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The Boulevard Péripherique Extérieur near Porte Dauphine.

Paris' Péripherique by night at Porte d'Italie (Paris is on the left side of the picture)

[edit] Introduction

Boulevard Péripherique, a road encircling Paris, is classified as a dual-carriageway ring road per U.K. standards, and a controlled-access beltway in North American terminology (French: péripherique). It is a frequently congested stretch of highway, and one of the busiest in Europe, with traffic averaging 1.15 million vehicles per day^{[clarification needed]} in 2002.

The Boulevard was built in the early 1970s in place of the Thiers Wall; a fortified, defensive Parisian city wall. Destruction of this obsolete structure in the 1920s left a clear ring of vacant land surrounding Paris, which at first was claimed by slums and squatters. In order to alleviate traffic congestion, the Boulevard was planned along this abandoned land, and completed on 25 April 1973.

The Boulevard Péripherique is the generally-accepted boundary between the city proper and the suburbs, besides a few exceptions (see Structure and Layout), the Boulevard is situated along Paris's administrative limit.

The speed limit is 80 km/h (50 mph). Each ring, or loop, generally provides four traffic lanes, and does not feature a hard shoulder. Due to the road's legal status, circulating traffic yields priority to entering vehicles.

When traveling at the legal speed limit, it takes 26 minutes and 17 seconds to complete a full circuit. The street racer Ghost Rider completed a circuit in 9 minutes and 57 seconds.

The périphérique, commonly referred to as "le périph" by Parisians, is administered by the government of the city of Paris.

[edit] Statistics

Traffic in 2002: between 1.1 and 1.2 million vehicles per day: 89% light vehicles, 7% trucks, 4% motorbikes; 25% of the traffic in Paris.
Average trip: 7 km (4.5 miles)
Average speed on working days (7 h-21 h): 43 km/h (26 mph)
Speed limit: 80 km/h (50 mph)
Total length: 35.04 km

[edit] Périphérique intérieur vs. extérieur

The Périphérique consists of two concentric carriageways:

The "inner ring" (English), "intérieur" (French) is the carriageway closest to the centre of Paris; vehicles travel clockwise.
The "outer ring" (English), "extérieur" (French) is the carriageway further from the centre of Paris (closer to the Paris suburbs); vehicles travel anticlockwise.

Some stretches of the road are sometimes referred to by compass directions.

For example, in the southern half of the Boulevard:

The "inner ring" is designated as the "Western Ring" (English), "Périphérique Ouest" (French), as traffic flows westbound.
The "outer ring" is designated as the "Eastern Ring" (English), "Périphérique Est" (French), as traffic flows eastbound.

In the northern half, the designations are reversed; as the Boulevard is circular.

[edit] Structure and Layout

The structure of the Boulevard Périphérique is similar to most French autoroutes, U.K. and Commonwealth nation motorways, and North American freeways in the following regards:

It is a two-ring, multiple-lane limited access road with no at-grade crossings or traffic lights. Maximum longitudinal slope is 4%.
Traffic headed in opposite directions (each ring) is separated by a central reservation (British English), also known as a median (North American and Australian English).

The Boulevard Périphérique also retains some peculiar differences:

The "priorité à droite" (French) applies: Motorists entering the right-hand lane have the right-of-way, i.e. priority over vehicles already in circulation in the ring road. This stems from the traditional rules governing Parisian boulevards.
To ensure safety and fluidity of movement in regard to the above difference, the right-hand lane is exclusively reserved for vehicles entering or preparing to leave the "normal" movement of vehicles in the other lanes, or the Boulevard itself.
There is the absence of a shoulder (emergency lane). The Boulevard doesn't incorporate one along almost all of its route, except around the Porte de Gentilly.

There are generally four lanes in each of the two rings of the Boulevard. Notable variations exist:

A two-lane section between the Porte d'Italie and the Porte d'Orleans
A five-lane section betwen the Porte de Montreuil and Porte de Bagnolet
A three-lane section between the Porte d'Orleans and the Porte d'Sevres.

The full circuit of the Boulevard Périphérique measures a total of 35.04 kilometres, as measured along the central reservation. The route closely follows the municipal boundaries of Paris. It diverges at three locations; in the sectors of the Bois de Bologne and the Bois de Vincennes (where the roadway is entrenched and covered), and the Heliport of Paris. Because the Boulevard was built over the old Thiers Wall, it's entrance/exit ramps and interchanges coincide with the city gates, or "portes" (French) in that wall. The River Seine crosses the road via bridges upstream at Charenton/Bercy and downstream at Saint-Cloud/Issy.

Small distance markers are distributed evenly alongside the roadway:

The 00.0 kilometre point is located over the River Seine, upstream of the Porte de Bercy, at the bridge's expansion joints.
Distance from this point increases in the clockwise direction.
The distance marks on the sign are underlined in red on the inner ring road, and in blue on the outer ring.

The roadway varies in elevation with its surroundings:

50% is elevated above its surroundings, i.e. above grade.
40% is constructed in trench sections, i.e. below grade.
10% is at ground level, i.e. at grade.

The Boulevard Périphérique can carry the heaviest vehicles allowed by French regulations. However, there is a height restriction of 4.75 metres.

[edit] Map

[edit] List of junctions

Junction number	Junction name	Outer lanes exits	Inner lanes exits
1	Porte de Bercy	A4	Quai de Bercy
2	Porte d'Ivry	None	Avenue d'Ivry
3	Porte d' Italie	A6^B	Avenue d'Italie
4	Porte de Gentilly	A6^A	Rue de l'Amiral Mouchez
5	Porte d'Orléans	Avenue Briand	Avenue de Maine
6	Porte de Châtillon	Avenue P. Brossollette	Avenue Jean Moulin
7	Porte de Vanves	Rue Ernest Reugan	Boulevard Brune
8	Porte Brancion	Rue Jean Bleuzen	Avenue Brancion
9	Porte de la Plaine	Rue Camliant	Place des Insurges de Varsovie
10	Porte de Sèvres	None	Rue Balard
11	Porte de Saint-Cloud	Route de la Reine	Avenue de Versailles
12	Porte Molitor	Boulevard d'Auteuil	Rue Poussin
13	Porte d'Auteuil	A13	Rue Poussin
14	Porte de Passy	Rue de l'Hippodrome	Rue de Ranelagh
15	Porte de la Muette	None	Avenue H. Martin
16	Porte Dauphine	Route de Suresnes	Avenue Foch
17	Porte Maillot	Avenue Charles De Gaulle	La Défense
18	Porte de Champerret	Boulevard Bineau	Avenue de Villiers
19	Porte d'Asnières	Rue Victor Hugo	Rue de Tocqueville
20	Porte de Clichy	Boulevard Jean Jaurès	Avenue de Clichy
21	Porte de Saint-Ouen	Avenue G. Péri	Avenue de Saint-Ouen
22	Porte de Clignancourt	Avenue Michelet	Boulevard Ornano
23	Porte de la Chapelle	A1	Rue de la Chapelle
24	Porte d'Aubervilliers	Avenue Victor Hugo	Rue d'Aubervilliers
25	Porte de la Villette	Avenue Jean Jaurès	Avenue de Flandre
26	Porte de Pantin	Avenue Jean Lolive	Avenue Jean Jaurès
27	Porte du Pré-Saint-Gervais	Rue G. Péri	Rue Haxo
28	Porte des Lilas	Rue de Paris	Rue de Belleville
29	Porte de Bagnolet	A3	Rue Belgrand
30	Porte de Montreuil	Rue de Paris	Rue d'Avron
31	Porte de Vincennes	Avenue de Paris	Cours de Vincennes
32	Porte de Saint-Mandé	Avenue Victor Hugo	Avenue de Saint-Mandé
33	Porte Dorée	Rue de Ceinture du Lac Daumesnil	Avenue Daumesnil
34	Porte de Charenton	Avenue de Gravelle	Rue de Charenton

[edit] Highway Code

The Boulevard Peripherique is considered a boulevard, but there are several differences between it and Paris's classic boulevards.

These differences include the dual carriageways on the Peripherique and the fact that entry and exit points are not on the same level as municipal streets, instead requiring interchanges and ramps. Although it may look like a highway, the Paris ring road is governed by the rules of the road that cover municipal streets. In other words, traffic entering the highway has the right-of-way over vehicles already on the road, contrary to the usual practice.

The highway code requires driving on the edge of the rightmost normal (see Section R412-9 code of the road), but on the device, the right lane is explicitly given as the way out, the name of the next door is given and the cars remained on the boulevard must give way to incoming vehicles. At the junction between the ramp and the boulevard, a continuous line separating the right lane of the other lanes, as vehicles to prevent them finding a pass suddenly that for legal reasons (without this line vehicles entrants have priority over all channels).

The reasons for the choice of priority to the integration are poorly understood. However, several specific points can justify this decision:

Cultural reason: The right priorities abound in Paris and the Paris region, so it is difficult to find a sign "stop" or "yield-the-way". It has been decided not to disturb the Parisians with a priority rule that they were not accustomed to (especially when creating the device in the 1960s).
Practical reason: The ways of inserting the ring are very short. Est-ce la cause ou la conséquence de la priorité à l'insertion ? Is this the cause or consequence of the priority integration? Le boulevard périphérique étant construit en zone fortement urbanisée, il a pu être décidé de restreindre la longueur de ces voies d'insertion pour économiser la place ; The ring road being built in highly urbanized, it has been decided to restrict the length of these routes for inclusion save space;
Because of fluidity: The ring is always crowded. The saturation point of the channels are constantly exceeded and traffic is growing every year by 18%. The average time to traverse 10 km is 1 h 37 min. Its congestion is a systematic "yield-the-way" on ways to insert lead incoming cars to wait for so long a gap in traffic to fit, which would block intersections surrounding indirectly. Congestion outside the high density of residual dangerous traffic would not insert a priority (especially if the length of track insertion is conserved).

In practice, the insertion of the device often operates on the principle of the zipper: the right lane of the Boulevard merges with the path of insertion of a pace car in two. This unwritten rule is also found in general on all congested roads. Research was conducted to examine the possibility of making it legal, no action at this time.

Exception to HTA French general, the speed limit is 80 mph on most of the journey. In addition, there is no tape of the emergency stop, which means that incidents and accidents can cause considerable disruption to traffic. The intervention of emergency services is complicated and longer. The movement of bicycles is strictly prohibited.

When congestion of the road (which happens so often during the day), motorcycles using the technique of back-file: they move between the cars of two lanes to the left. This part of the road has been nicknamed "The Way of donors" (an allusion to organ donors) to discuss the very high danger of this practice. This practice is neither authorized nor prohibited by the rules of the road French. Tolerated in most cases, it is now more severely punished by the law enforcement.

However, fatalities in the Peripherique are rare (none in 2005 against 10 to 15 per year in the 1990s), contrasting with the huge attendance (50% of Paris traffic).

Control Systems

[edit] Speed Control

The Boulevard Périphérique is equipped with speed cameras (photo radar) to enforce the 80km/h (50mph) speed limit. The cameras are oriented to photograph the vehicle from behind, and are reportedly installed:

On the inner ring at:

Porte de Sèvres
Porte de Champerret
crossing the Quai d'Ivry, at the end of the bridge
Porte de Bagnolet

On the outer ring at:

Porte de Chatillon
Porte de Clichy
Porte de Pantin
Porte d'Auteuil

In addition, the Boulevard Périphérique's exit ramps are often monitored with hand-held binocular-type radar devices; these are triggered when the 50km/h (31 mph) exiting limit is exceeded.

Finally, during the rush hours, radar-equipped police vehicles are stationed in hidden areas for spot checks.

[edit] Network monitoring and traffic management

Une centaine de caméras sont reliées directement à la salle de contrôle du poste central d'exploitation du périphérique. A hundred cameras are connected directly to the control room of the central station operating the device.

Bounds emergency (BAU) the number of 166 are found regularly because of a terminal every 500 meters (every 250 meters underground) and they give rise to 7,000 calls per year. The emergency phones are all numbered. The terminal pairs are located on the outer ring and the odd terminals on the inner ring road.

Eight police vehicles on the day and four night patrol constantly on the device.

Seven hundred and fifty loops electromagnetic (or sensors) embedded in the road surface record each passing vehicle. These sensors can measure the flow rate (Q), the occupancy rate (T) and velocity (V) of traffic on a given portion.

The variable message signs (VMS) provide information on journey times. Those days are automatically generated every minute by a computer system that collects and processes information from the electromagnetic loops buried in the floor. This system provides information on the average time before reaching the next pole freeway or major axis (N13 Porte Maillot, for example). VMS is also used to display all types of message as: accident, crash, close, work, pollution, road safety, abduction alert, etc.

[edit] Other workarounds

The ring is not the only axis of circumvention of the French capital:

Inside of Paris, the boulevards of marshals surround Paris a hundred meters from the device. This is a collection of suburban streets with crossings standards with other streets or tunnels under some major routes of entry and where the speed limit is 50 km/h.
Outside of Paris, the A86 motorway, between 5 and 7 kilometers from the ring, loop, eventually to 90% around Paris (an area south of Versailles is not affected by this highway).
At twenty kilometers from the device, Francilienne, all roads and highways, will in the near future, a bypass Paris.
Still further, there is a project of great bypass Paris.

[edit] History

Begun in 1958 on the plots of old fortifications, the ring was completed in 1973 under the presidency of Georges Pompidou. Assurant fourth movement in Paris, he became part of the busiest road of France. However, it is a victim of its success, but the constraints can prevent urban improve circulation.

The covers of the device, entered the Contract Plan 2000-2006 State-region cover three areas: Porte des Lilas, the Porte de Vanves and sectors of the Porte des Ternes and door Champerret (17th arrondissement).

The covers of the Porte des Lilas and the Porte de Vanves is completed.
Coverage of the door Champerret not begun.

[edit] Sociological Impact

The Peripherique has been heavily criticised for his role as a barrier between Paris and the suburbs: insofar as its route coincides almost entirely with the city limits of Paris, it can be seen as a "frontier" symbolizing the breaking sociological economic and cultural cooperation between Paris and its suburbs, and stigmatizing people in the suburbs. The psychological barrier is reflected for example in the phrase "the other side of the ring road, sometimes used to designate the suburbs.

In recent years, governments have taken into account this negative impact, and try to remedy: in connection with roofing, are also discussed projects for green spaces and walkways to create continuity between Paris and suburban communities along.

The device is also the subject of fascination in that it is unique: this road, the busiest in France, is a closed universe (it has its own service stations, points of entry and exit specific) as a highway, but in urban areas. The device is also considered dangerous to some users, especially two-wheeled motorized.

[edit] Other périphériques

The périphérique is the innermost of the Paris four ring road system, including A86 (to be completed in 2010) and the Francilienne (partial).

There are other périphériques in France, in Bordeaux, Caen, la Défense, Dijon, Lille, Lyon, Nantes, Rennes and Toulouse, often called rocades.

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Périphérique (Paris)

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