From November 16, 2026 and running through the end of August 2027, motorists who typically travel the Paris-to-province route via the A13 in Saint-Cloud will need to find an alternate path. Extensive construction is required and will significantly disrupt road traffic. Concerns among elected officials and road users are mounting as the deadline approaches.
Turning to Public Transit?
The situation is understandably worrying for drivers. Indeed, many commuters shuttle back and forth between the suburbs and Paris for work. With the closure of the Saint-Cloud bridge as part of major works, the main corridor for this commute will be closed. This could create confusion over alternative routes, which are not designed to handle such daily volumes. The risk of heavy traffic jams is high, especially since public transit options do not appear to be improving.
This Friday, September 25, Richard Delepierre, who oversees Mobility, explained that the A13 would be closed “from the périphérique to Vaucresson”, in the Paris-to-province direction and in both directions until the end of August 2027. Île-de-France Mobilités unveiled measures to try to improve the daily life of residents. It promises a boost in rail capacity during this period. Additionally, it plans to increase service on express bus lines serving La Défense via the A14. The agency also hopes to promote carpooling by expanding parking, and it announced a proposal for a €90 Navigo monthly pass.
What Alternative Routes Are Recommended?
If you don’t want or can’t use public transit and you must drive, several alternative routes are planned. The first option is to follow the RD910, then the RN118. From there, access to the A86, the RN12, the A12, or even the A13 further west will be possible. The second option is to take the RN13, then the A14, and finally reconnect to the A13 via the Orgeval interchange. These two options give road users the ability to tailor their route to their destination. If you’re headed to Normandy, note that the A14 traverses the Yvelines and connects with the A13 at Orgeval.
The Yvelines Departmental Assembly has also proposed several measures to improve the situation going forward. The proposed measures include:
- Extension at the Duplex of the A86 of a special fare €3.50 per trip, as has been done in the past, to offer an alternative for residents in the south of the Yvelines and to relieve congestion on local roads.
- Significant improvement of public transit: better reliability, increased capacity during peak hours, and enhanced communications on lines J, L, N and U, as well as on the RER A and C.
- Increase the capacity of the Express line to ensure satisfactory service to Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.
Time will tell what will actually be implemented in the future. In any case, these works will last through summer 2027 and are likely to disrupt the traffic of many motorists over the coming months. Planning ahead will be the watchword.
