France’s transport ministry has published its Bison Futé traffic forecast for the weekend of 17–19 July, warning of “very dense” south-bound traffic from Friday lunchtime and classifying Saturday as a national ‘red’ day in the departure direction. Holidaymakers heading from Île-de-France toward the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts should expect multi-hour slow-downs, while return traffic is rated ‘orange’ in the north and western regions. Of special note for international travellers, authorities urge motorists to avoid the Mont-Blanc Tunnel—the key alpine link between France and Italy—between 10:00 and 20:00 on Friday and most of Saturday, as queues could exceed two hours. The warning comes amid heightened wildfire risk in the Fontainebleau forest, which could force rolling closures of the A6 motorway south of Paris, the main feeder to the Alps and Côte d’Azur. The ministry recommends that drivers leave the Paris region before 10:00 or after 22:00 on Friday, carry ample water and sun protection, and check tyre pressure because road-surface temperatures are expected to top 55 °C. Highway concessionaires will dispatch extra patrols and set up water-distribution points at the largest toll barriers. For corporate fleet managers, the alert means delivery schedules may slip and perishable goods face a higher spoilage risk. Companies should reroute non-urgent freight via the A20 or A71 corridors or reschedule for off-peak overnight slots. Employees using rental cars for cross-border assignments should be reminded that many vehicle contracts prohibit tunnel queuing exceeding 30 minutes without engine shut-off due to emissions rules. Although primarily domestic, the forecast carries international ramifications for travellers transiting to Switzerland, Spain or Italy. With temperatures forecast to ease on Monday, traffic is expected to return to ‘green’ status by 19 July evening.
