The A16 autoroute – also known as ''L'Européenne'' and forming between

Abbeville Abbeville (; ; ) is a commune in the Somme department and in Hauts-de-France region in northern France. It is the of one of the arrondissements of Somme. Located on the river Somme, it was the capital of Ponthieu. Geography Location A ...

and

Dunkirk Dunkirk ( ; ; ; Picard language, Picard: ''Dunkèke''; ; or ) is a major port city in the Departments of France, department of Nord (French department), Nord in northern France. It lies from the Belgium, Belgian border. It has the third-larg ...

a part of the larger ''Autoroute des estuaires'' – is a

motorway A controlled-access highway is a type of highway that has been designed for high-speed vehicular traffic, with all traffic flow—ingress and egress—regulated. Common English terms are freeway, motorway, and expressway. Other similar terms ...

in northern

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. The motorway, which has a total length of , starts at a junction with the N104

Francilienne The Francilienne () is a partially completed ring road in Île-de-France (the ''région'' that includes Paris), France, lying outside the A86. The planned ring road is approximately in diameter, similar in size to London's M25 motorway. Star ...

near

Attainville Attainville () is a commune in the Val-d'Oise department in Île-de-France in northern France. Population See also *Communes of the Val-d'Oise department The following is a list of the 183 Communes of France, communes of the Val-d'Oise De ...

Île-de-France The Île-de-France (; ; ) is the most populous of the eighteen regions of France, with an official estimated population of 12,271,794 residents on 1 January 2023. Centered on the capital Paris, it is located in the north-central part of the cou ...

and ends at the Belgian frontier near Bray-Dunes, serving en route

Beauvais Beauvais ( , ; ) is a town and Communes of France, commune in northern France, and prefecture of the Oise Departments of France, département, in the Hauts-de-France Regions of France, region, north of Paris. The Communes of France, commune o ...

Amiens Amiens (English: or ; ; , or ) is a city and Communes of France, commune in northern France, located north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme (department), Somme Departments of France, department in the region ...

Boulogne-sur-Mer Boulogne-sur-Mer (; ; ; or ''Bononia''), often called just Boulogne (, ), is a coastal city in Hauts-de-France, Northern France. It is a Subprefectures in France, sub-prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Pas-de-Calais. Boul ...

Calais Calais ( , , traditionally , ) is a French port city in the Pas-de-Calais department, of which it is a subprefecture. Calais is the largest city in Pas-de-Calais. The population of the city proper is 67,544; that of the urban area is 144,6 ...

and

Hauts-de-France Hauts-de-France (; ; ), also referred to in English as Upper France, is the northernmost region of France, created by the territorial reform of French regions in 2014, from a merger of Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy. Its prefecture is Lille. ...

. From its starting point near Paris, the A16 runs in a northerly direction, continues north parallel to the

English Channel The English Channel, also known as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates Southern England from northern France. It links to the southern part of the North Sea by the Strait of Dover at its northeastern end. It is the busi ...

from Abbeville and then in an easterly direction along the

North Sea The North Sea lies between Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. A sea on the European continental shelf, it connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the English Channel in the south and the Norwegian Se ...

coast. It is one of the two main routes between the Port of Calais/

Channel Tunnel The Channel Tunnel (), sometimes referred to by the Portmanteau, portmanteau Chunnel, is a undersea railway tunnel, opened in 1994, that connects Folkestone (Kent, England) with Coquelles (Pas-de-Calais, France) beneath the English Channel at ...

and

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

, the other being the A26 and A1 route to the east. The vast majority of the motorway was built in the 1990s to relieve the congested RN1 between Paris and the Côte d'Opale (Boulogne and Calais). An 8 km southern extension between l'Isle-Adam and Attainville to a junction with the Paris ring road N104 (Francilienne) opened in 2020. Between Amblainville and Boulogne it is operated by the Société des Autoroutes du Nord et de l'Est de la France (SANEF) and is tolled. From Boulogne to the Belgian border the road is managed by the Direction Interdépartementale des Routes Nord (DIR Nord), which does not impose a toll. This motorway does not have any officially designated "full" service areas – all of them are designated "Aire de Repos" (rest area).

List of junctions and exits

{, class="plainrowheaders wikitable" , - !scope=col, Region !scope=col, Department !scope=col, Junction !scope=col, Destinations !scope=col, Notes , - , rowspan="5",

, rowspan="5",

Val-d'Oise Val-d'Oise (, "Vale of the Oise") is a department in the Île-de-France region, Northern France. It was created in 1968 following the split of the Seine-et-Oise department. In 2019, Val-d'Oise had a population of 1,249,674.< ...

, RN 104 - A16 + , * Roissy, Ch-de-Gaulle, ( A1) * Montsoult,

Belloy-en-France Belloy-en-France (, ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Val-d'Oise Departments of France, department in Île-de-France in northern France. Belloy–Saint-Martin station has rail connections to Luzarches, Sarcelles and Paris. Population Mo ...

, Domont,

Sarcelles Sarcelles () is a Communes of France, commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the Kilometre Zero#France, centre of Paris. Sarcelles is a Subprefectures in France, sub-prefecture of the Val-d'Oise Departments of Franc ...

- '' Porte de la Chapelle'' , , - , , L'Isle-Adam - centre, Presles, Nerville-la-Forêt , Northbound Exit only , - , RN 184 - A16 , Paris - ''Porte Maillot'' ( A115),

Cergy-Pontoise Cergy-Pontoise () is a new town and an agglomeration community in France, in the Val-d'Oise and Yvelines departments, northwest of Paris on the river Oise. It owes its name to two of the communes that it covers, Cergy and Pontoise. Its population ...

( A15), Méry-sur-Oise, Presles , , - , , L'Isle-Adam - Parc d'Activités, Beaumont-sur-Oise, Mours, Champagne-sur-Oise, Persan, Chambly , , - , , Persan, Chambly , , - , rowspan="72",

, rowspan="9",

Oise Oise ( ; ; ) is a department in the north of France. It is named after the river Oise. Inhabitants of the department are called ''Oisiens'' () or ''Isariens'', after the Latin name for the river, Isara. It had a population of 829,419 in 2019.< ...

, colspan="3" style="text-align:center;, , - , , Méru,

Gisors Gisors () is a Communes of France, commune in the Departments of France, French department of Eure, Normandy (administrative region), Normandy, France. It is located northwest from the Kilometre Zero, centre of Paris. Gisors, together with the ...

, Amblainville , , - , colspan="3" style="text-align:center;, , - , colspan="3" style="text-align:center; ,
, - , ,

, Allonne,

Auneuil Auneuil () is a Communes of France, commune in the Oise Departments of France, department in northern France. On 1 January 2017, the former commune of Troussures was merged into Auneuil.Rouen Rouen (, ; or ) is a city on the River Seine, in northwestern France. It is in the prefecture of Regions of France, region of Normandy (administrative region), Normandy and the Departments of France, department of Seine-Maritime. Formerly one ...

Mantes-la-Jolie Mantes-la-Jolie (, often informally called Mantes) is a Communes of France, commune in the Yvelines Departments of France, department in the Île-de-France Regions of France, region of north-central France. It is located to the west of Paris, f ...

( RN 31) , , - , , Beauvais, Troissereux, Milly-sur-Thérain, to Clermont,

Compiègne Compiègne (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Oise Departments of France, department of northern France. It is located on the river Oise (river), Oise, and its inhabitants are called ''Compiégnois'' (). Administration Compiègne is t ...

Creil Creil () is a Communes of France, commune in the Oise Departments of France, department, northern France. The Creil station is an important railway junction. History Archaeological remains in the area include a Neolithic site as well as a late ...

, , - , colspan="3" style="text-align:center; ,
, - , , Breteuil,

Saint-Just-en-Chaussée Saint-Just-en-Chaussée (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Oise Departments of France, department in northern France. Saint-Just-en-Chaussée station has rail connections to Amiens, Creil and Paris. History Its name refers to Saint Jus ...

Crèvecœur-le-Grand Crèvecœur-le-Grand () is a commune in the Oise department in northern France. Population See also * Communes of the Oise department The following is a list of the 680 Communes of France, communes of the Oise Departments of France, depa ...

, Marseille-en-Beauvaisis, Gerberoy, La Corne-en-Vexin , , - , colspan="3" style="text-align:center; , , - , rowspan="15",

Somme __NOTOC__ Somme or The Somme may refer to: Places *Somme (department), a department of France * Somme, Queensland, Australia * Canal de la Somme, a canal in France *Somme (river), a river in France Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Somme'' (book), ...

, - , , Bosquel, Essertaux, Ailly-sur-Noye, Moreuil, Conty,

Poix-de-Picardie Poix-de-Picardie (, literally ''Poix of Picardy''; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Somme (department), Somme Departments of France, department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Geography The commune is situated at the junction of t ...

, , - , colspan="3" style="text-align:center; , , - , A29 - A16 , Saint-Quentin,

- sud,

Reims Reims ( ; ; also spelled Rheims in English) is the most populous city in the French Departments of France, department of Marne (department), Marne, and the List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, 12th most populous city in Fran ...

Lille Lille (, ; ; ; ; ) is a city in the northern part of France, within French Flanders. Positioned along the Deûle river, near France's border with Belgium, it is the capital of the Hauts-de-France Regions of France, region, the Prefectures in F ...

, , - , , Amiens, Salouël, Saleux , , - , A29 - A16 ,

Rouen Rouen (, ; or ) is a city on the River Seine, in northwestern France. It is in the prefecture of Regions of France, region of Normandy (administrative region), Normandy and the Departments of France, department of Seine-Maritime. Formerly one ...

Le Havre Le Havre is a major port city in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy (administrative region), Normandy region of northern France. It is situated on the right bank of the estuary of the Seine, river Seine on the English Channel, Channe ...

Dieppe Dieppe (; ; or Old Norse ) is a coastal commune in the Seine-Maritime department, Normandy, northern France. Dieppe is a seaport on the English Channel at the mouth of the river Arques. A regular ferry service runs to Newhaven in England ...

, , - , , Amiens , , - , , Amiens, Longueau, RN 25 to

Arras Arras ( , ; ; historical ) is the prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department, which forms part of the region of Hauts-de-France; before the reorganization of 2014 it was in Nord-Pas-de-Calais. The historic centre of the Artois region, with a ...

, Saint-Quentin , , - , colspan="3" style="text-align:center;, , - , , Flixecourt, Ville-le-Marclet, Picquigny, Vignacourt, Flesselles, Saint-Léger-lès-Domart , , - , colspan="3" style="text-align:center; ,
, - , ,

Saint-Riquier Saint-Riquier (; ) is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Geography The commune is situated northeast of Abbeville, on the D925 and D32 crossroads. Abbey Saint-Riquier (originally ''Centula'' or ''Centul ...

Pont-Remy Pont-Remy (; also ''Pont-Rémy''; ) is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Geography The commune is situated at the junction of the D901 and D183 roads at an ancient crossing point of the river Somme, some ...

, Doullens , , - , A28 - A16 + , * Le Havre, Rouen, Le Tréport, Le Crotoy, Saint-Valery-sur-Somme * Abbeville , , - , colspan="3" style="text-align:center; , , - , ,

Rue ''Ruta graveolens'', commonly known as rue, common rue or herb-of-grace, is a species of the genus '' Ruta'' grown as an ornamental plant and herb. It is native to the Mediterranean. It is grown throughout the world in gardens, especially for i ...

, Le Crotoy, Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, Fort-Mahon-Plage, Quend, Crécy-en-Ponthieu , - , rowspan="33",

Pas-de-Calais The Pas-de-Calais (, ' strait of Calais'; ; ) is a department in northern France named after the French designation of the Strait of Dover, which it borders. It has the most communes of all the departments of France, with 890, and is the ...

, colspan="3" style="text-align:center; ,
, - , ,

Berck Berck (), sometimes referred to as Berck-sur-Mer in French or Berck-su-Mér in Picard language, Picard ( ''Berck on Sea''), is a Communes of France, commune in the northern French Departments of France, department of Pas-de-Calais. Situated on ...

Montreuil-sur-Mer Montreuil-sur-Mer (; or ; ), Montreuil-on-the-Sea, is a subprefecture in the Pas-de-Calais Department in northern France. Though commonly called by this name since at least the twelfth century, it was legally known as Montreuil until 31 Decemb ...

, Merlimont, Fort-Mahon-Plage, Quend, Arras ( RD 939) , , - , ,

Étaples Étaples or Étaples-sur-Mer (; or ; formerly ; ) is a communes of France, commune in the departments of France, department of Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France, northern France. It is a fishing and leisure port on the Canche river. History Étapl ...

Le Touquet-Paris-Plage Le Touquet-Paris-Plage (, Picard language, Picard: ''Ech Toutchet-Paris-Plache''), commonly referred to as Le Touquet (), is a Communes of France, commune near Étaples, in the Pas-de-Calais Departments of France, department, northern France. ...

, Merlimont, Cucq, Sainte-Cécile,

Stella-Plage Cucq (; unofficially also: ''Cucq-Trépied-Stella-Plage''; ) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France. It is made up of three villages: Cucq itself, the village of Trépied in the north and the coasta ...

, , - , colspan="3" style="text-align:center;, , - , , Neufchâtel-Hardelot, Sainte-Cécile, Dannes, Condette , , - , ,

, Isques, Hesdin-l'Abbé, Pont-de-Briques,

Samer Samer (; ; ) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France. Population Notable people * Saint Vulmar, hermit who founded Samer Abbey in the 6th century. * Eustace the Monk (c. 1170–1217), pirate an ...

, Desvres , , - , colspan="3" style="text-align:center; , , - , , Boulogne-sur-Mer - centre,

Outreau Outreau (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Pas-de-Calais Departments of France, department in the Hauts-de-France region of France west of Boulogne. The river Liane forms the eastern border of the commune with Boulogne. History Outrea ...

, Le Portel, Saint-Léonard, Saint-Étienne-au-Mont , , - , , Boulogne-sur-Mer, Saint-Martin-Boulogne, Baincthun, Desvres , , - , , Boulogne-sur-Mer, Saint-Martin-Boulogne, La Capelle-lès-Boulogne, Baincthun, Desvres,

Saint-Omer Saint-Omer (; ; Picard: ''Saint-Onmé'') is a commune and sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department in France. It is west-northwest of Lille on the railway to Calais, and is located in the Artois province. The town is named after Sa ...

, , - , , Boulogne-sur-Mer, Wimereux, Wimille , , - , , Wimereux, Wimille, Wacquinghen , , - , , Wacquinghen, Offrethun, Beuvrequen , , - , colspan="3" style="text-align:center;, , - , , Marquise, Rinxent, Beuvrequen , , - , , Marquise, Rinxent,

Guînes Guînes (; ; ) is a commune in the northern French department of Pas-de-Calais. Historically, it was spelt ''Guisnes''. On 7 January 1785, Jean-Pierre Blanchard, a French pioneer in hydrogen-balloon flight, completed the first aerial crossi ...

, Wissant , , - , , Saint-Inglevert, Leubringhen , , - , colspan="3" style="text-align:center;, , - , , Saint-Inglevert, Wissant , , - , , Bonningues-lès-Calais, Peuplingues , , - , , Peuplingues, Escalles, Fréthun , , - , , Coquelles,

Sangatte Sangatte (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Pas-de-Calais Departments of France, department on the northern coast of France on the English Channel. The name is of Flemish origin, meaning hole or gap in the sand. Engineering Sangatte i ...

, , - , , ''

Folkestone Folkestone ( ) is a coastal town on the English Channel, in Kent, south-east England. The town lies on the southern edge of the North Downs at a valley between two cliffs. It was an important harbour, shipping port, and fashionable coastal res ...

'', ''

Londres Londres may refer to: Locations * London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wi ...

'' ( UK) , , - , ,

- centre,

, Coulogne, Blériot-Plage , , - , , Calais , , - , , Calais, Ardres , Entrance only , - , , Calais, Coulogne, RD 943 to Ardres, Saint-Omer , , - , A26 - A16 + , * Saint-Omer, Arras, Reims * Car-Ferry, Calais - Z. I. Est , , - , , Marck , , - , , Marck , , - , colspan="3" style="text-align:center; , , - , ,

Nouvelle-Église Nouvelle-Église () ( English: New Church) is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France about 6 miles (9 km) east of Calais. Population See also *Communes of the Pas-de-Calais department T ...

, Oye-Plage, Audruicq , , - , ,

Gravelines Gravelines ( , ; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Nord (French department), Nord departments of France, department in Northern France. It lies at the mouth of the river Aa (France), Aa southwest of Dunkirk, France, Dunkirk. It was form ...

, Grand-Fort-Philippe, Saint-Folquin , , - , rowspan="15", Nord , , Bourbourg, Saint-Georges-sur-l'Aa, Gravelines , , - , , Loon-Plage, Craywick, Bourbourg, Mardyck, Saint-Omer,

Dunkerque Dunkirk ( ; ; ; Picard language, Picard: ''Dunkèke''; ; or ) is a major port city in the Departments of France, department of Nord (French department), Nord in northern France. It lies from the Belgium, Belgian border. It has the third-larg ...

- Port/Car-Ferry , , - , , Grande-Synthe, Spycker, , , - , , Grande-Synthe, Polyclinique de Grande-Synthe , No northbound exit , - , , Grande-Synthe - Moulin , , - , , Grande-Synthe,

Fort-Mardyck Fort-Mardyck (; ; ) is a former Communes of France, commune in the Nord (French department), Nord Departments of France, department in northern France. It has been part of the commune of Dunkirk since 9 December 2010. In 2022 it had 3,491 inhabi ...

, Dunkerque,

Bergues Bergues (; ; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Nord (French department), Nord Departments of France, department in northern France. It is situated to the south of Dunkirk and from the Belgium, Belgian border. Locally it is referred to ...

Armentières Armentières (; , ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Nord (French department), Nord department in the Hauts-de-France region in northern France. It is part of the Métropole Européenne de Lille. The motto of the town is ''Pauvre mais fi� ...

( A25) , , - , , Dunkerque - Pont-Loby,

Saint-Pol-sur-Mer Saint-Pol-sur-Mer (, literally ''Saint-Pol on Sea''; ; Picard: ''Saint-Po-dsu-Mér'') is a former commune in the Nord department in northern France. Since 9 December 2010, it is part of the commune of Dunkirk.Cappelle-la-Grande , No northbound exit , - , , Coudekerque-Branche, Cappelle-la-Grande , , - , , Coudekerque-Branche , - , , Dunkerque - Malo, Dunkerque - Rosendaël , , - , , Téteghem,

Leffrinckoucke Leffrinckoucke (; ; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Nord (French department), Nord Departments of France, department in northern France. Heraldry Population Twin towns Leffrinckoucke is Twin towns and sister cities, twinned with: ...

, Zuydcoote, , No southbound exit , - , , Téteghem, Leffrinckoucke, Zuydcoote , No northbound exit , - , , Ghyvelde, Bray-Dunes,

Hondschoote Hondschoote (; from Dutch language, Dutch; ''Hondschote'' in the modern Dutch spelling) is a communes of France, commune of the Nord (French department), Nord ''departments of France, département'', in northern France. Geography Hondschoote bo ...

, Les Moëres, Steenvoorde , , - , colspan="3" style="text-align:center;,
, - , colspan="7" style="text-align:center; , French - Belgian Border ;
becomes Belgian road

Future extensions

Currently the A16 runs from junction number 8 to junction number 65. This leads to speculation that the southern end of the motorway is intended to be extended either directly south by upgrading the RD301/RN1 to meet the A1 at

Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis Saint-Denis (, ) is a Communes of France, commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the Kilometre zero, centre of Paris. Saint-Denis is the second most populated suburb of Paris (after Boulogne-Billancourt), with a p ...

, or to the east by upgrading the RN104 to meet the A1 at

Paris-Charles De Gaulle Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport , also known as Roissy Airport, is the primary international airport serving Paris, the capital city of France. The airport opened in 1974 and is located in Roissy-en-France, northeast of Paris. It is named for ...

, thus completing the missing junction numbers.

References

External links

A16 autoroute
in Saratlas
Extension of the A16

Data on the A16

CPDP PROJET A16
{{Autoroutes A16