Fourvière Tunnel Access Temporarily Prohibited, Return to Normal Circulation on Some Axes
Lyon, January 30th – This Friday, January 30th, commuters in the Lyon metropolitan area faced significant traffic disruptions, with the Fourvière tunnel experiencing a temporary closure and various accidents and incidents affecting major roadways and railway lines. Authorities reported an incident leading to the temporary prohibition of access to the Fourvière tunnel, exacerbating morning rush hour conditions.
Key Developments Throughout the Day
The day began with multiple alerts for drivers and public transport users:
- 11:45 AM: Traffic conditions began to improve across the Lyon region.
- 11:14 AM: Difficulties persisted in the Fourvière tunnel area. An “fire” indication on a panel at the tunnel entrance led to the temporary closure of the Lyon-Paris bound access and the Kitchener slip road.
- 10:18 AM: General traffic conditions showed signs of improvement in the Lyon region.
- 09:33 AM: Stop-and-go traffic was reported on the A46 South, between Mions and the Manissieux interchange, with a 3 km tailback. Drivers were advised to exercise caution.
- 08:24 AM: An accident involving two heavy goods vehicles occurred on the A46 South near Mions, heading towards Marseille and Saint-Étienne. This incident caused a bottleneck at Saint-Priest, with traffic flowing only between the hard shoulder and the right lane.
- 07:58 AM: TER services on the Roanne-Lyon line experienced delays due to a level crossing breakdown near Pontcharra.
- 07:46 AM: Heavy traffic was observed south and east of Lyon, particularly on the A46 (Lyon-Corbas airport to Saint-Priest) and the A7 near Feyzin. Congestion also affected the Tony-Garnier avenue and the intersection with rue de Gerland in Gerland due to ongoing tram T10 construction.
- 07:30 AM: The A450 and A7, specifically at Oullins-Pierre-Bénite, remained problematic due to ongoing viaduct works. This resulted in intense traffic on the A7 northbound from Les Grandes Locos de La Mulatière to the motorway bridges, and on the A450 westbound, 2 kilometers before the A7 junction.
- 07:20 AM: Rain was reported in the morning, advising drivers to be cautious on the roads and highlighting the risk of aquaplaning.
- 07:15 AM: The traffic update for the day commenced.
New Gerland Bus Station Faces User Dissatisfaction
The new international bus station in Gerland, which opened on Monday, January 12th, near the Palais des sports, has been met with numerous complaints from users. Due to ongoing works in the Lyon Perrache district, the station’s relocation has revealed several operational issues, including insufficient signage, bus tickets not reflecting the station change, and a lack of screens displaying platform numbers. These dysfunctions have left many users confused and frustrated.
Impact of Weather Conditions
After a sunny Thursday, Friday morning brought rain, which contributed to the challenging road conditions. Drivers were reminded of the increased risk of aquaplaning and urged to drive carefully.
Ongoing Efforts to Manage Traffic
Authorities continued to monitor the situation closely, providing real-time updates and advising commuters to adjust their travel plans accordingly. The temporary closure of the Fourvière tunnel and the accident on the A46 South underscored the fragility of the region’s transport network when faced with unforeseen incidents.
As the day progressed, traffic conditions gradually improved, but the morning’s events served as a reminder of the importance of staying informed about real-time traffic updates when traveling in and around Lyon.
