Holidaymakers are returning to Belgium in hordes this weekend, prompting heavy congestion on roads leading into and around the country.
Travel assistance organisation Touring has warned that traffic will become considerably heavier ahead of the bank holiday on Thursday 15 August and into the weekend, while traffic towards holiday destinations will decrease gradually.
Traffic jams can be expected on Wednesday afternoon and evening on the E40 from Brussels to the coast. The E411 Brussels-Luxembourg will also be very busy.
For the return journey to Brussels, "traffic towards the interior on Sunday evening may be very difficult, especially on the E40 Ostend–Brussels," Touring stated.
The current heatwave and accompanying crowds heading towards the coast and the Ardennes will add to traffic significantly, the organisation added.
France and further afield
Further afield, Touring has labelled Saturday an "orange day" on all French roads, rising to "red" status in Western and Northern France. Wednesday has also been marked "orange" in the same regions, while congestion is expected in the Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes regions on Sunday.
For those driving from France to Belgium, Touring recommends avoiding the following "bottlenecks" between 14:00 and 18:00 on Friday:
- A7 Lyon-Orange
- A6 between Beaune and Lyon
- Lyon ring road (A46) before the interchange with the A7
- A7 between Lyon and Orange, especially at Vienne, Valence and Montélimar
- A9 between Montpellier and the French-Spanish border at Montpellier, Béziers and Narbonne
- Paris area, mainly when leaving Paris
- A10 near Orléans and Vierzon
- A71 Vierzon-Clermont Ferrand between Montluçon and Clermont Ferrand
- A75 Clermont Ferrand-Béziers when leaving Clermont Ferrand and at Béziers
- A20 Vierzon-Limoges-Toulouse at the junction with the A62
- A62/A61 Montauban-Toulouse-Narbonne near Toulouse, Carcassonne and Narbonne
Saturday and Sunday's worst traffic will occur between 08:00 and 17:00, especially on the A25 between Bergues and Rijsel (Lille) and on the A13 between Caen and Paris (11:00 until 16:00). On Monday, between 12:00 and 17:00 will be the most congested.
Credit: Belga / Dirk Waem
Drivers heading south from Belgium will experience "smooth" traffic on Wednesday afternoon. Roads in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy will get busier on Friday, and even more so on Saturday, but Sunday should be problem-free.
For those returning to Belgium from these destinations, Friday will be very busy and Saturday is a "red day". Sunday will ease off slightly but peak traffic will occur between 09:00 and 16:00.
