights. Go straight on then bear right onto the D6015 signed for Vernon. In a little while the Seine appears on your right and you are clear of the City.

I would be really tempted to keep these instructions they were written by a driver for a driver and worked really well for us."
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That takes you along the right bank of the Seine. We find it easier to go past that junction and then cross the river on Pont Mathilde. It is a long bridge because it crosses via an Island in the river as well. Take the second slip road right after the bridge following the overhead signs for the A13 and Elbeuf. That takes you down the left bank and you can then get to the A13 that way.

Edit. Having said that lately we have been staying at the lovely Aire at St Mailleraye. So we turn off before Rouen to Yvetot and then cross over the Seine on the Pont e Brotonne
 
I've done those two city centre u/passes, too. The height warning signs come visible AFTER you're committed. For a second I looked for a way out of the slip road but the curbs are way too high. You either go thru' or have to reverse back out, with Le Plod in attendance, I presume.

The signs say 2.60m. I have measured my Vaux Movano [aka Reno Master] and, without the bits installed on the roof, got 2.40m.

A slight touch on the brake had the guy behind me honking madly. There was a 'clang' as I passed under the board but I realised it was only the radio aerial. I did wonder about the quite steep angle taking out my nominal 20 cm clearance, what with the two Fiamma roof lights and 2 big solar panels up there. They didn't see fit to radius the bottom edge of the beam... I had the same worry emerging at the other side but all was well. I zoomed thru' the second one as if i'd been doing it for years.

I live round the corner from the one in central Valencia. I kept my van there for some years. The height warning is visible in time to avoid having to do a dodgy swerve left.
 
Vipar said:
Reading every post in this thread. I am going nowhere near Rouen why would I risk it???
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Because it gives you a quick and convenient route from the Channel Ports that enables you to miss the Paris area if you are heading South, which is MUCH worse than Rouen (I left the indicator from my left hand mirror there last time). After Rouen there are both toll free and tolled routes to head either to the South West of South East of France

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KUSKUS said:
been there , done that !
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Did the same, lucky for me I have the Bailey Autograph which has the Alko low chassis and we just made it through. We have avoided it since!
 
You might be a ‘newbie’ but you won’t do that again in a hurry. It’s what’s called ‘learning’ and actually has nothing to do with you being new to motorhoming. Yes, truck sat navs have their value but so does common sense. I actually think the UK roads are far more hazardous than French roads as they are generally more congested and less well kept. eg roadside hedgerows that love to scrape your pride and joy. I remember taking a Google ‘shortcut’ that in theory saved me 5 mins but lead me down a narrow road with speed traps which were staggered bollards with about 2 inches clearance on either side. There were about 10 of these!! Stay on main roads as much as possible.
 
That happened to me with a van at the Crown Hotel in Harrogate - the car park in the middle has a bridge joining the two sides of the hotel, with pipes underneath - on the way in was fine, when the van was fully loaded, but on the way out, it was higher when empty and got stuck - we had to get the chefs out of the kitchen and into the back of the van to lower it enough to pass back under the bridge :ROFLMAO::LOL::ROFLMAO::LOL:
 
Oh yes ! We ran into a large protest march there some years ago. I made the mistake of actually driving into the underpass. I just had momentary brain fade. I knew I was in trouble when I heard the rubber strips above us rumble across the top of the van. But I was committed. It was two lanes with a wall between.....and dark. After 100 mtrs of slow driving I heard the little TV arial get knocked off. Then, as we approached daylight a low beam with a large sign saying 1.9mtrs ! I stopped with hazards on. Sent my wife , bless her, to stand in front as I inched along. Believe it or not, we just scrapped under with about an inch to spare. Luckily it was a generous 1.9 mtrs ! I still get a sick feeling whenever I'm within 20 miles of Rouen. You did well to avoid it.
 
On the road to Strid Wood CAMC site is an ancient arch which was an extremely close shave as I drove our new to me N+B Arto through it , about half an inch either side and two inches on the roof that was quite a gripping drive .

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My van is 3mtrs high so I will take the scenic route
 
Nearly did it when we sent in there by our old sat nav. Those tram lines nearly got to me. had some real fun getting out.
 
I'm now getting worried, planning to go from Calais through Rouen next week, normally I go down the eastern side but this time I'm planning to go right through to the A28, which route I haven't done for years. If I stick to the main roads to the A28, I presume there's no low tunnels? I'm just trying out the A28 route to avoid Nonancourt etc.
 
peterc10 said:
That takes you along the right bank of the Seine. We find it easier to go past that junction and then cross the river on Pont Mathilde. It is a long bridge because it crosses via an Island in the river as well. Take the second slip road right after the bridge following the overhead signs for the A13 and Elbeuf. That takes you down the left bank and you can then get to the A13 that way.

Edit. Having said that lately we have been staying at the lovely Aire at St Mailleraye. So we turn off before Rouen to Yvetot and then cross over the Seine on the Pont e Brotonne
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We have done that route before as well but found the road by the railway a bit of a "very stop and sometimes go" whereas the one we have done is very much a "slow but steady"
Prefer the route i now know and have yours as a saviour.
I am yet to try the back road via Yvetot but might give it a go in September.

Any of those 3 are far superior to following a sat nav !!!!!!
 
suavecarve said:
The route through Rouen.

Found this post from a few years ago and has worked every time since. Worth printing out and putting in glove box.

"Over many years we have not found a sensible alternative to bypass Rouen. The motorway becomes Dual carriageway at the city's edge and drops down through a tunnel. Exit this in the inside lane and in 1.5km take the 3rd exit signed to Vernon. The slip road ends in traffic lights - go in the centre lane to turn left across a dual carriageway. You should now be in the right hand lane for the next set of lights. Go straight on then bear right onto the D6015 signed for Vernon. In a little while the Seine appears on your right and you are clear of the City.

I would be really tempted to keep these instructions they were written by a driver for a driver and worked really well for us."
Click to expand...

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That's the route we always take when going that way it works well for us even when on my own had no bother.
 
Come on guys how can you miss those signs, you have to deliberately cross into anther lane to get into the lane for the underpasses.

1581699571764.png
 
suavecarve said:
The route through Rouen.

Found this post from a few years ago and has worked every time since. Worth printing out and putting in glove box.

"Over many years we have not found a sensible alternative to bypass Rouen. The motorway becomes Dual carriageway at the city's edge and drops down through a tunnel. Exit this in the inside lane and in 1.5km take the 3rd exit signed to Vernon. The slip road ends in traffic lights - go in the centre lane to turn left across a dual carriageway. You should now be in the right hand lane for the next set of lights. Go straight on then bear right onto the D6015 signed for Vernon. In a little while the Seine appears on your right and you are clear of the City.

I would be really tempted to keep these instructions they were written by a driver for a driver and worked really well for us."
Click to expand...
That's the route I have used for the last 2 years. I believe it was the diversion when the bridge was out of service. Once you come out of the tunnel and have to cross the lights only to meet another set and possibly straddle the junction but no low tunnels to worry about.
Takes us to the delightful aire at Pont de L'Arche and ready for an easy drive to join the N154.
 
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Want to see the route?. Pull up Google maps, and go to street View. (drop the "little man" in the road) you can then "Fly" the route and see all the signage, lane markings as you go, just keep "clicking ahead". I have used this to pre check routes. Many times in the USA.

IF you do go N28 as you cross the Seine Bridge (Pont Mathilde) You need the SECOND exit over the bridge. That will put you on the D18E, the first exit is to a Minor road. (was roadworks but that was last 2007.) BTW, Route North and West via Yvetot adds 36 miles.?
 
As suavecarve says above but with a couple of Streetview images........


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Rouen

Does anybody happen to know the road number to avoid in Rouen to save being caught out by the low height underpass(es?)? :eek: Going over in that direction in July towards the coast & don't want to end up having to reverse out!!!! Thanks.
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Post no #21

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