Rouen underpass eats another British motorhome

[tonyidle]

We were in a tall RV trying to get out of a small medieval Spanish village, when Siân screamed "Stop" I stood on the brakes and as the van rocked on its springs the wadge of electric cables that were strung across the street from bedroom window to bedroom window in a casual loop, were just touching the windscreen. They must have been not more than 2.2m high That meant a long reverse, with a trailer!

I did that but my problem was a narrow street, parked cars, and balconies. I had wifey on a stool playing tank commanders we were so close. Didn't have to reverse other than a three point corner at the other end.

 

[thebriars]

Bet they leave long black marks on touchdown .

Not landing on grass they don't.

 

[thebriars]

So what's the point in building underpasses so low.....
They should all be capable of taking a double decker bus.....numpty designers
Sue the local authority !!

You've obviously never been through Rouen. At one particular congestion point, there is a well signed lane which filters off on the offside underground specifically to speed cars through the section, otherwise you just continue along the road as normal along with the buses, lorries and Mr White Vanman.

 

[bobnick]

Feel for him, did it myself in the early days renting MoHo. In NIce and it wasn't Nice.

 

[Stonemags76]

You've obviously never been through Rouen. At one particular congestion point, there is a well signed lane which filters off on the offside underground specifically to speed cars through the section, otherwise you just continue along the road as normal along with the buses, lorries and Mr White Vanman.

View attachment 414777

That isn’t the one that nearly ate us years ago - ours was when the big bridge was closed & we were diverted into the city. Four lanes of traffic, no dangly chains & height mark on underpass itself - after you had got in lane! We reversed in embarrassment & have avoided Rouen ever since due to flashbacks!

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[Barclaybasher]

You've obviously never been through Rouen. At one particular congestion point, there is a well signed lane which filters off on the offside underground specifically to speed cars through the section, otherwise you just continue along the road as normal along with the buses, lorries and Mr White Vanman.


View attachment 414777

Went through Rouen week before last, satnav took me nowhere near the tunnels. Going through again later this week.....

 

[nicholsong]

I am testing my memory here from reading posts in the past about this underpass.

My memory says that entering Rouen from the East one should cross the river, then take first left to follow the river.

Am I right?

Geoff

 

[Lenny HB]

I did that but my problem was a narrow street, parked cars, and balconies. I had wifey on a stool playing tank commanders we were so close. Didn't have to reverse other than a three point corner at the other end.

Year before last spent nearly ½hr reversing out of a Spanish village dodging the balconies, steps & flower pots. I couldn't get round a bend where an old building was leaning into the road.

 

[Lenny HB]

Good rule of thumb for underpasses if you can't see a sign with the height assume its too low.
We have never had a problem with Rouen 99% certain the ones that get caught out are those who follow their sat-nav blindly.

 

[9526]

I am testing my memory here from reading posts in the past about this underpass.

My memory says that entering Rouen from the East one should cross the river, then take first left to follow the river.

Am I right?

Geoff

That’s one way, you can also take the right hand lane (where the taller underpasses split) and follow the river on the “North” side, crossing the Seine further down at Pont Del Arch (this is a toll free route to the 154

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[DangerMousy]

I am testing my memory here from reading posts in the past about this underpass.

My memory says that entering Rouen from the East one should cross the river, then take first left to follow the river.

Am I right?

Geoff

Coming into Rouen from the north east (from the N28 or N31), take the 2nd left immediately after crossing the Pont Mathilde - you'll loop down and back under yourself and follow the river south through an industrial area until you reach the A13. Not a single underpass on that route.

 

[Wellington]

It’s easily done. A lorry in the wrong place or a child wittering (or throwing up) can easily mean you miss a sign. My stupid satnav (on which I am heavily dependent, or it takes us forever to get anywhere) insisted on taking us round and round Genoa and wanted me to go under alsorts of tiny bridges. Fortunately I have a policy of ignoring it and only going down roads that look halfway sensible, unless they are signed to an aire or site which often means the end of journey can be a bit of a trial.

Not as much of a trial as getting out of Genoa. I had to ignore the stupid satnav and form a policy of following the most traffic at each junction. There were no useful signs to the motorway or large towns and I swear I turned round in the town dump twice. I even found the motorway once and ended up back where I started. Which meant there was no need to come off it at all. I’m certain there is a better route through than the one it proposed (whatever it was).

I’m never going near Rouen. I’ll get stuck for certain!

 

[GAVLAD]

Surely this must be a hired Motorhome?
You’d like to think that someone who’s sunk their savings (and in some cases, their life savings or pension) into buying their Motorhome would know what the length, width and height of their Motorhome is?
Most owners that I know have it stuck to the inside of their windscreens or on the sun visor/somewhere visible just to remind themselves.
I’ve been through and around Rouen and was slightly worried about the underpasses during our first trip, but like others have said, their at warnings and you have time to change lanes.
If I could manage it with a screaming kid in the back, wife reading an upside down map and satnav not working, I’m sure others can.

 

[thebriars]

It’s easily done. A lorry in the wrong place or a child wittering (or throwing up) can easily mean you miss a sign.

.... or miss the child running out into the road.

 

[ChrisSue]

I loved the bit in the report when it translated saying no injuries were DEPLORED

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[Brains]

I wonder if it eats other flavors of MH other than UK registered ones! Are we the dopiest motorhome drivers in Europe?

No.

There is a Dutch website devoted to Dutch motorhomes hitting the Rouen tunnels

 

[Brains]

Its not just motorhomes that hit the Rouen Tunnels

 

[Brains]

As a comparison.

If you try to drive an over height vehicle through the northbound Blackwall Tunnel (built in 1897 for trams and horse and carts) you will be stopped.

There are something in the order of 70 signes, in multiple languages, warning of the height restriction, but if you drive through the lot, then the laser beam gets broken at slip road the entrance, all traffic is stopped.

Then the loudspeakers tell the driver to pull off. They can give the instructions in multiple languages including Geordie, Scouse and Wegie

 

[bigwood]

Last time we’re in that area it was absolute chaos. After queing for hours we were diverted up a slip road into a mix of housing estates and industrial units. There were police standing at the top of the slip road so I asked them for further directions in my best Yorkshire French. They got in there car and drove off.
At one point we got a strong whiff of coolant. Not a good sign but an old Merc in front of us started leaving a trail of coolant along the road. Last seen it was at the side of the street in a cloud of steam.
When we got to the next site it turned out a coach trying to move over to miss the low tunnel was side swiped by a truck.
I now have a red circle marked round Rouen on the map.

 

[Nixdorfer]

He was motoring to get half a coach under. Hopefully has no passengers onboard or they must of seen it coming too.

If we get to France in ours will be giving Rouen a wide berth

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[Jimbohorlicks]

Its not just motorhomes that hit the Rouen Tunnels
View attachment 414904

looks like the driver is peed off, or is having one.

 

[Spriddler]

Been there, nearly did that driving solo in rush hour but spotted the height warning chains hanging down just in time. They'd certainly make one heck of a racket hitting the overcab roof before reaching the concrete underpass.

 

[Pete5996]

Coming into Rouen from the north east (from the N28 or N31), take the 2nd left immediately after crossing the Pont Mathilde - you'll loop down and back under yourself and follow the river south through an industrial area until you reach the A13. Not a single underpass on that route.

I think that should be the 2nd right.....

 

[bigtwin]

The first time I drove through Rouen, my hands were clenched to the wheel, just waiting for the evil underpasses to appear. And... nothing.

The next time, I deliberately took a different route, and... nothing.

I am very disappointed with Rouen.

Yes, never understood the mythical status that Rouen seems to have; but then I tend to drive with my eyes open!

I shall report back next week informing you all of the woes about to befall me for being so stupid as to make that previous statement!

Ian

 

[9526]

I don't mind Rouen TBH, but I detest the ring road around Bordeaux.

I always seem to hit it in rush hour, and find the best strategy is to stick to the middle lane. The lorries entering from the right into busy traffic (whether there is room or not) don't do my nerves any good at all.

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[cmcardle75]

Not landing on grass they don't.

Yeah, but the grass don't look good afterwards! Had that on my third or fourth solo coming back from a solo nav exercise. Wind had shifted and strengthened unexpectedly to give a very high crosswind on the main runway. Elected to do my first ever grass runway landing with only 20 degrees off the wind and somehow got a little sideways. Not sure the wheels ever did actually turn!

 

[thebriars]

Yeah, but the grass don't look good afterwards! Had that on my third or fourth solo coming back from a solo nav exercise. Wind had shifted and strengthened unexpectedly to give a very high crosswind on the main runway. Elected to do my first ever grass runway landing with only 20 degrees off the wind and somehow got a little sideways. Not sure the wheels ever did actually turn!

When they only weigh 2-3 kg it generally doesn't harm the grass.

 

[FIDGET]

I now avoid Rouen after , back in 2007 in my Pilote A class ,nearly coming to grief , I took wrong turn & the sign said to go right , immediately turning right , I was into the slope leading to the underpass , then noticed the on coming tunnel !! , I stopped , had to reverse up the slope & back out on to the road much to the annoyance & amusement of the other drivers & locals.
Then bought a decent satnav , & I am now a lot more careful !!

 

[Off da Grid]

We’ve been through Rouen from the north and it takes you through on the motorway.
On the way back the satnav Tomtom took us of the motorway and along the river.
we’re 2.8m and made it through.
Nearly went down the car only underpass in the centre but spotted it well before.
You do have to keep your wits about you.

 

[PeteH]

I am testing my memory here from reading posts in the past about this underpass.

My memory says that entering Rouen from the East one should cross the river, then take first left to follow the river.

Am I right?

Geoff

As You cross the Seine, you exit left, it`s quite a tight turn, which then takes you along the D18E, Past the (legendary, if you are a Yank WW2 Bomber Pilot) Marshalling Yards. Following that gets you on to the D18E? and the A13. Where you join the D18E at the roundabout there used to be a Big Hypermarket?

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