Controversial new French motorway: Decision delayed on work suspension
The A69 between Toulouse and Castres has long been the subject of several court cases and protests
Proponents say the new motorway would improve links between Toulouse and Castres, but critics say it is environmentally damaging
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A court in Toulouse (Occitanie) has delayed its decision on whether to stop work on the A69 motorway between Toulouse and Castres, which environmental campaigners say is a “devastating” project.
A decision on the future of the motorway was initially expected to come on December 9 after the public rapporteur at the Toulouse Administrative Court ruled in favour of cancelling the authorisations for the project on November 25.
However, the court instead chose to defer its ruling a future hearing in "the coming months".
The 53km motorway project has been fiercely opposed by environmentalists and locals for years, with protests intensifying in recent months.
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€300m already spent
Motorway constructor and future manager Atosca said that the work already undertaken has cost €300 million - out of a total budget of €450 million. It also said that the motorway is due to come into service by the end of 2025.
This last claim is disputed by opposition group La Voie est libre who say that the work is well behind schedule and will not be ready to come into operation until summer 2026 at the earliest.
Former chairman of the parliamentary commission the project, MP Jean Terlier, said that “some people were still misunderstanding” that the work could be halted at this late stage. He also added that “it would be disastrous for the south” if the work was halted.
He said that he was “fairly confident“ that the court would allow the work.
Claims disputed
In contrast, Christine Arrighi, an ecologist MP and former rapporteur for the commission of enquiry into the A69 which was chaired by Mr Terlier opposes the project.
She also said she was “fairly confident” that the court would halt the work.
Current rapporteur Ms Rousseau said she disagreed with the claim that the south of the Tarn would be “truly isolated” if the A69 work did not go ahead, and said that the new road would save only 20 minutes drive time between Toulouse and Castres, while still “deteriorating” the state of the existing free route.
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Appeal likely
If the court does ultimately decide to halt the work, the state could still appeal. It could also request that the work be allowed to continue during the appeal process.
The court could also decide on a ‘third way’: a partial following of the public rapporteur's opinion. This could include asking the state to modify part of the project rather than halting it entirely.
If the court rejects the request to suspend the work the project will continue until any appeal hearing opponents requested.
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Environmentalist opponents of the project say that it will lead (and has already led to) the destruction of wetlands, farmland, trees, ecosystems and water tables.
They also say that the road is not necessary, as the current driving routes are sufficient to link the two cities.
