Marseille Implements Traffic Restrictions Amid Air Pollution Alert
Marseille announces traffic restrictions due to air pollution alert.
Key Points
- • Air pollution alert level 1 activated on June 11, 2025.
- • Traffic restrictions to start on June 13, 2025, in low-emission zones.
- • Only vehicles with specific Crit’Air certificates will be allowed.
- • Public health recommendations include limiting outdoor activities.
In Marseille, an air pollution alert has been issued due to high levels of fine particulate matter (PM10), with the alert first activated on June 11, 2025, and continuing into June 12. The situation is exacerbated by ongoing Canadian wildfires, and officials predict an influx of Saharan dust in the coming days. In response, local authorities are set to enact traffic restrictions beginning June 13, 2025, targeting areas identified as low-emission zones (ZFE-m). Under these restrictions, only vehicles with specific Crit’Air certificates—class electric, hydrogen, or 1 and 2—will be permitted to operate between 6 AM and midnight. The prefecture also encourages reduced travel and increased public transport usage, which will feature special fares and improved service frequency during this alert. Health recommendations include avoiding intense physical activity and seeking medical advice for those on existing treatments. Additional measures to curb emissions will be implemented across the industrial, residential, and agricultural sectors to help improve air quality in the region.