Author Archives: driveeuropenews

Holiday Traffic: Hot + Cold Dates This Summer

TODAY: The worst, and best, days to drive in Europe this summer. French police lie in wait for Gumball3000 (though the bodywork of one car defeats a radar trap). Support for Gothenburg’s congestion charge grows. The Danish postal service is slammed for ‘social dumping’. Ad-hoc taxis are definitely illegal in Spain while an Elk threatens to commit hirvikolari in Helsinki this morning.

GIBRALTAR FRONTIER WATCH: queues hit 3h30 by early afternoon. Quiet morning and evening.

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HOLIDAY TRAFFIC: HOT AND COLD DATES THIS SUMMER

Dates you do not want to be driving on the Continent this summer – and dates you do.

vinci

Some long distance driving advice from @Vinci Autoroutes: stop every two hours for coffee and cake (don’t forget to include this in your budget).

Traffic prediction is not unlike astrology, avoid ‘black’ days and only leave the house when the stars align. It’s only marginally more scientific, subject to the vagaries of the weather, the World Cup and drivers actually heeding the advice in articles like this.

Even if their forecasts have been considerably less accurate than the Germans, Swiss and Austrians so far this year, be in no doubt that Saturdays 2, 9 and 16 August will be horrendous on French roads as drivers take off for the coasts and the south. The first weekend will be the worst. Conversely however, the only black return day is Saturday 16 August – really, do not drive through France on this date.

This is no consolation for those already booked for a changeover Saturday but consider postponing for one day if possible. Quiet roads are predicted for Sundays 10 and 17 August. They are merely orange ‘busy’ on Sunday 3 August.

If you do have to travel on the busiest days the advice is to leave as late as possible. Motoring organisation ANWB is telling Dutch motorists to delay departure until after 16:00. Traffic definitely peaks early to mid-afternoon.

The only other option – sorry there are no clever traffic avoiding detours – is to invest in the Liber-T tag to pass through the automated lanes at toll booths. It’s easy to use, quick to get hold of and relatively cheap.

The last three weekends in July and the first three in August will see ‘very heavy traffic congestion’ in Germany. That’s absolutely no joke as the roads are busy enough even on ‘normal’ days and it starts early and finishes late. However, by weekend the Germans mean Friday and Saturday. The respective Sundays are by no means quiet but traffic tails off. The good news is that by Sunday 17 August the summer rush is all over.

Every Saturday from 28 June until 13 September is a black day in Switzerland – apart from Saturday 2 August (though it will still be busy). On all these days traffic will be heading both north and south.

The classic pinch point is the Gotthard Tunnel. See here for gentle ways to avoid it at peak times.

Other black days include Friday 25 July heading south and, coming the other way, on Sundays 17, 24 and 31 August and Sunday 14 September. From then on however that’s pretty much it until Christmas.

Like the others, Austria’s busiest days are all Saturdays. The rush starts 12 July and lasts straight through until 23 August as drivers pour over the German border heading either for the mountain resorts in western Austria or further south to Italy (on the A13>A22 Brenner motorway).

Interestingly, this past Pentecost weekend was the first test of two important upgrades together. The refurbed tunnel at Bregenz has already proved itself in action. So too it seems has the newly spruced B179 Fernpass, across the border from the A7 autobahn at Fussen and Neuschwanstein. There were queues on Saturday morning but they peaked at one hour, much less than before it was resurfaced last month.

BLACK DAYS SUMMARY:

France: Saturdays 2, 9 and 16 August drivers departing and Saturday 16 August returning.

Germany: from 12 July every Friday/Saturday very busy until 16 August. All over Sunday 17 August.

Switzerland: every Saturday from 28 June until 13 September is a black day except Saturday 2 August. Also Friday 25 July heading south and Sundays 17, 24 and 31 August and Sunday 14 September heading north.

Austria: every changeover Saturday from 12 July until 23 August will be very busy.

See our weekly roundup of traffic predictions from France, Switzerland, Germany and Austria, including average fuel prices. Click here for this weekend’s.

Sources: Bison Fute, ADAC, OAMTC and TCS.

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Team Galag’s Wiesmann MF5 GT and Cobra Daytona apparently fall foul of the law as the Gumball3000 rally hits France. It’s not known whether police were just making their presence felt or if there was a particular problem though it’s a classic MO for drivers to be pulled over at peage after speeding between toll booths. It’s a tense time for traffic police, just a few days ahead of the latest set of monthly figures which are expected to show a large rise in fatal accidents with speeding as the major cause. More when we have it.

Team Galag’s Wiesmann MF5 GT and Cobra Daytona apparently fall foul of the law as the Gumball3000 rally hits France. It’s not known whether police were just making their presence felt or if there was a particular problem though it’s a classic MO for drivers to be pulled over at peage after speeding between toll booths. It’s a tense time on the roads, just a few days ahead of the latest figures which are expected to show a large rise in fatal accidents, with speeding as the major cause. More when we have it. Photo via Karanja Earl Simmons, @EarlSimXX. UPDATE: the driver of XZIBIT’s Rebellion R2K apparently escaped a driving ban after police radar bounced off the car’s bodywork according to event sponsor @Betsafe (though he was still fined €750). UPDATE 2: with driving standards described as ‘incredibly ridiculous’ by The Supercar Kids, it’s no surprise not all Gumball drivers were as lucky as XZIBIT’s. DeadMau5 in the ‘Purrari’ 458 had his licence confiscated and was actually escorted out of the country.

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roundup: SWEDEN. Support has increased for Gothenburg’s formerly highly controversial congestion zone – from 33% when it was introduced in 2012 to 50% now according to the latest survey. The news comes ahead of a local referendum in September on whether to keep the scheme. Traffic has been cut by 13% overall. There’s still no word if and when it will apply to foreign cars. DENMARK. Post Danmark has been heavily criticised by TranMin Magnus Heunicke for employing eastern European drivers on a quarter of the wages of the locals, so called ‘social dumping’. SPAIN. Paying the driver in car share schemes is strictly illegal says the government in a clarification though, as in France, reimbursing for expenses is acceptable. FINLAND. Hirvikolari is the Finnish word for a traffic accident with an Elk. Several near hirvikolari were recorded in central Helsinki this morning when an unfortunate member of the species rampaged through the city streets before meeting its end at the hands of a police marksman.

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Avoiding the Gotthard Tunnel – Le Mans Traffic

Research into Alpine Passes has thrown up another alternative to the Gotthard Tunnel/Gotthard Pass – the Oberalp and Lukmanier passes between Andermatt and Biasca. 

Le Mans kicks off with scrutineering in the city centre – while the bridge in central Rouen is still closed, roads are expected to be generally traffic free this weekend. Also, a new law will cap clamping fees in Ireland. A transcontinental EV drive was ruined by mismatched plug technology. Anti-car protestors occupy central Brussels and P&O Dover-Calais services are cancelled after a medical emergency early this morning.

GIBRALTAR QUEUE WATCH: one hour’s delay first thing and thirty minutes mid-afternoon. 

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DODGING THE GOTTHARD TUNNEL

Oberlp/Lukmanier is a year-round alternative to the Gotthard Pass.

Delays at the Gotthard Tunnel can reach several hours at peak times summer and winter. The 10.3 mile tunnel on the A2 in south central Switzerland is a major route through the Alps.

The usual alternative is the Gotthard Pass between Andermatt and Airolo, from each end of the tunnel (marked in yellow above). However, the 2106m high pass road normally closes for the winter in October and doesn’t re-open until late May at the earliest. Between times it can shut suddenly due to the weather or can be very busy itself due to drivers diverting off the A2.

There are also long term roads works at the north end of the pass between Goschenen and Andermatt, and on the tunnels on the Italian side, lasting until 2019. The works will be suspended at the weekend during the peak summer months July and August but, before and after, Swiss motoring club TCS does not recommend the pass as an alternative to the tunnel.

Our research into Alpine roads has now thrown up another alternative. It combines Oberalppass and Lukmanier Pass between Andermatt, Disentis and Biasca, coming back to the A2 twenty miles south of Airolo. It’s an extra 20 miles over the direct route, on much slower roads, and because it includes the first part of the Gotthard Pass up to Andermatt heading southbound, this diversion is probably most useful for drivers going north. Either way, it is surely better than nose to tail on the motorway.

The Medel Valley on the northern section of the Lukmanier Pass.

The Medel Valley on the northern section of the Lukmanier Pass.

Like Gotthard, Oberalppass is signed from Andermatt. It heads due east and is pretty interesting itself, running beside the source of the Rhine. As it tops out at a mere 2044m it is less subject to the weather (we’ve driven Oberlap in the rain, fog and ice). It anyway opens much earlier than Gotthard – closing as late as December, opening usually mid-April – and there’s also a year round (limited) car rail service with terminals at Andermatt and Disentis.

Lukmanier heads due south, for forty miles, between Disentis and Biasca. It lacks the cascading switchbacks of Gotthard and Oberalp, and reaches only 1915m, but heading south along the Medel River valley until the Lago di Santa Maria – on the border between German-speaking Graubunden and Italian-speaking Ticino – one is unlikely to feel short changed.

Most importantly Lukmanier is open all year round. Heading north, if Oberalp is closed, and the train full, head east from Disentis instead on H19 for forty miles to the A13 at Chur, then onto Zurich and Basel.

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NOTE: delays at the Gotthard Tunnel are relayed by electronic signs beside the A2 on the approaches. For advance notice see @DriveEurope on Twitter. Oberalppass is closed from December-May, vehicles 18t+ are banned.

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Le Mans 48 Hours: scrutineering - Pesage - takes place yesterday and today on Place de la Republique in the city centre ahead of the race this weekend. Despite the thousands of fans driving there from across Europe, particularly the UK, no

Le Mans 48 Hours: scrutineering – Pesage – started yesterday and continues today on Place de la Republique in the city centre ahead of the race this weekend. Despite the thousands of fans driving to Le Mans from across Europe, particularly the UK, traffic in general is not expected to be an issue (though official warnings have already been issued about increased traffic police presence). Meanwhile, Pont Mathilde on the A28 (N28) through central Rouen is still closed following the fire in 2012 and will not re-open until August. To avoid the potential city centre congestion on diversion, leave the A28 before Rouen for the A29 to Le Havre then take the A151/A150/N1338 into Rouen then follow signs for A13/A28 after crossing the Seine. Photo via @GTPorsche

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roundup: IRELAND. Clamping fines will be capped at €100, even on private ground, according to a new law published by TranMin Leo Vradkar. ELECTRIC VEHICLES. Plugs should be standardised across Europe says EV writer Nikki Gordon Bloomfield after she was stranded in France during a disastrous attempt to join last week’s WAVE Tour in Stuttgart. BELGIUM. Up to 3,000 picnicking protestors occupied Anspachlaan in central Brussels yesterday afternoon to pressure the city council to carry through its plan to pedestrianise large parts of the city centre. The council was to make a final decision in late January but all has been quiet since. CHANNEL. Two P&O Dover-Calais crossings were cancelled earlier today after a Romanian truck driver was unfortunately found dead of a suspected heart attack on the 07:35 Dover departure.

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Mountain Pass Finder

Updated 18:00BST:

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NEWS: expected to be much quieter on the roads today, see Pentecost traffic predictions here, though the fine weather may mean busy roads around the beaches.

IN PROGRESS:  a map of Alpine mountain passes.

GIBRALTAR QUEUE WATCH: n/a.

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CHANNEL DELAYS: Brittany Ferries 14:45 Portsmouth>Caen delayed 2hrs industrial action. Latest check-in 14:45.

WEATHER ALERT: Amber alerts storms France, Germany + Austria. High temperatures Poland.

WEATHER: “Hot, mainly dry. Very summery across Europe. Heavy showers Turkey.”

MAJOR ROAD WORKS: A7 both ways to Elbtunnel, Hamburg, tunnel works. Narrow lanes in and out of Antwerp on A1/E19 until 16 June. No delays currently.

MAJOR TRAFFIC DELAYS: A20 southbound to Brive-la-Gaillarde, accident at Donzenac delay 45mins.

A1 southbound Lubeck-Hamburg, road works at Reinfeld total delay around 40mins.

Earlier: now no delay N13 northbound to Cherbourg. A2 Gotthard Tunnel no queue at either end.

See Travel/Traffic/Weather for more.

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ALPINE PASSES: wherever you are you’re never far away from one:

Work in progress, France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland fully mapped so far

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RHD Model S

Updated 18:00BST:

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NEWS: the first RHD Tesla Model S arrives in the UK.

GIBRALTAR QUEUE WATCH: no queues all day today.

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CHANNEL DELAYS: P&O Calais-Dover 19:55 delay 30mins.

WEATHER ALERT: Amber alert heavy rain north Norway + storms south central Austria.

WEATHER: “Hot across much of Europe, lots of summery sunshine”

MAJOR ROAD WORKS: A7 both ways to Elbtunnel, Hamburg, tunnel works, currently minimal delays. Narrow lanes in and out of Antwerp on A1/E19 until 16 June, 10min outbound delay.

MAJOR TRAFFIC DELAYS: R0 ring south west Brussels clockwise accident at Wemmel, delay from Anderlecht down to 30mins.

A2 southbound at Gutersloh, road works, accident, closed, diversion, Dortmund-bound delay still 1h40.

A2 southbound from Bellinzona, Switzerland, accident, lane closed delay 50mins.

Earlier: now no delay A7 Flensburg>Schleswig, A9 to Berlin, A2 Gotthard Tunnel, A13 Brenner Innsbruck>Italy, A11 to Karawanken Tunnel, A7 Lyon>Avignon.

See Travel/Traffic/Weather for more.

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Tesla: the first right hand drive Model S is due to be delivered today, at an event attended by the great man himself. More later, more than likely.

Tesla: the first right hand drive Model S is due to be delivered today, at an event attended by the great man himself. More later, more than likely.

RHD Tesla Model S:

RHD Tesla Model S:

The launch venue, The Crystal on Royal Victoria Dock in east London.

The launch venue, The Crystal on Royal Victoria Dock in east London.

Fifty Shades of Grey author EL James

Fifty Shades of Grey author EL James

Meanwhile, existing owners are taking full advantage of the growing network of Superchargers.

Meanwhile, existing owners are taking full advantage of the growing network of Superchargers.

Meanwhile, on Thursday night the first BMW i8 electric sports cars were delivered to customers at an event in Munich. The really big, important news however is that BMW has been arch-rival Audi in having the first laser headlights in production.

Meanwhile, on Thursday night the first BMW i8 electric sports cars were delivered to customers at an event in Munich. The really big, important news however is that BMW has been arch-rival Audi in having the first laser headlights in production.

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British Women Too Scared to Drive Abroad?

A survey says British women are too scared to drive on the Continent. Really?

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As a survey says British women are too scared to drive abroad, the high powered in every sense 2014 Cash&Rocket Tour departs Venice for London. Photo @VeuveCliquotIT from last year's event.

As a survey says British women are too scared to drive abroad, the high powered in every sense 2014 Cash&Rocket Tour departs Venice for London. Photo @VeuveCliquotIT from last year’s event.

Nearly three quarters of British women have never driven abroad. Nearly half say they never will.

A widely reported recent survey from TravelSupermarket painted a gloomy picture of women’s willingness to get behind the wheel on holiday.

But looked at another way it means a quarter of women want to drive but haven’t had the opportunity, and a majority would give it a go.

The latter interpretation fits much better with what we’ve heard recently.

Today is day one of the Cash&Rocket Tour. Seventy women in thirty five high powered cars – Astons, Maseratis, Porsches, Ferraris – set off from Venice this morning. They arrive back in London on Sunday via Geneva and Paris after 1000 miles.

C&R is organised by Julie Brangstrup, co-founder of the Gumball3000. Along for the ride is model Jodie Kidd, a member of the Jaguar squad at last month’s Mille Miglia who lead the team home and beat the company’s legendary test driver in the process.

Meanwhile we’ve been highly amused recently by the antics of Sara Nase (@GetPalmd) from Ultimate Drive. She’s just back from a solo week in Tuscany driving a Toyota GT86 on the old San Remo gravel stages, moaning about the road works on the Gotthard Pass and drumming her fingers metaphorically after a two way drive on San Bernardino.

But it’s not just Amelia Earhart-style adventurers taking to Europe’s roads. As well numerous all-female teams on this week’s Monte Carlo or Bust Rally, and next month’s Travel Trade Crusade, a special hat tip is reserved for Andrea from RearViewMirror.

The Australian native – so brought up with driving on the left hand side – is pretty much on the move permanently. In London at the moment, after a transcontinental drive from Albania to Copenhagen, she’s no petrolhead or speed freak – far from it, she drives a Fiat 500 – she just recognises the car as the best way to get around.

So don’t be put off by silly newspaper headlines. Apart from only 17% of women who have driven in Europe saying it was more difficult that driving in the UK, the other interesting statistic thrown up by the Travelsupermarket survey is that 53% of British men haven’t driven in Europe either. You’re not that far behind.

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D-Day Anniversary

NEWS: Brussels road closures for G7 Summit, and Paris and Calvados traffic restrictions during the D-Day Anniversary, see below.

GIBRALTAR QUEUE WATCH: delays stayed below 25mins all day.

D-DAY ANNIVERSARY –

NORTH WEST FRANCE, 5-8 June: A regulated traffic zone (Zone de circulation régulé, ZCR) will be in place on Friday 6 June from 06:00-18:00. Vehicles without a sticker cannot enter the ZCR, which stretches approximately from Ouistreham to Isigny sur Mer, from the Channel to the south Bayeux ring-road and to the northern edge of Caen. See more from Brittany Ferries and the British Embassy in Paris and map below for the timings of major events.

PARIS, 5 June: the state visit by HM Queen will see traffic disruption in central Paris from around 14:30 Thursday 5 June, including around Gare du Nord, the Champs Elysee and, later on, restricted access to and from the A1 and A6 autoroutes. See more from The Connexion.

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Spitfire: 'We don't carry one of these every day.' Photo via @BrittanyFerries

‘We don’t carry one of these every day.’ A Spitfire at Portsmouth, replica Mark Vb W3644 from spitfiredisplayteam.co.uk. Photo via @BrittanyFerries

As they have done all week, a ferry carrying D Day veterans departs Portsmouth with a Royal Navy salute.

As they have done all week, ferries carrying D Day veterans depart for France with a Royal Navy escort and salute.

D Day veterans about to depart on the Royal British Legion's Remembrance Travel Tour. Photo @PoppyLegion

D Day veterans about to depart on the Royal British Legion’s Remembrance Travel Tour. Photo @PoppyLegion

A map and timing of events on 6 June via @Elysee

A map and timing of events on 6 June via @Elysee (click to enlarge).

A map of the restricted traffic zone from @Gendarmerie: 'From June 5th to 8th, take the bypass roads to avoid #Calvados if you drive in the West of France.'

A map of the restricted traffic zone from @Gendarmerie: ‘From June 5th to 8th, take the bypass roads to avoid #Calvados if you drive in the West of France.’

'Discrète arrivée de la @Gendarmerie en Normandie...' photo via @DamienJob

‘Discrète arrivée de la @Gendarmerie en Normandie…’ photo via @DamienJob

Paris: the unmistakable rear lights of a British Secret Service Range Rover as the Queen's procession makes its way down the Champs Elysee. Photo @HMARicketts, Peter Ricketts, UK Ambassador to France.

Paris: the unmistakable rear lights of a British Secret Service Range Rover as the Queen’s procession makes its way down the Champs Elysee. Photo @HMARicketts, Peter Ricketts, UK Ambassador to France.

Paris: Union Jacks flying on the Place des Invalides taken from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Quai d'Orsay. Photo @FranceDiplo_EN

Paris: Union Jacks flying on the Place des Invalides taken from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Quai d’Orsay. Photo @FranceDiplo_EN

Behind the scenes after a visit to l'Hotel de Ville city hall after meeting newly elected Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo.

Behind the scenes after a visit to l’Hotel de Ville city hall after meeting newly elected Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo.

HM Queen departing the Elysee Palace late on Friday evening.

HM Queen departing the Elysee Palace late on Friday evening.

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Parking Across Europe

Updated 18:00BST:

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NEWS: Brussels road closures for G7 Summit. Coming up, a study into the standards – and costs – of European city parking.

GIBRALTAR QUEUE WATCH: n/a.

D-DAY ANNIVERSARY 6 JUNE: north west France. A regulated traffic zone (Zone de circulation régulé, ZCR) will be in place on 6th June from 6AM to 6PM. Vehicles without a sticker cannot enter the ZCR, which stretches approximately from Ouistreham to Isigny sur Mer, and from the Channel to the south Bayeux ring-road and to the northern edge of Caen. See more from Brittany Ferries and the British Embassy in Paris.

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CHANNEL DELAYS: P&O Calais-Dover 20:35 earlier tech issue, 60min delay. DFDS Dover-Calais tech fault cancellations: from Dover 14:45, 19:15 and from Calais 18:00, 23:00. Eurotunnel freight France, busy, 2h00 transit time; UK 30min wait before check-in.

WEATHER ALERT: Amber alert heavy rain Norway.

WEATHER: Heavy and thundery showers in the North, fair to the South.

MAJOR ROAD WORKS: A7 both ways to Elbtunnel, Hamburg, tunnel works, no delay currently. Narrow lanes in and out of Antwerp on A1/E19 until 16 June. Delay 10mins each way.

MAJOR TRAFFIC DELAYS: A11 inbound Antwerp, road works delay down to 25mins.

Earlier: now no delay A1 into Paris, R0 ring Brussels, A4 at Dresden, A7 Kassel>Gottingen, A15 into Charleroi. A3 eastbound from Regensburg, earlier accident delay down to 15mins. A7 northbound Memmingen>Ulm, holdup, delay down to 15mins.

See Travel/Traffic/Weather for more.

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parking pic

A cross-Europe study on city parking came up with some surprising deficiencies, not least how much it costs. More later.

25 Years: the Polish and German presidents held a ceremony to mark twenty five years since the country's first free elections with a commemorative stone on the A2 Berlin-Lodz-Warsaw motorway.

25 Years: the Polish and German presidents held a ceremony to mark twenty five years since the country’s first free elections with a commemorative stone on the A2 Berlin-Lodz-Warsaw motorway.

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Pentecost Traffic – Belgium Border Checks

NEWS: Black traffic days in Germany, Switzerland and Austria for this weekend’s Pentecost holiday, but not too bad in France. Meanwhile the vast majority of mountain passes are now open but overnight closures at the Gotthard Tunnel will last all week.

Also, temporary border checks may be reinstated this week in Belgium.

GIBRALTAR QUEUE WATCH: delays built very quickly to 1h55 at lunchtime then fluctuated at a lower level for the rest of the day.

D-DAY ANNIVERSARY 6 JUNE: north west France. A regulated traffic zone (Zone de circulation régulé, ZCR) will be in place on 6th June from 6AM to 6PM. Vehicles without a sticker cannot enter the ZCR, which stretches approximately from Ouistreham to Isigny sur Mer, and from the Channel to the south Bayeux ring-road and to the northern edge of Caen. See more from Brittany Ferries.

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BLACK DAYS AUSTRIA, SWITZERLAND + GERMANY

Heavy traffic expected for Pentecost

a65 rheinbrucke traffic3

TRAFFIC

Far fewer drivers are expected to get away for the upcoming Pentecost holiday than did for just-gone Ascension. But with another long weekend in store due to the Whitsun national holiday on Monday 9 June traffic will be heavier than usual in France.

Bison Fute forecasts busy roads generally on Friday for the Grand Depart, particularly in the Paris region, and again on Saturday around Paris and the Alps. Sunday should return to normal before stepping up again as drivers return home on Monday. Overall however, major jams are not predicted unless the weather is particularly good.

Warnings have already been issued about increased traffic police presence. The good news is that the rest of the month remains quiet until Wednesday and Thursday 28-29 June.

News that Friday will be as busy as it gets on German roads should prompt a collective groan. ADAC says drivers will head off in all directions for the long weekend but that traffic will be concentrated in the south which starts a fortnight’s holiday.

It will be almost as bad on Saturday and Monday (but quiet on Sunday). Things won’t return to normal until Wednesday 11 June because for many schools in the North and West, Tuesday is still a holiday.

The only major road closure we are aware of is the A7 Hanover-Hamburg between Bad Fallingbostel and Soltau for bridgeworks. It closes overnight Saturday 20:00-10:00 northbound and then southbound on Sunday night.

Again, traffic in Switzerland should not be as bad as it was at times during Ascension but Saturday is still a ‘black’ day (and red on Friday and Monday, orange Sunday and Tuesday).

As ever the major focus will be the A2 Gotthard Tunnel. Queues will build at the north entrance from 16:00 Friday until 21:00 says TCS, and again between 08:00-16:00 on Saturday. The southern entrance will be busy Saturday 11:00-18:00, Sunday 16:00-21:00 and Monday 12:00-21:00. A two hour delay at peak times is possible.

The Austrians are expecting a heavy weekend too, a very heavy one according to OAMTC. Traffic from around Germany will start flowing south across the border from Friday afternoon with another wave on Saturday morning just from Bavaria.

While all cross border routes will be busy, the big question is how the Fussen-Reutte border crossing will cope now the B179 Fernpass has been resurfaced. Meanwhile, queues are almost inevitable on the A9 Phyrn motorway in central Austria between Rottenmann and Treglwang due to single lane road works. Also, there is alternate running on the A2 at Klagenfurt with regular large, but temporary, tailbacks.

PASSES AND TUNNELS

On a brighter note, Thursday should see Forcola di Livigno (little Bernina) re-open after the winter. This means Nufenen will be the only Swiss mountain pass still closed. In France, Agnel in the Alps reopens on Friday according to the latest info meaning just Galibier, Iseran (partly open) and Lombard remain closed (all three likely to open by mid-June). In Italy only Passo Gardena is still shut, for road works, while Austrian and German mountain roads are now all open.

Traffic through Switzerland will be complicated this week by overnight maintenance closures of the Gotthard Tunnel, Monday to Friday from 19:30-05:00. Cars will be diverted via the Gotthard Pass but heavy vehicles will be held at each end.

Meanwhile, waiting times of up to 30mins should be expected at the Mont Blanc tunnel 09:00-14:00 Friday and Saturday, from France to Italy, and 17:00-20:00 heading the other way on Monday.

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BELGIUM: the G7 summit in Brussels on 4-5 June means border checks may be reinstated this week. Be prepared for delays. The Schengen Agreement allows for temporary checks during high profile/controversial public events. Drivers are also warned to avoid Brussels if possible on Wednesday and Thursday - enhanced security in the city centre may cause tailbacks even on the Brussels' ring roads.

BELGIUM: the G7 summit in Brussels on 4-5 June means border checks may be reinstated this week. Be prepared for delays. The Schengen Agreement allows for temporary checks during high profile/controversial public events. Drivers are also warned to avoid Brussels if possible on Wednesday and Thursday – enhanced security in the city centre may cause tailbacks even on the Brussels’ ring roads.

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Weekend Photos – Italy, Stuttgart, Le Mans, Worthersee and Portsmouth

Rounding up photos from the weekend – an intriguing pile-up at a toll booth in Italy, the world’s largest electric vehicle rally in Stuttgart, a traffic free Le Mans 24 Hours test day, introducing rat-tuning’, a poignant send off for D-Day veterans and Jay Leno’s film on the Mille Miglia.

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One should never jump to conclusions, particularly after the country lane 911 crash in Luxembourg last week, but it does look awfully like these two Italian cars were involved in an ill-fated race to the toll booth. There by the grace of God go all of us. Photo @Marcello_Gatto via @Emergenza24

One should never jump to conclusions, particularly after the country lane 911 crash in Luxembourg last week, but it does look awfully like these two Italian cars were involved in an ill-fated race to the toll booth. There by the grace of God go all of us. Photo @Marcello_Gatto via @Emergenza24

The world's largest electric vehicle rally at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart yesterday for the start of the WAVE Tour, one of two big EV rallies centred in Germany in the last week. More later.

The world’s largest electric vehicle rally at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart on Saturday for the start of the WAVE Tour, one of two big EV rallies centred in Germany in the last week.

Toyota set the pace at the Le Mans 24 Hours test day on Sunday. While Audi still lagged a little behind the team’s performance has significantly improved since their disastrous outing at Spa. The Porsches were in a definite third. The best news however was that all those attending managed to miss out on the worst of the traffic. There was carnage on many of the main routes on Sunday afternoon, apart from those in north west France.

Toyota set the pace at the Le Mans 24 Hours test day on Sunday. While Audi still lagged a little behind, the team’s performance has significantly improved since their disastrous outing at Spa. The Porsches were in a definite third. The best news however was that those attending from the UK managed to miss out on the worst of the traffic. There was carnage on many of the main routes on Sunday afternoon, apart from those in north west France.

Rat-tuning: a new one on us. Where the owner makes every effort to make their car look as old and knackered as possible. One of the exhibits at this weekend's GTi festival at Woerthersee, Austria. Wow.

Rat-tuning: a new one on us. Where the owner makes every effort to make their car look as old and knackered as possible. One of the exhibits at this weekend’s GTi festival at Woerthersee, Austria. Wow.

A Royal Navy salute for D-Day veterans departing Portsmouth for the anniversary next week in France. Photo via @BrittanyFerries

A Royal Navy salute for D-Day veterans departing from Portsmouth. Photo via @BrittanyFerries

And finally, Jay Leno’s ‘Jay Leno’s Garage’ on his recent Mille Miglia drive.

Really good:

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Cheap Pyrenees: Mountains, Mediterranean + Atlantic

Less than 300 miles wide, with the Atlantic on one side and the Mediterranean on the other, the Pyrenees – the mountain border between France and Spain, with peaks over 11,000ft – has everything you could possibly need for a fantastic holiday.

New cut-price ferry routes to northern Spain, by far the cheapest fuel in Western Europe and bargain out-of-season hotel rooms make it as easy on the wallet as it is on the eye.

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D25 Port (or Col) de Pailheres, just east of Andorra, above Ax-les-Thermes.

D25 Port (or Col) de Pailheres, just east of Andorra, above Ax-les-Thermes.

In tiny Andorra, nestled on the France-Spain border towards the east, unleaded 95 currently sells for €1.258/l compared with €1.419 in Spain and €1.518 in France. Diesel costs €1.129 versus €1.344 and €1.298 respectively. That’s virtually paid for your holiday right there.

Meanwhile, new budget ferry lines from Brittany Ferries and LD Lines get you to Spain from the UK for two thirds of the full fat cruise ferry price. LD Lines currently advertises one way two+car fares from £119. Brittany Ferries economie has proven so popular it’s fully booked until September but there is still space available on its regular services.

Biarritz from The President

Biarritz from the Hotel President

LD Lines drops off at two ports on the north Spain coast, either Gijon (handy for Portugal) or Santander. Head east through Cantabria, itself noted car country – see more here – via Bilbao and its famous Frank Gehry-designed, titanium-covered Guggenheim Museum. Just across the French border are the classic resorts Biarritz and Hyeres.

Biarritz had its absolute hey-day in the 1920s, a favourite of the Edward and Mrs Simpson. The wealth has retreated since then – it’s now best known as Europe’s surf capital – but the essence of its turn of the century glamour remains. We bagged this top floor room at Hotel President, 100m from the beach, for €140. That’s expensive by Biarritz standards.

Free driving in the Pyrenees

Free driving in the Pyrenees

Directly inland from Biarritz are the mountains. We chucked the map in the footwell, turned off the satnav, and just followed our noses. Free driving in the Pyrenees on deserted roads, even in June and September, with super scary barrierless gravel farm tracks too if that’s your thing.

Roads we can remember and recommend include Port de Larrau – with its campsite right on the Spain-France border – and Port de Pailheres, next door to Andorra, both stages on the Tour de France (see map below).

For the “best”, storied roads see any history of the famous French cycle road race. The classic combination starts at Bagneres de Luchon, slap bang in the middle of the mountains, and heads west on D618 Col de Peyresourde to Arreau where it picks up the magic D918 for – in quick succession – Aspin, Tourmalet and Aubisque.

You might notice from the map, Lourdes, Pau and Tarbes are not far away, all worth a look.

The 1,000ft Mallos de Riglos, foothills of the Pyrenees, from the A-132 heading north from Ayerbe.

The 1,000ft Mallos de Riglos, foothills of the Pyrenees, from the A-132 heading north from Ayerbe.

On the Spanish side we made one of our all-time best ever roadside hotel finds, the Hotel Villa de Ayerbe, on the A-132 heading north west from charming, sleepy Huesca. At €60 the clean neat room was nice enough but the restaurant was fantastic, menus signed by Ridley Scott, Eva Green and Orlando Bloom. They all stayed here while filming Kingdom of Heaven. The waiter wouldn’t let us buy another bottle of cava because it would put us over the limit for driving the next day.

Similarly we found another bargain €60 B&B room at the all-wood, chalet Hotel Rene Roy on the outskirts of Ax-les-Thermes in France, surrounded with wooded mountains. We’re not sure Rene Roy is still there but you’ll struggle to pay more than that anywhere, even now. That’s the overall point about the Pyrenees: it’s most popular in the winter. Summer is out-of-season.

For nicer places check out Relais & Chateaux.

Ascending N116 up the Tet River Valley from Perpignan to Puigcerda.

Ascending N116 up the Tet River Valley from Perpignan to Puigcerda.

You can hardly go wrong descending the Pyrenees on the Mediterranean side. The main N116 from Spanish border town Puigcerda is right out of central casting, down the narrow Tet River gorge with chateaux and monasteries high on the hills above. The racy option is the N260/C-38 from Puigcerda via Ripoll.

This is the Roussillon, the single biggest wine-producing region in the world, responsible for a third of France’s total production. Vines are everywhere.

Salvador Dali said Perpignan, set back a few miles from the coast, was the Centre of the Universe. We loved it but it’s way past its best. Ancient, unloved massive wooden doors standing the test of time on endless old buildings in quiet, unlit dusty back streets and high ceilinged parquet floored apartments going for a song. And the ace Le Double Y restaurant where we had our first Steak Tartare.

If that’s not your thing then the spectacular Cap de Creus peninsula is just fifty miles south over the Spanish border. Until recently Roses was home to El Bulli, the world’s best restaurant. Or perhaps you would prefer Barcelona? It’s just two hours direct from Perpignan on the wide, smooth AP-7.

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