A86 Rueil-Malmaison road tunnel west of Paris

Fourier · Nov 20, 2013

On a recent trip to France we were heading for a campsite near Versailles and made the 'mistake' of taking the toll tunnel A86 from Rueil to Malmaison. 2m clearance - but we were committed by that stage! It was pretty frisky zipping along at the tunnel speed limit with all the stuff fitted to tunnel ceilings hanging down and appearing to be on a collision course with the top edge of our windscreen. My blood pressure was rather high for the whole length of the tunnel (must be about 10km). lessons learnt 1) VW Californias fit 2) you may choose not to prove this if you prefer a stress-free trip!

Andresz · Nov 20, 2013

Avoid this tunnel.
It is awful; very claustrophobic. They call it "duplex" cause it is 2 floors for the 2 directions, that is probably why it is only 2 meters high, very odd, whatever. It is even forbidden for motorcyclers for the very same reason. In case of a van measuring in theory 195 cm this must be also nerve breaking exercise. Unfortunately very often GPS takes this as the main road to bypass Paris, so I suggest you to select in the GPS option for "no tunnel" or "no toll road" when approaching Paris.

Also in general the A86 Ring is the one to avoid (dangerous when no jammed, when jammed it is jammed for hours).
Take the farther one: N104-Francilenne, as much as you can.

Regards
Andrzej

ChrisandPenney52 · Nov 20, 2013

Aargh! Thanks for the tip off. And the standard Cali is 199.5 cm, not 195, so even worse.

Don't think yours would fit at all, Andresz

Andresz · Nov 20, 2013

ChrisandPenney52 said:
Aargh! Thanks for the tip off. And the standard Cali is 199.5 cm, not 195, so even worse.

Don't think yours would fit at all, Andresz

Sorry, I meant 199,5 indeed.
No mine would not fit (2.60m). I am very watchful with mine in France, lots of 1.8m, 1.9m, 2.0m gates, a trap for any Cali owner actually.

Spuktoid · Nov 20, 2013

Found this nightmare last April on our month trip to Italy and other warmer than UK places. Had bikes on the back which clanked on the height warning bars. Stopped as there was no way back on a blind bend, one way, two laned feed!
Tunnel security arrived as we were taking the bikes off and lashing them flat on the rack - made it through but we were ducking at every conduit clamp for what seemed like an eternity...

Horrible does not do this tunnel justice - Tom Tom sent us down there!

This post brought it back to me... Hope my incontinence does not return :?

bvddobb · Nov 20, 2013

Spuktoid said:
Tom Tom sent us down there!

There is a special camper version of Tomtom's software where you can enter dimensions such as height, length, width, wheel base, etc of your camper (or lorry, or touringcar). The planning routines then avoid such tunnels, or too narrow bridges, or too sharp turns etc.

Stuart · Sep 26, 2016

Just found this thread and it's nice to know others have experienced this! We drove it through this summer and we made it but it's quite scary!! Lots of pipes and ducts sticking out from the ceiling!

jts46 · Sep 26, 2016

Where is your sense of adventure, used this tunnel twice very exciting.

WelshGas · Sep 27, 2016

johntowers46 said:
Where is your sense of adventure, used this tunnel twice very exciting.

Totally agree. Very exciting. Yes it's 2m restriction BUT it is an experience, and a fully laden California sits lower than the VW Height measurement listed in the Manual.
Normally in such public areas, the entry barrier is accurate or even lower by a few cms whereas within the facility the 2m height is the absolute lowest encountered at some point within. After all people will depend on the measurements at the entrance and measurements from the vehicle manufacturer. If either are incorrect the wrong way then a big payout.

briwy · Oct 4, 2016

Came through it yesterday. I don't think we would have got under the 2m bar (which is a rigid fixture not dangly plastic chains) with the solar panel if we hadn't had the air suspension set to Sport.
Wouldn't call it exiciting though, more like boring TBH.
Archies shows a campsite on top of it as well.

WelshGas · Oct 4, 2016

briwy said:
Came through it yesterday. I don't think we would have got under the 2m bar (which is a rigid fixture not dangly plastic chains) with the solar panel if we hadn't had the air suspension set to Sport.
Wouldn't call it exiciting though, more like boring TBH.
Archies shows a campsite on top of it as well.

No problem with my Solar panel on standard suspension.
Each to his own regarding excitement first time I've ever travelled so far in a 2m tunnel.

jts46 · Oct 5, 2016

Lovely scary drive been through tunnel twice

Leigh-R · Jun 12, 2019

Just selecting a route for a fuel station nearby and maps thinks I’m on the A86.

Initially I though it was a unbuilt motorway cos I’m on a camp site.

So I searched A86 Versailles, one of the results was for the this thread, now I know it’s a underground.

Nice camp site, walking around the gardens of Versailles tomorrow.

TripleBee · Jun 12, 2019

When heading south of Paris (coming from the A1 from Belgium), I now always take the N 330 and N 36, passing Ermenonville and Meaux to Melun. No highway, less traffic (except around Meaux), worst roads, a little search around Melun. But far more desirable to take than the periferie, or even the N 104.

Ksar-el-kebir · Jun 13, 2019

Andresz said:
Avoid this tunnel.
It is awful; very claustrophobic. They call it "duplex" cause it is 2 floors for the 2 directions, that is probably why it is only 2 meters high, very odd, whatever. It is even forbidden for motorcyclers for the very same reason. In case of a van measuring in theory 195 cm this must be also nerve breaking exercise. Unfortunately very often GPS takes this as the main road to bypass Paris, so I suggest you to select in the GPS option for "no tunnel" or "no toll road" when approaching Paris.

Also in general the A86 Ring is the one to avoid (dangerous when no jammed, when jammed it is jammed for hours).
Take the farther one: N104-Francilenne, as much as you can.

Regards
Andrzej

Be brave! Use the boulevard périphérique; not for the faint hearted but as a truck driver I’ve had to use it (too) many times. It would be ok at night but there are usually closures with poor redirection.

Amarillo · Jun 13, 2019

We went through the tunnel about 10 days ago. My biggest issue was that I couldn't see anything looking into the rear view mirror: I was ducking too much!