The A89 motorway was reopened early Monday morning at around 6 a.m. in both directions of traffic, the Vinci group said in a statement.
The day before, traffic had been cut off on this same axis between Thiers, in Puy-de-Dôme, and Balbigny in the Loire, because of heavy snowfall.
Some 1,500 vehicles had to be evacuated from the highway during the night, indicated the prefect of the department Philippe Chopin on Franceinfo.
“After troubleshooting vehicles in difficulty under particularly difficult operating conditions, the Vinci Autoroutes teams were able to intervene tonight to clear the snow from the tracks and thus restore traffic conditions,” the group said.
The Martres d'Artière toll gate and the A89 / A72 junction have also reopened since 6 a.m. this morning.
The highway @ A89Trafic is reopened in both directions of traffic.
Nevertheless, an orange snow and ice weather vigilance is still active.
Be extra vigilant and get informed before you hit the road.
Listen to @ Radio1077.
https://t.co/44tmFJmG8w
- VINCI Autoroutes (@VINCIAutoroutes) November 29, 2021
Several reception centers had been opened on Sunday in the towns of La Monnerie-le-Montel and Thiers "to welcome people who would like to rest a little while the snow plows can do their work," said the prefect. .
11 departments in orange vigilance
Orange snow and ice weather vigilance is still active in the Puy-de-Dôme department, as in 10 other departments.
Monday morning, snowfall was still falling in the Ambert valley, in the south-east of the department.
Negative temperatures were observed from the first heights, just like others strongly negative at altitude above 500 m, which favors freezing and "the occurrence of slippery phenomena", warns Météo France in its latest bulletin.
In this context, the Vinci Autoroutes group recommends that motorists continue to obtain information before any trip in these sectors, "to adapt their driving" and "to postpone any non-essential trip".
