A72 autoroute

A72 autoroute shield
A72 autoroute
Route information
Part of E72
Length242 km (150 mi)
Major junctions
FromBordeaux
ToToulouse
Location
CountryFrance
Highway system
  • Roads in France
The A72 Eastbound in the steep section of the motorway.

The A72 is an autoroute (motorway) in France. It is 55 kilometres (34 mi) long.

The motorway is operated by Autoroutes du Sud de la France (ASF) and links Balbigny to Saint-Étienne on one of the steepest and meandrous motorways in France. Over 35 km (22 mi) of the motorway is limited to 110 km/h (70 mph) as sections are considered too dangerous for the standard 130 km/h (80 mph) speed limit.

The motorway has 2 lanes both directions with 3 lane sections near Saint-Étienne.

The road is also numbered the European route E70. In 2006, the section between Clermont-Ferrand and the A89 spur became part of the A89.