Red Alert: New wildfire in Aude shuts down the A9 motorway near Narbonne

Updated: Tuesday, July 8 at 10:30 AM

Traffic has resumed in both directions on the A9 motorway between Narbonne and Sigean following the large wildfire that forced its closure. However, conditions remain difficult, especially north of Perpignan, where major traffic jams have formed in the Spain-to-France direction. These delays are mainly due to the end of the mandatory truck parking order that had been in place since Monday. Several hundred heavy goods vehicles are now being gradually reintegrated into the traffic flow, causing significant congestion on the A9. Further north, traffic remains heavy around Narbonne as circulation patterns adjust and previously blocked vehicles return to the network.

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A major wildfire reignited around 3:00 p.m. near Bizanet, between the A61 and A9 motorways. As a result, authorities have completely closed the A9 motorway in both directions between the A61 junction and exit 39 (Sigean). « The A9 motorway is currently closed in both directions near Narbonne; it’s official, » announced Loïc Alsac on Radio VINCI Autoroutes.

To manage traffic, several diversion routes have been set up:

• From A61 heading toward Narbonne (toward Barcelona):

• Mandatory exit at Lézignan (exit 25)
• Follow diversion route S25 to rejoin the A9 at Sigean (exit 39)
• The junction toward Lyon on the A9 remains open

• From A9 heading toward Barcelona:

• Mandatory detour via A61 toward Toulouse
• Exit at Lézignan (exit 25) and follow S25 to Sigean

• From A9 heading toward Lyon:

• Mandatory exit at Sigean (exit 39)
• Follow diversion route S26 to Lézignan, then rejoin A61 toward Montpellier

In addition, several secondary roads in the area are also closed. Authorities strongly advise drivers to avoid the area entirely and stop as early as possible at service areas before reaching the affected zone.

« The traffic has been halted to allow firefighters to intervene more effectively, » Radio VINCI Autoroutes reported. Traffic jams are already forming between Narbonne and Sigean, and delays are also reported near the Spanish border, where « there are at least 20 minutes of delays and 5 km of backups before the Le Boulou toll, » due to lane reductions and ongoing controls.


Current wildfire response in Bizanet:

• 450 hectares burned
  
• 350 firefighters deployed
  
• 2 Dash aircraft
  
• 2 Air Tractors
  
• 2 firefighting helicopters
  
• 4 Canadair planes