French authorities confirm US$1 billion road concession
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The President of Normandy, a region in the north-east of France, has alleged that the national government's Minister of Transport has confirmed that a contested bypass planned to the east of Rouen, capital of the region, will be developed through a concession.
In planning for forty years, the 36km bypass would link the A28 and A13 / A154. The concession would also include a 5.5km connector-road that would link the bypass to suburbs on the left bank of the Seine in the commune of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray. This would allow direct access to port facilities.
The estimated construction cost is EUR886 million (US$1.035 billion). Local authorities have pledged to contribute EUR245 million (US$286.2 million). The project is also expected to receive a considerable amount of federal funding, with the concessionaire to assume responsibility for raising only EUR400 million (US$467.3 million).
Though the Ministry of Transport has not commented publicly on the decision to advance the project, it is thought that the road concession will be registered in the draft budget for 2019, with a view to commissioning the bypass between 2022 and 2024.
This schedule corresponds with the recommendations made by the Infrastructure Advisory Board (Conseil d’orientation des infrastructures (COI)) at the beginning of the year. Earlier this month the Ministry of Transport confirmed that it planned to execute projects proposed by the COI according to the Board's schedule.
However, the Ministry's intentions do not guarantee the development of the project. The Council of State is currently reviewing two appeals against the bypass. One was lodged by a community organisation, "No to A133-A134", while the other was filed by the communes of Oissel and Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, indicating both popular and political opposition.
The claimants' main grievances are the negative impacts of the bypass on the environment and the local population.
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