Towards the end of last year the Pont Mathilde bridge in Rouen was badly damaged by a fire: http://www.leparisien.fr/faits-diver...12-2275407.php

I had heard that the repairs were going to take many months to complete and were likely to cause diversions and disruption through the busy summer months.

Has anyone driven through Rouen recently and can give me an update?

Thank you to anyone kind enough to answer

It's still closed I think. There's another thread about it somewhere which has a link to the anticipated re-opening date....

On edit: Open Summer 2014.

YES IT IS STILL CLOSED. We chanced it North to South and what a big mistake it was. Probably the most stressful journey of my life. No diversion signs up what-so-ever. Found it very difficult to get over the river and ended up stranded on a tram line on one occasion. Finally got over the river and found a sign for Le Mans, only to find the road barricaded off. However, that said, the return journey was fine with plenty of signs taking you up the A150 and A151 to the A29. I would recommend that you go that way.

Last time I went through Rouen it was night time and there was a diversion that took you along the river, over the next bridge and back on yourself, no problem; but I imagine it could get very snarled up during the day. If you don't have to go through Rouen, best avoid it - if you're heading west, going via Pont de Normandie is marginally further but just as quick as via Rouen even without the current problems.

Thanks for the quick replies guys

@ Euro Trash - I'm heading south at about 11am on a Monday.

@ Jonkemp - Your alternative route makes sense and not too much further either. The Pont Gustare Flaubert on the N1338 looks very impressive.

@ Novocastrian - Wow closed till 2014, the damage must have been horrendous. I did look for other threads on "Rouen bridge" but did not find any, I'll go back now and search again.

Appreciate all of your help

Gemma x

jonkemp started it with a query about Pont de Normandie: that should be your search term.

You might mean THIS ONE, but the title was sur La Pont Mathilde