Traffic Chaos in Paris with Visits of Biden and Zelensky
This week has proven to be highly challenging for motorists navigating the streets of Paris. The roads, already strained due to the visit of American President Joe Biden that started on Wednesday, have now become even more congested with the arrival of the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The commemoration events, including the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, have necessitated stringent security measures and extensive road closures, primarily disrupting traffic around Paris and its ring road.
The Paris police headquarters have established a protective perimeter in the 8th arrondissement from 6 p.m. Thursday until 9:30 p.m. Friday, which means restricted access and movement within this zone. The designated area stretches from 59 rue de Courcelles to rue de Monceau and includes Allée Louis de Funès, forming a triangular region to be avoided for over 24 hours. Early Friday morning, considerable traffic delays were noted on the eastern side of the ring road, partially due to an accident near Porte de Montreuil that exacerbated the situation.
Anticipated Traffic Disruptions
In addition to the intensified presence of dignitaries, several symbolic sites including Les Invalides, the National Assembly, and Versailles are part of Zelensky's itinerary. These visits are contributing to potential traffic slowdowns as security convoys navigate Paris. Similarly, Joe Biden’s itinerary includes a continued stay in the 9th arrondissement and movements to Normandy, which are further compounded by scheduled state events and receptions led by French President Emmanuel Macron.
By midday Friday, over 170 kilometers of traffic jams were reported throughout Île-de-France, notably on the A86, impacted by yet another accident at Aubervilliers. This follows similar patterns from the previous day’s gridlock. The Paris police headquarters have advised avoiding the ring road between Porte d'Asnières and Porte d'Orléans, along with the A6 motorway due to anticipated disruptions, particularly around lunchtime and late afternoon.
Disruptions are expected to continue into the weekend. Many streets surrounding the Arc de Triomphe and near the Élysée Palace will see closures from Saturday morning through the evening. With these high-profile visits ongoing, Parisian motorists are advised to plan alternative routes and allow additional travel time through Sunday, when normal traffic conditions are anticipated to resume.
- The streets around Intercontinental Hotel in the 9th arrondissement will continue to experience periodic closures until the conclusion of Joe Biden's state visit on Sunday.
- Motorists are encouraged to use public transit or reroute through less congested areas to mitigate delays caused by the VIP movements and the significant security measures in place across Paris.
