Highway A8: a temporary entrance finally opened on Valéry-Giscard-d’Estaing Avenue starting this Thursday

Metropolitan road 60202, Valéry-Giscard-d’Estaing avenue, provides access to the A8 from the Promenade des Anglais. This Thursday, August 20 at 7 a.m., drivers can use it after a last-minute change by the city of Nice, the day before its opening.

The motorway, heading towards Aix-en-Provence, is now accessible from the Promenade des Anglais starting Thursday, August 20 at 7 a.m. and until October 30. On Wednesday, August 19, the city of Nice decided to use the RM 60202 entrance, located on Valéry-Giscard-d’Estaing avenue, for its new access route to the A8.

A new access route chosen at the last minute

Initially, this was supposed to be exit ramp No. 50 on Mercantour Boulevard. This decision by the Nice Metropolitan Area is a measure championed by Éric Ciotti, expressing his satisfaction with “it’s done!” on X. This new service road aims to relieve congestion in western Nice paralyzed by airport access, according to the mayor of Nice for Nice-Matin.

This temporary opening lasting two months requires drivers wishing to take the motorway to move to the right lane of Mercantour Boulevard. However, it is not possible to drive on the entire avenue; only the entrance to the A8 is possible.

The two former traffic lights already in place are being reactivated to prevent a massive flow of cars from the Mathis road exit. Regarding the alternating light at the express road exit, no information has been provided. Originally, traffic was to be regulated by a priority traffic light.

The Mathis road at the center of concerns

The mayor of Nice, according to Ici Azur, did not deny potential slowdowns on the Mathis road, justifying the two-month trial period. For the objective, “it would be that the delay on the Mathis road is moderate, that you wait 30 seconds or a minute, but no more,” assures the elected official.

Since the closure of the ramp on April 8, 2025, drivers from the Promenade had to go all the way to interchange No. 51 at the CADAM level, saturating Mercantour Boulevard. Now, it is RM 60202 that will serve as a test solution to reduce congestion in the area. As for drivers from the Var plains, it remains the same usual route via Mercantour Boulevard.