Britons warned of major travel disruption in Europe with key routes set to close
British motorists are set to face major travel disruption in France with several routes set to shut, according to officials.
Police chiefs have warned roads and bridges will close across Paris next summer due to the city hosting the Olympic Games.
Residents and regular visitors to the capital will have to pre-register their vehicles to enter several iconic places.
Some locations will allow no traffic except for permit holders while others will only ban transit traffic.
Despite the restrictions, Paris Police Chief Laurent Nunez has warned everything is being done to protect the daily lives of residents.
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He explained: “We want to guarantee the highest level of security while safeguarding the continuity of the economical and private lives.”
Areas off-limits will include the Place de la Concorde which will play host to three Olympic sports including 3×3 basketball.
The popular area will be shut to traffic from June 1, and will “gradually open” from September 7, 2024.
Roads around the Trocadéro, the Eiffel Tower and the Champ-de-Mars will also be restricted from the summer.
Venues set to host Olympic events will only be accessible to ticket holders with a perimeter set to be installed close to the sites.
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Most bridges will be closed from July with the stunning Alexandre III bridge shut down on May 17.
Some travel impacts will be felt for the Paralympic Games later in the summer but to a lesser extent. Police Chief Nunez warned it was vital residents pre-register ahead of the event in the summer.
He revealed a system will help police officers to “quickly identify” which vehicles are allowed access to the restricted areas.
He added: “The plan is not final, we will now enter a phase of consultation to get feedback.
“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. There will be exemptions for emergency vehicles, some residents for example.
“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.”
Using other forms of transport could also be difficult with Paris introducing a no-fly zone across the course of the games. Prices are also set to rise across Paris’ metro system with tickets set to increase from 2.10 euros to four euros during the event.
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