French motorway company Sanef Group has announced the launch of the first completely barrier-free toll road in France.
On June 19, the A14 motorway on the Paris/Normandy axis became the first motorway in France to switch entirely to free-flow tolling.
In December 2024, the A13 will also switch to free-flow tolling, and with it the entire 210km (130-mile) Paris-Normandy axis will operate with the new toll system.
The elimination of toll barriers, and enabling vehicles to pass through detection gates, is expected to significantly enhance travel on one of France’s busiest motorways, with the A13-A14 handling up to 120,000 vehicles per day on its busiest sections.
The project, fully funded by the Sanef Group under the SAPN concession contract, represents an investment of approximately €120m.
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It was developed in partnership with the French government and received approval from relevant authorities, including France’s Directorate-General for Infrastructure, Transport and the Sea and the Transport Regulatory Authority.
A Sanef spokesperson said: “This new tolling method will streamline travel, reducing congestion and improving the overall driving experience.
“The system allows customers to use the motorway without stopping at toll gates or reducing their speed, thanks to advanced vehicle detection technology.”
The system utilises vehicle detection gates to automatically debit tolls for users with a Liber-t electronic toll tag, while those without a tag can pay online or at designated points within 72 hours.
More broadly, Sanef estimates the free-flow system will save 1.7 million hours of driving time, 9.5 million litres of fuel and 30,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
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