motorways

It is widely expected that there will be traffic jams all weekend in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and on Mediterranean motorways, as French holiday makers take to the road for the long  holiday weekend.

Environment minister favours levy on profits from toll motorways to replace 500m euros lost from planned tax on heavy lorry traffic.

In 2006, France introduced the total privatisation of three-quarters of its vast motorway network, leaving almost 9,000 kilometres under the management of three concession operators. A report this summer by the country’s national audit court, commissioned by a parliamentary finance commission, presents a damning picture of practices since the sell-off and calls for far tighter controls of the operators. Dan Israel reports.