TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Alternate route to airport from French Side

Wondering if there is a faster(less busy) road to get from Grand Case to the Airport. Seems to always get into a heavy slow traffic routing through Marigot (Rue St James). Coming from airport is much better as Rue De Hollande seems to flow easily usually.

I wish Rue de Hollande was two way. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

From Grand Case use Rue de Galisbay - follow along the waterfront to the very end, a short left and right on to Sandy Ground and around to Cupecoy / Maho /Airport. Should take you 35-45 minutes +/-

===============
MAP

The route via Cupecoy has drawbacks also. At night, don't use it, there have been car jackings there.

In the day time you can get stuck. After Baie Nettlé the only place you can overtake is Baie Rouge and if you get stuck behind a tourist van driving at 20km/h and stopping every mile to take pictures, it will take you longer.

The main obstacle in Marigot can be avoided. Once you turn off Rue de Hollande, don't follow the road left, go straight. Turn left, follow the road around the town hall. Hit the road at the Post office on the left and drive up the main crossing, turn left again on you are on your way to Bellevue and the Causeway.

Alternatly you can also take the road from Gallisbay to Cupecoy and turn back into Marigot ar the end of the seafront part of the road.

Beware of the Causeway opening times, it does take a long time to open and close.

You may need this:

Simpson Bay Causeway Bridge:

8.15 hrs
9.45 hrs
10.15 hrs
11.45 hrs
15.15 hrs
15.45 hrs
17.15 hrs

The French bridge at Sandy Ground remains the same until otherwise mentioned:

8.15 hrs* (This is planned to change to 9.00 hrs)
14.30
17.30

I know there have been issues in the past, but i have gone that way many a times at night with no issues. Any one know the last time there was a car jacking?

A month or 2 ago a couple of tourists from Guadeloupe were robbed. They put up some resistance, were shot at and their car was stolen.

We used to go thru Cupecoy all the time. Now we would turn left at Cemeterie round a bout and the right onto President Kennedy and right again thru Lowtown back to union road then onto the causeway to the airport.

Thank you for mentioning the Cemetery.

Would it not be left at the roundabout? Right would lead you to Cupecoy.

Yup...as was suggested:

Sorry, you are right, great route that really avoids traffic.