A1 French Motorway : live traffic reports, travel time, roadworks and closures

Real-time traffic, information on roadworks and closures on the A1 Paris Nord -Lille French motorway provided by Sanef

Traffic on the A1 French motorway updated minute by minute, traffic forecasts,, roadworks on the A1 motorway leading to occasional closures, accident warnings … Sanef keeps you constantly informed so that you have a great journey on the A1 motorway.

Look at our map above for real-time traffic information and stay tuned to radio Sanef 107.7. Also, consult the map to find out how long your journey will take on the A1 toward Paris and toward Lille. Stay connected to our social networks and receive our traffic alerts with the Sanef & You App.

A1 Motorway: the most direct, safe and free-flowing solution connecting Paris to the North of France by road

The A1 motorway’s high quality infrastructures ensure optimal safety conditions. Indeed, Sanef regularly carries out development, modernisation and maintenance works. The objective is to improve safety, keep traffic flowing and meet your needs and the needs of your passengers (100,000 vehicles use the A1 motorway every day!)

The A1 Motorway: a major route between Seine-Saint-Denis and the North

Commissioned in 1964, the A1 motorway is today the busiest trunk road in France. Its renown also lies in the fact that this long route crosses through or leads to places and sites of economic or touristic importance. For example:

The A1 motorway to drive to England, Belgium and Northern Europe

The A1 motorway is the main trunk road linking the Paris region and Northern Europe via Belgium. It is connected to the A26 motorway heading to the Port of Calais before setting sail to England.

The interchanges at Lille / Lesquin lead on to the A22 or A27 in the direction of Belgium, while the A1 / A26 interchange at Arras heads to Calais and England.

Parc Astérix: to relax by travelling through time

Travel back in time to the era of our ancestors, the Gauls. An entertaining and fun family break awaits you at the Parc Astérix theme park! Attractions, shows, a good time and happy memories guaranteed! The only direct access road to the park is between exits 7 and 8 on the A1 motorway.

The A1 motorway: one motorway, two regions and four departments

When driving along the A1 motorway, you travel through two of France’s major regions: Île-de-France (Seine-Saint Denis, Val d’Oise) and the Hauts de France (Oise, Somme, Pas-de-Calais and Nord).

From Roissy (slip road n°6) on the northern boundary of Sanef’s concession at the A1 / A21 interchange (Hénin-Beaumont sector), you will have about fifteen different opportunities to branch off towards one of the dynamic towns linked to the A1 motorway: Senlis (exit 8), Compiègne-Ouest (exit 10), Péronne at the Albert exit (exit 13) or Arras (exit 15)…

Destination the Hauts de France or Paris: on the A1 motorway, taking a break is capital!

Taking a break after several hours behind the wheel on the A1 is an excellent opportunity to refuel your vehicle (petrol, diesel, electricity…) and recharge your batteries.

Just 10 minutes…that’s the average time it will take for you to get to the next rest area or service station. To help make your choice according to the services you need (fuel, food, nursery, showers, children’s play areas…), take a look at the interactive map and opt for:

rest areas where you can stretch your legs, tune into nature and enjoy peaceful relaxation,
or service stations to refuel, have something to eat and make the most of all the facilities (relaxation areas, work spaces, Wi-Fi, shops, etc.).

Some great ideas for a relaxing journy on the A1 motorway

The ten or so service stations along the route are particularly well equipped, like La Courneuve-Est service station. It is the first place where you can make a pit stop after leaving Paris and provides services such as:

A petrol station,
Major catering chains,
Separate parking areas for cars, coaches and heavy goods vehicles,
A grocery store,
Baby changing area,
Terminal to check and inflate tyre pressure,
Showers cublicles, etc.

So don’t hesitate to stop at our service stations: La Courneuve, Vémars, Ressons, Cœur des Hauts de France, Wancourt ou encore Phalempin.

Toll tariffs on the A1 motorway: several things to know before setting off

Sanef provides you withthe A1 Motorway toll calculatorso that you can best plan your journey.

At the toll gate, the price of your trip on the A1 Autoroute du Nord varies according to:

your vehicle (classes 1 to 5, car, motorcycle, lorry…)
and the length of your journey

Modulation of motorway toll charge is in place on weekends and national holidays in the direction of Paris.

The toll charge on the A1 motorway, as on all our motorways, is our only source of revenue in order to:

maintain the roadways, bridges and all our infrastructures,
modernise the rest area,
improve information delivery and the quality of services we provide.

To find out more:understanding our economic model.

FAQs

This is because French motorways are privately managed. Here's what to do if you break down on the motorway in France: Don't call the RAC – instead, use one of the orange emergency telephones positioned every 2 km along the motorway. If you can't get to one of these orange phones, call the emergency services on 112.

The A1 motorway is the main trunk road linking the Paris region and Northern Europe via Belgium.

In France, speeding fines generally depend on the speed limit and how much you have exceeded that limit by. As an example, a driver caught going 11-20 kilometres per hour over the speed limit will face a fine of €135. The fine goes up to €1,500 for speeds above 50 km/h above the limit.

Warning triangle - If you ever break down on the motorway in France, you will need a red reflective triangle that you can place a short distance from your car, to warn other drivers.

Like a lot of countries in Europe, France has motorway tolls. Driving a motorhome on French toll roads can make planning your budget road trip across France a little more difficult. But worry not, with a few tips and tricks you'll be an expert on the French péage in no time.

Drive on the right-most lane

- In queued traffic, you should stay in your current lane without attempting to change lanes, and drive at the traffic flow speed. - If the right-most lane is reserved for slow vehicles, you should only use it if your speed is below 60 km/h.

Motorways in France are called autoroutes and can have anything from two to eight lanes. They are marked by blue signs and named with the letter A, such as A10.

French speeding fines

The standard fine for breaking the speed limit in France is €135, with points added to your licence depending on how much the limit is exceeded by. Holders of EU driving licences exceeding the speed limit by more than 40 km/h will have their licences confiscated on the spot by the police.

If your car breaks down on a French motorway or dual carriageway or you are involved in an accident, you should use a roadside emergency telephone to call the emergency services. If you cannot find a roadside emergency telephone, call 112.

The safest option is to drive to a safer place off the motorway if possible rather than stopping on the hard shoulder. If you are parking on the hard shoulder of the motorway, park as far to the left as possible and point your wheels left too. Leave your sidelights on and use your hazard lights.

Drive on the right-most lane

- In queued traffic, you should stay in your current lane without attempting to change lanes, and drive at the traffic flow speed. - If the right-most lane is reserved for slow vehicles, you should only use it if your speed is below 60 km/h.

A1 French Motorway : live traffic reports, travel time, roadworks and closures | SANEF (2024)