A16 autoroute

A16 autoroute shield

A16 autoroute
Route information
Length: 319 km (198 mi)
Existed: 1991 – present
Major junctions
South end: L'Isle-Adam
 


A29 autoroute

A29 autoroute

A28 autoroute


A26 autoroute
North end: Dunkirk
Location
Major cities: Beauvais, Amiens, Abbeville, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Calais
Highway system
Autoroutes of France

The A16 autoroute – also known as L'Européenne and forming between Abbeville and Dunkirk a part of the larger Autoroute des estuaires – is a motorway in northern France.

The motorway, which has a total length of 319 km (198 mi), starts at L'Isle-Adam in Île-de-France and ends at the Belgian frontier near Bray-Dunes, serving en route Beauvais, Amiens and Abbeville in Picardy, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Calais and Dunkirk in Nord-Pas-de-Calais. From Abbeville, the A16 runs parallel to the English Channel and then the North Sea coast.

The motorway was built in the 1990s to relieve the congested RN1 between Paris and the Côte d'Opale (Boulogne and Calais). Between L'Isle-Adam and Boulogne it is operated by the Société des Autoroutes du Nord et de l'Est de la France (SANEF) and is tolled. From Boulogne to the Belgian border the road is managed by the Direction Départementale de l'Équipement (DDE), which does not impose a toll.

List of junctions

Junction number & name Northbound exits Southbound exits
 10 RN1, RN184, Presles RN1, RN184
 11  RD 922, RN1, L'Île-Adam, Mours, Beaumont-sur-Oise RD 922, RN1, L'Île-Adam, Mours, Beaumont-sur-Oise
 12  RD 924, Persan, Chambly
 Péage d'Amblainville
 13  RD105, Méru RD105, Méru
 Aire de repos de Lormaison
 Aire de repos d'Auteuil
 14  Beauveais sud RN1, Beauvais RN1, Beauvais
 15 Beauvais RN31, Beauvais RN31, Beauvais
 Aire de repos du Chêne Peuquet
 16 RD930, Breteuil, Hardivillers-en-Vexin RD930, Breteuil, Hardivillers-en-Vexin
 Aire de repos de Hardivilliers
 Aire de repos de laVallée de la Selle
 17 A29 A29
 18  RN29, Amiens, Salouël RN29, Amiens, Salouël
 28.1 A29 A29
 19  Amiens Amiens
 20  RN1, Amiens RN1, Amiens
 Aire de repos de Vignacourt
 21  RN1, Ville-le-Marclet RN1, Ville-le-Marclet
 Aire de repos du Haut Clocher
 22  Abbeville est RD925, Abbeville RD925, Abbeville
 23 Abbeville nord A28 A28
 Aire de repos de la Baie de Somme
 24  Côte Picarde RN1, RD32 Forest-Montiers, Nouvion RN1, RD32 Forest-Montiers, Nouvion
 Aire de repos du Bois de la Commanderie
 25  RD303 Berck-Plage RD303 Berck-Plage
 26  RN39, Le Touquet, Étaples RN39, Le Touquet, Étaples
 Aire de repos des Falaises de Widehem
 27  RD308, Neufchâtel-Hardelot RD308, Neufchâtel-Hardelot
 28  Boulogne sud RN1, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Hesdin-l'Abbé, Isques RN1, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Hesdin-l'Abbé, Isques
 Péage de Herquelingue
 29  Boulogne ports RN1, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Outreau, Le Portel RN1, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Outreau, Le Portel
 30  RD341, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Saint-Martin-Boulogne
 31  Boulogne est RN42, Boulogne-sur-Mer RN42, Boulogne-sur-Mer
 32  Boulogne nord Boulogne-sur-Mer Boulogne-sur-Mer
 33  RD940, Wimereux, Wimille RD940, Wimereux, Wimille
 34  Wacquinghen
 Aire de repos de L'Épitre
 35 RD241, Marquise
 36  RD191, Marquise RD191, Marquise
 37 Saint-Inglevert
 Aire de repos Les Deux Caps
 38  Saint-Inglevert
 39  RD243, Bonningues-lès-Calais RD243, Bonningues-lès-Calais
 40  RD215, Peuplingues, Fréthun RD215, Peuplingues, Fréthun
 41  Coquelles, Sangatte Coquelles, Sangatte
 42  Tunnel Channel Tunnel Channel Tunnel
 43  Calais centre RD305, Calais RD305, Calais
 44  Calais st-pierre Calais Calais
 45  Entrance only
 46  RN43, Calais RN43, Calais
 47 A26 A26
 Aire de repos du Beau Marais
 48  RD247, Marck RD247, Marck
 49  Marck Marck
 Aire de repos d'Offekerque
 50  RD219, Nouvelle-Eglise RD219, Nouvelle-Eglise
 51  RD218, Saint-Folquin RD218, Saint-Folquin
Change of numbering

Future extensions

It is projected to extend the A16 south to the Francilienne, the outer Parisian ringroad. Studies were meant to be finalised in Spring 2006.

Public enquiry will take place during the end of the year 2006. The objective is to begin construction of the extension in 2009 and to open the new extension in 2012. This new 8.5 km (5.3 mi) long section wil be operated by the SANEF.

Street lighting

Since 2007, around 70 km (43 mi) of central reservation lights have been switched off, in particular around the Calais and Dunkerque areas. Authorities claim that the result is a significant decrease in the number of accidents. However, the road is now quite difficult to use at night for those unfamiliar with it, especially around Calais where there are numerous junctions close together serving the Channel Tunnel, the Port of Calais (A26 intersection) and all the hypermarkets and shopping centres in between. The lack of lighting on the motorway, and also to the gantry signs, makes it difficult to navigate. This is made worse by the fact that the lighting on the surrounding roads remains switched on, making the motorway itself seem even darker. Unfamiliar users are urged to be cautious.

External links

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