A40 autoroute

The A40 autoroute is a spectacular motorway through the western Alps in France. It is also known as the "Autoroute blanche" or "Autoroute des titans". The road was fully completed in 1990 and connects Mâcon, Sallanches and Chamonix (Mont Blanc Tunnel) to "Italy". It includes 12 viaducts and 3 tunnels. The road is maintained by the Autoroutes Paris-Rhin-Rhône (APRR and ATMB). The road forms part of the European routes E25 and E62.

Characteristics

* 2×2 lanes
* 2×3 lanes between its junctions with the A42 and the A39 (21km)
* The road is 208 kilometres long

History

ATMB

* 1973 : The section between Vallard and Bonneville was opened.
* 1974 : The section between Bonneville and Cluses was opened.
* 1975 : The section between Cluses and Sallanches was opened.
* 1976 : The section between Sallanches-Le Fayet was opened in a ceremony presided over by Prime Minister Jacques Chirac.
* 1982 : The 50 kilometre section between Bellegarde and Annemasse is opened.

These sections were previously numbered B41.

APRR

* 1985 : Section between "Bourg-Nord" and "-Bourg-Sud" (20 km) completed.
* 1986 : Opening of section between "Bourg-Sud" and "Sylans (Nantua)" (61 km). The French President, François Mitterrand opened the motorway giving it the name "L'Autoroute des Titans".
* 1987 : Opening of the section Mâcon to Bourg-Nord (27 km)
* 1989 : Opening of the section Sylans to Châtillon-en-Michaille (13 km)
* 1990 : Opening of the junction between the A6 autoroute and the A40 (3km)
* 1995 : Widening of the "Chamoise Tunnel" and viaduct at Nantua and Neyrolles

The western section between the A6 and A42 was originally given the number F42. The whole road was re-numbered the A40 including a short section where the road merges with the A42.

Junctions

* (south)
*
*
*03 ("Pont-de-Veyle")km 8 Towns served:
* (under construction) to
**Rest Area: L'Étang Quinard (eastbound), Saint-André de Bagé (westbound)
*04 ("Vonnas") km 18 Towns served: Saint-Cyr-sur-Menthon, RN79
*
* (north)
*
** Service Area: Aire de Bourg
*
**Rest Area: Certines (eastbound), Tossiat (westbound)
* (south)
**Rest Area: Neuville-sur-Ain (westbound)
** Service area: Ceignes-Cerdon (westbound)
**Rest Area: Ceignes-Haut-Bugey (westbound)
*08 ("Nantua St-Martin du Fresne") km 81 Towns served: St Martin du Fresne
*
*
**Rest area: Le Lac (westbound), Les Neyrolles de Bagé (eastbound)
**Rest Area: La Michaille (eastbound), La Semine (westbound)
*-sur-Valserine
*
** Service Area: Aire de Valleiry
* Péage de Viry
*
* ("Switzerland")
*
**Rest Area: Télégraphe de Salève
*
* Péage de Nangy
*
*.
*
** Service Area: Aire de Bonneville
*
*
*
* Péage de Cluses
*
**Rest Area: Passy (westbound)
*
* ("Italy")

External links

* [http://saratlas.free.fr/index.php?page=autoroute&route=a40&lang=en A40 autoroute] in Saratlas