A close call in Rouen

Having *chased John McGuinness* in a previous life why I am not surprised! The underpasses in Le Harve are clearly marked and even if you don't parley Francis its easy to work out....basic translation is car and no roof bar fine, car and roof bar don't use the mine. There we are basic stupid idiots guide to French underpass systems and no not holier than thou just took the trouble to look on french websites and the problems arising (Rouen is another hotspot/minefield if in any doubt As in play your cards right for a Brucie bonus, NEVER go down!!!!!!!!
 
Sorry forgot to include about Rouen ,,if you see the local gendarmes sat at the roadside near a tunnel then no problem, the CRS are there to make money so CRS don't go down, Gendarmes are fine they know the town! Probably;y applies to any french town with underpasses
 
PeteH said:
Not Tunnels nor underpasses, But one occasion took the wrong exit, finished up 32ft R-V towing car on trailer, though the centre of Rouen. :sick: (D18 not D18E)
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Been there, done that, with car/caravan of 42' length. Right hand lane over flyover....oops, down and round we go..straight into the centre of Rouen, just like you, lol
 
Note to self; avoid Rouen! ?

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We have done Pont de Brotonne but I’m sure it has a 3.5t weight limit, can anyone confirm, as it’s such an easy route.
 
I really don’t want to be holider than thou
I concentrate hard as navigator with butterflies - there’s always been so many horrible stories - as we approach Rouen
I always take us N28 to D18E or avoid the place altogether via Pont normandy
and use maps and signs not satnav there

I would though like to know where these tunnels are?
how would I get to them off the N28? Just so I can stay confident!!
 
First time driving through Rouen the gearstick knob came off in my hand , spring etc launched itself to the back of the vehicle.Carried on but with white knuckles and in a cold sweat.I grip the steering wheel now & breathe a sigh of relief when I get through going South, why is coming North so much easier?
 
The problem with Rouen was the closure of the main bridge for a number of years 4 or 5 +years ago which tended to take you through the middle of the town. Having approached Rouen from numerous directions since then, you would have to want to drive through the town to encounter the underpasses.
 
JockandRita said:
Or the D18E down past the railway sidings................as do many of the trucks. ;)

Cheers,

Jock. :)
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Ah! Yes the railway sidings. I often wondered If they ever found all the UXB`s the Yanks left behind? (39-45)

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Lenny HB said:
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.

View attachment 362706
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That is quite right, but the satnav tells you to use that lane way back, no mention of height, till you see those signs in the photo then it's too late, we got to where that van is before the chains hit the roof and luckily that is about the state of traffic when we were there and was able to reverse out.
 
Lenny HB said:
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.

View attachment 362706
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That’s not where we had the problem. Possibly we were going in the opposite direction or it was another tunnel
 
I should have said that our road was 2 lanes. The right took you into the tunnel, the left took you over the top of it.
 
chaser said:
That is quite right, but the satnav tells you to use that lane way back, no mention of height, till you see those signs in the photo then it's too late, we got to where that van is before the chains hit the roof and luckily that is about the state of traffic when we were there and was able to reverse out.
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Only a fool follows a satnav blindly in a large vehicle, I'm an expert at it in Spanish villages. :rofl:
Chris said:
That’s not where we had the problem. Possibly we were going in the opposite direction or it was another tunnel
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I haven't a clue where were certainly not on any of the main routes through.
 
Lenny HB said:
Only a fool follows a satnav blindly in a large vehicle, I'm an expert at it in Spanish villages. :rofl:

I haven't a clue where were certainly not on any of the main routes through.
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No, we got lost and were driving around narrow streets for ages and then saw a sign we fancied the look of and followed it. Next thing - bang :giggle:

What I couldn’t understand ( and this is typical of the bloody French) is why they have these warning chains hanging down,but once you hit them it’s too late to change lanes:rolleyes:
 
Lenny HB said:
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.

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If I remember correctly, and I have been trying to erase it from my memory but without success !, the sat nav tells you to take the left lane early on. It is the direct route of course and there to avoid the traffic lights at the bridge junctions.
Those height warning signs are too late.
We scraped through without damage but i vividly remember that just when you think you are safe and nearly through, there is a sudden lower one !
in my defence, I wasn't driving.
 
Camdoon said:
The problem with Rouen was the closure of the main bridge for a number of years 4 or 5 +years ago which tended to take you through the middle of the town.
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Yep, that's when I was driving solo in the chaos and ended up at the chains. In the town there were 'Deviation' signs (some falling over and pointing in unspecific directions), barriers, cones, heavy plant, potholes, steel sheets over holes/trenches, temp lights, lanes petering out and masses of rushing traffic. Even though I tried to dawdle through it I'd have needed 360 deg vision to notice everything.
 
Just out of curiousity, I created two routes through Rouen with Mapsource.

The first is set to Car/Motorcycle, the second is set to Truck.
Rouen Car.jpg
Rouen Truck.jpg

Should add that is from North to South.

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I always take the 2nd one as shown.I have the Tom Tom latest camper version and it has been excellent so far.
 
LesW, when I used to set my Sat Nav for a 44 Tonner, it would take me down the right hand side of the river, as shown on your second route, but when I reverted to the settings of the MH dimensions only, it now takes me down the left side instead. Maybe it's to do with a weight restriction along the way somewhere.

Cheers,

Jock. ?
 
It isn't so much not looking where you are going, it's just as Riverbankannie says there is no height sign till it's too late.
 
my 1st experience of driving in france and we were towing a trailer as well !we got to Rouen the bridge was closed and it was a complete nightmare went around it about 3 times as sat nav couldnt cope,lots of angry french people 3 kids in the back crying 10 at night trying to find our way out,it tested our marrige:ROFLMAO: everytime we get near Rouen now my heart starts racing we now seem to skirt around it last couple of years following sat nav and seems easy,dreading it if we ever have to go through the centre again.

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Camdoon said:
The problem with Rouen was the closure of the main bridge for a number of years 4 or 5 +years ago which tended to take you through the middle of the town. Having approached Rouen from numerous directions since then, you would have to want to drive through the town to encounter the underpasses.
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I went through Rouen back then, in the Friday night rushhour. Except it was more a stationary 2 hours. Tunnel closed, useless Diversion signs. It was truly horrendous. Then as a special treat, we had to find somewhere — anywhere, for the night, ended up in a really crappy campsite with a grumpy site owner who knocked us up at 7am (6am in UK we'd just left) and demanded our passports. I said we'd just pay for the night as there was NO WAY we wanted to stay on her crappy site. She got the message. I remember trying to plug the leccy into the rusty power points that were just on lumps of wood leaning at all angles, when you opened the flap the earwigs and other insects came piling out, so we didn't bother. I wasn't sure we'd survive the night. A perfect start for the trip!
 
AC/DC said:
Having *chased John McGuinness* in a previous life why I am not surprised! The underpasses in Le Harve are clearly marked and even if you don't parley Francis its easy to work out....basic translation is car and no roof bar fine, car and roof bar don't use the mine. There we are basic stupid idiots guide to French underpass systems and no not holier than thou just took the trouble to look on french websites and the problems arising (Rouen is another hotspot/minefield if in any doubt As in play your cards right for a Brucie bonus, NEVER go down!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

I really should be made to worship at your feet.

I wish I was as holy as thou

:rolleyes:
 
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