A40 autoroute
Encyclopedia
The Autoroute A40 is a spectacular motorway in France
that extends from Mâcon
on the west to Saint-Gervais-les-Bains
on the east, terminating not far from Chamonix
and the Mont Blanc Tunnel
. The road runs 208 kilometres (129.2 mi) through Bresse
, the high southern Jura Mountains
, northern Prealps
and French Alps
. It was fully completed in 1990, and includes 12 viaduct
s and 3 tunnel
s. The road is maintained by Autoroutes Paris-Rhin-Rhône (APRR and ATMB), comprising part of European routes E25 and E62.
Autoroute A40 is named Autoroute des Titans ("Highway of the Titans
") for the dramatic engineering construction through the mountainous sections between Bourg-en-Bresse
and Bellegarde-sur-Valserine
, and as Autoroute Blanche ("the White Highway") through the snow laden Alps between Bellegarde-sur-Valserine
and Annemasse
on the Swiss border.
These sections were previously numbered B41.
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
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
that extends from Mâcon
Mâcon
Mâcon is a small city in central France. It is prefecture of the Saône-et-Loire department, in the region of Bourgogne, and the capital of the Mâconnais district. Mâcon is home to over 35,000 residents, called Mâconnais.-Geography:...
on the west to Saint-Gervais-les-Bains
Saint-Gervais-les-Bains
Saint-Gervais-les-Bains is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The village is best known for tourism, and has been a popular holiday destination because of its beauty and location since the Early 1900's....
on the east, terminating not far from Chamonix
Chamonix
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie département in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Olympics...
and the Mont Blanc Tunnel
Mont Blanc Tunnel
The Mont Blanc Tunnel is a road tunnel in the Alps under the Mont Blanc mountain, linking Chamonix, Haute-Savoie, France , and Courmayeur, Aosta Valley, Italy . It is one of the major trans-Alpine transport routes, particularly for Italy, which relies on the tunnel for transporting as much as...
. The road runs 208 kilometres (129.2 mi) through Bresse
Bresse
Bresse is a former French province. It is located in the regions of Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne, and Franche-Comté of eastern France. The geographical term Bresse has two meanings: Bresse bourguignonne , which is situated in the east of the department of Saône-et-Loire, and Bresse, which is located...
, the high southern Jura Mountains
Jura mountains
The Jura Mountains are a small mountain range located north of the Alps, separating the Rhine and Rhone rivers and forming part of the watershed of each...
, northern Prealps
French Prealps
The French Prealps are a group of subalpine mountain ranges of medium elevation located immediately west of the French Alps. They roughly stretch from Lake Geneva southwest to the Isère and Drôme Rivers; east to a line running from Chamonix, to Albertville, to Grenoble, to Gap, to Barcelonette;...
and French Alps
French Alps
The French Alps are those portions of the Alps mountain range which stand within France, located in the Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur regions....
. It was fully completed in 1990, and includes 12 viaduct
Viaduct
A viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...
s and 3 tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
s. The road is maintained by Autoroutes Paris-Rhin-Rhône (APRR and ATMB), comprising part of European routes E25 and E62.
Autoroute A40 is named Autoroute des Titans ("Highway of the Titans
Titan (mythology)
In Greek mythology, the Titans were a race of powerful deities, descendants of Gaia and Uranus, that ruled during the legendary Golden Age....
") for the dramatic engineering construction through the mountainous sections between Bourg-en-Bresse
Bourg-en-Bresse
Bourg-en-Bresse is a commune in eastern France, capital of the Ain department, and was capital of the former province of Bresse . It is located north-northeast of Lyon.The inhabitants of Bourg-en-Bresse are known as Burgiens.-Geography:...
and Bellegarde-sur-Valserine
Bellegarde-sur-Valserine
Bellegarde-sur-Valserine is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Geography:Bellegarde is located at the confluence of the Valserine and the Rhône....
, and as Autoroute Blanche ("the White Highway") through the snow laden Alps between Bellegarde-sur-Valserine
Bellegarde-sur-Valserine
Bellegarde-sur-Valserine is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Geography:Bellegarde is located at the confluence of the Valserine and the Rhône....
and Annemasse
Annemasse
Annemasse is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the border with Switzerland. It is the second town in the Haute-Savoie department with a population estimated to 29'450 in 2010.-Geography:...
on the Swiss border.
Characteristics
- 2×2 lanes
- 2×3 lanes between its junctions with the A42A42 autorouteThe A42 autoroute is a motorway in Lyon. It was completed in 1987. It connects the city of Lyon to Pont-d'Ain with junctions with the A40 and A39 to Geneva, Chamonix and Mulhouse....
and A39A39 autorouteThe A 39 autoroute is a motorway in eastern France. It is also called the L'Autoroute Verte. The road connects Dijon with Dole and Bourg en Bresse...
(21 km)
ATMB
- 1973 : The section between Vallard and BonnevilleBonneville, Haute-SavoieBonneville is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:Bonneville is on the A40 autoroute, roughly halfway between Geneva and Chamonix...
was opened. - 1974 : The section between Bonneville and ClusesClusesCluses is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.Citizens are known as Clusiens. The commune is situated in the Arve Valley, on the river which bears the same name...
was opened. - 1975 : The section between Cluses and SallanchesSallanchesSallanches is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Media:Sallanches is mentioned in American author Willa Cather's 1935 novel Lucy Gayheart.-External links:*...
was opened. - 1976 : The section between Sallanches-Le Fayet was opened in a ceremony presided over by Prime Minister Jacques ChiracJacques ChiracJacques René Chirac is a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He previously served as Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988 , and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.After completing his studies of the DEA's degree at the...
. - 1982 : The 50 kilometre section between BellegardeBellegarde-sur-ValserineBellegarde-sur-Valserine is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Geography:Bellegarde is located at the confluence of the Valserine and the Rhône....
and AnnemasseAnnemasseAnnemasse is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the border with Switzerland. It is the second town in the Haute-Savoie department with a population estimated to 29'450 in 2010.-Geography:...
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 MitterrandFrançois MitterrandFrançois Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was the 21st President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serving from 1981 until 1995. He is the longest-serving President of France and, as leader of the Socialist Party, the only figure from the left so far elected President...
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 (3 km)
- 1995 : Widening of the Chamoise Tunnel and viaduct at NantuaNantuaNantua is a commune and subprefecture in the Ain department in eastern France.-History:The town grew up around a Benedictine Monastery founded in 671 by St...
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
A42 autoroute
The A42 autoroute is a motorway in Lyon. It was completed in 1987. It connects the city of Lyon to Pont-d'Ain with junctions with the A40 and A39 to Geneva, Chamonix and Mulhouse....
.
Junctions
- Exchange A6-A40) Motorway starts at junction with A6 to ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(north), LyonLyonLyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
(south) - 01 (Mâcon-centre) km 2 Towns served: MâconMâconMâcon is a small city in central France. It is prefecture of the Saône-et-Loire department, in the region of Bourgogne, and the capital of the Mâconnais district. Mâcon is home to over 35,000 residents, called Mâconnais.-Geography:...
- 02 (Feillens) km 5 Towns served: Pont-de-VauxPont-de-VauxPont-de-Vaux is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Population:-References:*...
- 03 (Pont-de-Veyle)km 8 Towns served:
- Exchange A406-A40 Junction with A406A406 autorouteThe A406 autoroute is a 10 km motorway in Mâcon, France. It was opened in 2008. In 2011, it will connect the RN79, and also the A6 motorway with the A40 motorway -External links:*...
(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
- 05 (Bourg-Nord) km 30 Towns served: Bourg-en-BresseBourg-en-BresseBourg-en-Bresse is a commune in eastern France, capital of the Ain department, and was capital of the former province of Bresse . It is located north-northeast of Lyon.The inhabitants of Bourg-en-Bresse are known as Burgiens.-Geography:...
- Exchange A39-A40 Junction with A39A39 autorouteThe A 39 autoroute is a motorway in eastern France. It is also called the L'Autoroute Verte. The road connects Dijon with Dole and Bourg en Bresse...
to DoleDole, JuraDole is a commune in the Jura department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France, of which it is a subprefecture ....
(north) - 06 (Lons-le-Saunier/Étienne-du-Bresse) km 39 Towns served: RN83, Bourg-en-BresseBourg-en-BresseBourg-en-Bresse is a commune in eastern France, capital of the Ain department, and was capital of the former province of Bresse . It is located north-northeast of Lyon.The inhabitants of Bourg-en-Bresse are known as Burgiens.-Geography:...
- Service Area: Aire de Bourg
- 07 (Bourg-Sud) km 50 Towns served: RN75, Bourg-en-BresseBourg-en-BresseBourg-en-Bresse is a commune in eastern France, capital of the Ain department, and was capital of the former province of Bresse . It is located north-northeast of Lyon.The inhabitants of Bourg-en-Bresse are known as Burgiens.-Geography:...
- Rest Area: Certines (eastbound), Tossiat (westbound)
- Exchange A42-A40 Junction with the A42A42 autorouteThe A42 autoroute is a motorway in Lyon. It was completed in 1987. It connects the city of Lyon to Pont-d'Ain with junctions with the A40 and A39 to Geneva, Chamonix and Mulhouse....
to LyonLyonLyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
(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
- Exchange A404-A40 Junction with the A404A404 autorouteThe A404 autoroute is a motorway in eastern France. It connects A40 with Oyonnax. It was completed in November 1997.-Route:*Exchange A40-A404/Hauteville Junction with the A40 ....
to OyonnaxOyonnaxOyonnax is a commune in the Ain department in the Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France.It is the second largest commune in the department. Its residents are known as Oyonnaxiens.-Population:-Miscellaneous:... - 09 (Nantua les Neyrolles) km 90 Towns served: NantuaNantuaNantua is a commune and subprefecture in the Ain department in eastern France.-History:The town grew up around a Benedictine Monastery founded in 671 by St...
- Rest area: Le Lac (westbound), Les Neyrolles de Bagé (eastbound)
- Rest Area: La Michaille (eastbound), La Semine (westbound)
- 10 (Bellegarde) km 106 Towns served: Bellegarde-sur-ValserineBellegarde-sur-ValserineBellegarde-sur-Valserine is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Geography:Bellegarde is located at the confluence of the Valserine and the Rhône....
- 11 (Frangy Seyssel) km 115 Towns served:RN508, FrangyFrangyFrangy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Culture and heritage:* :fr:Ferme de Bel-Air, heritage protection as Monument historique since December 7, 2010. région level importance, formerly called "Inventaire Supplémentaire des Monuments...
- Service Area: Aire de Valleiry
- Péage de Viry
- 13 (Saint-Julien) km 136 Towns served: Saint-Julien-en-GenevoisSaint-Julien-en-GenevoisSaint-Julien-en-Genevois is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:...
- Exchange A41-A40-A401 Junction with the A41A41 autorouteThe A41 autoroute is a motorway in the French Alps. Also known as the L'Alpine. It opened in 1981. The road connects Grenoble and the A40...
(proposed) and A401 spur to GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
(Switzerland) - 13.1 (Parc d'Affaire Internationale) km 138 Towns served: ArchampsArchampsArchamps is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
- Rest Area: Télégraphe de Salève
- 14 (Annemasse) km 152 Towns served: GenevaGenevaGeneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
(Switzerland) via spur A411. AnnemasseAnnemasseAnnemasse is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the border with Switzerland. It is the second town in the Haute-Savoie department with a population estimated to 29'450 in 2010.-Geography:... - Péage de Nangy
- 15 (BoëgeBoëgeBoëge is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Changes in population:-References:*...
/Vallee Verte) km 161 Towns served: RN503 to Thonon-les-BainsThonon-les-BainsThonon-les-Bains is a town in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-History:... - Exchange A410-A40 Junction with the A410A41 autorouteThe A41 autoroute is a motorway in the French Alps. Also known as the L'Alpine. It opened in 1981. The road connects Grenoble and the A40...
to AnnecyAnnecyAnnecy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the northern tip of Lake Annecy , 35 kilometres south of Geneva.-Administration:...
. - 16 (Bonneville-Ouest) km 170 Towns served: BonnevilleBonneville, Haute-SavoieBonneville is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:Bonneville is on the A40 autoroute, roughly halfway between Geneva and Chamonix...
- Service Area: Aire de Bonneville
- 17 (Bonneville-Est) km 174 Towns served: BonnevilleBonneville, Haute-SavoieBonneville is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:Bonneville is on the A40 autoroute, roughly halfway between Geneva and Chamonix...
- 18 (Cluses-Ouest) km 183 Towns served: ClusesClusesCluses is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.Citizens are known as Clusiens. The commune is situated in the Arve Valley, on the river which bears the same name...
- 19 (Cluses-Centre) km 188 Towns served: ClusesClusesCluses is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.Citizens are known as Clusiens. The commune is situated in the Arve Valley, on the river which bears the same name...
- Péage de Cluses
- 20 (Sallanches) km 198 Towns served: SallanchesSallanchesSallanches is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Media:Sallanches is mentioned in American author Willa Cather's 1935 novel Lucy Gayheart.-External links:*...
- Rest Area: Passy (westbound)
- 21 (Passy Saint-Gervais) km 206 Towns served: MegèveMegèveMegève is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.Megève is a famous ski resort near the Mont-Blanc in the French Alps...
, Saint-Gervais-les-BainsSaint-Gervais-les-BainsSaint-Gervais-les-Bains is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The village is best known for tourism, and has been a popular holiday destination because of its beauty and location since the Early 1900's.... - 22 (Saint-Gervais) km 208 the autoroute ends becoming the RN205 towards ChamonixChamonixChamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie département in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Olympics...
and TurinTurinTurin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
(Italy)
External links
- A40 autoroute in Saratlas