The long tailbacks of the summer will soon be a distant memory, but there is one final weekend of travel trouble in store, as remaining holidaymakers head home from their well-earned vacations, as commuter traffic returns to its usual levels.

In Ile-de-France, lane restrictions on certain routes in and around Paris remain in place until after the Paralympic Games, which run until September 8th.

Here is what to expect in terms of traffic this weekend, according to watchdog Bison Futé.

Friday, August 30th

A yellow ‘difficult travel conditions’ warning is in place across most of France on Friday, rising to red ‘very difficult travel’ along the Mediterranean arc – particularly along the A7, A8 and A9 in late afternoon.

Meanwhile, a returning holidaymakers and commuters will combine to create congestion around major cities, particularly in Ile-de-France.

Bison Futé has warned motorists to:

Outward journeys

• leave or cross the Ile-de-France region before 12noon;
• avoid the A7 between Salon-de-Provence and Marseille from 5pm to 7pm;
• avoid the A8 between Aix-en-Provence and Nice from 5pm to 7pm;
• avoid the A50 between Marseille and Toulon from 4pm to 7pm;
• avoid the A9 between Montpellier and Narbonne from 3pm to 6pm,
• avoid the A50 between Toulon and Le Luc from 9am to 5pm.

Return journeys

• reach or cross the Ile-de-France region before 12noon;
• avoid the A2 between Belgium and Combles from 4pm to 7pm;
• avoid the A10 between Orléans and Paris from 11am to 11pm;
• avoid the A63 between Bayonne and Bordeaux from 12pm to 9pm;
• avoid the A7 between Marseille and Orange from 11am to 8pm, and between Orange and Lyon from 4pm to 8pm;
• avoid the A8 between Italy and Aix-en-Provence from 2pm to 8pm;
• avoid the A9 between Narbonne and Montpellier from 3pm to 5pm;
• avoid the Mont-Blanc tunnel (N205) heading into France from 9am to 10pm.

READ ALSO Mont Blanc tunnel to close for several weeks

Saturday, August 31st

On Saturday, the worst traffic conditions are forecast to be in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, in the south-east of France, particularly on the A7 and A75, while congestion is also expected in the Île-de-France region – in part because of the Paralympic Games.

Specific travel advice for motorists is to:

Outbound travel

• leave or cross the Île-de-France region before 8am;
• avoid the A7 between Lyon and Orange, from 11am to 4pm;
• avoid the A75 between Clermont-Ferrand and Massiac, from 10am to 1pm;
• avoid the A46 and RN346 for the eastern bypass of Lyon, between 12pm and 3pm;
• avoid the Mont-Blanc tunnel (N205) heading into Italy between 9am and 2pm.

Return journeys

• reach or cross the Île-de-France region before 12noon;
• avoid the A7 between Orange and Lyon from 11am to 5pm;
• avoid the A75 between Massiac and Clermont-Ferrand from 11am to 4pm;
• avoid the Mont-Blanc tunnel (N205) into France from 1pm to 7pm.

Sunday, September 1st

Further problems on the roads around Paris are expected for Sunday, officially the final day of the holidays, and in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

In particular, the advice for motorists is:

Outward journeys

• leave or cross the Paris region before mid-morning.

Return journeys

• join or cross the Paris region before 12noon;
• avoid the A7 between Orange and Lyon, from 12pm to 2pm;
• avoid the A75 between Massiac and Clermont-Ferrand, from 4pm to 6pm;
• avoid the A47 between Saint-Etienne and Lyon, from 5pm to 7pm;
• avoid the Mont-Blanc tunnel (N205) heading into France, from 12pm to 6pm.

From Monday, September 2nd, motorists just have to worry about the daily rush-hour commutes…