British expats warned of driving in Europe with months of traffic and road chaos expected
Motorists will need to pre-register if they want to drive during the affected times
GETTY
British expats are being warned of traffic chaos if they travel to France next year with months of disruptions set to see roads closed and bridges shut.
Every year, thousands of Britons drive in and around France on holiday, but warnings are being issued months in advance over fears that they could have their travel plans affected.
French Transport Minister Clement Beaune confirmed that a number of massive changes would be made to restrict transport ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The biggest change coming from this will be that car traffic will be heavily restricted between July 26 and August 11.
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Drivers will be required to register with local authorities in advance if they wish to travel through the French capital during the Olympics.
Further restrictions will be in place for the Paralympics, which takes place between August 28 and September 8, although these are not expected to be as widespread as the Olympics.
Laurent Nunez, Paris police chief, said: “We want to guarantee the highest level of security while safeguarding the continuity of the economical and private lives.”
He added that the plans were not final and that a consultation would be launched to hear the views of local residents and businesses about the impact it will have on their lives.
Nunez continued, saying: “We are not saying that people should leave Paris. There are a lot of spaces that are not concerned by these measures. And pedestrians are allowed everywhere.
“They will need to register on a platform, which will help the police to quickly identify those who are allowed through.
“It will not concern pedestrians and bike riders. Emergency situations will also be taken into account."
Other parts of the city will even come to a complete standstill, including the popular Place de lar Concorde.
The major public square will be closed to traffic between June and September, as skateboarding, breaking and 3x3 basketball events will be taking place, according to RFI.
A number of major bridges in the capital will also be closed, with some shutting as early as May.
Further changes will also see Paris implementing a no-fly zone which risks disruption to leading global airlines like Air France-KLM, British Airways, Lufthansa, Emirates and American Airlines.
A similar no-fly zone was implemented in 2012 for the London Summer Olympics, where no arrivals or departures took place during the event.
Paris will also nearly double the price of a Metro ticket from €2.10 (£1.80) to €4 (£3.43) for a single journey.
However, local residents would be protected by the price hikes with the cost of a monthly Navigo public transport pass staying the same.
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