The stop of an anachronistic project – Liberation

The decision is unprecedented. The Camouflet is total. The Toulouse Administrative Court made his « verdict » this Thursday On the famous 53 -kilometer motorway project to connect Toulouse to Castres, and it is clear and clear: it cancels the prefectural authorization given in 2023 to start the work. In other words: the bulldozers will have to return to the garage and the works of the A69, this is the name of this section, to interrupt.

The Administrative Court (TA) has agreed to environmental associations which dispute the merits of this equipment. And the words are hard. For the judges of the TA, no « Imperative reason for major public interest » does not justify the derogation granted, as is sometimes the case when damage to the environment is proven. The right to environment has therefore awarded the rest.

This is obviously still across the throat of those who have defended the project for years and years, namely the influential economic power of the area – Pierre Fabre laboratories – local political majorities and the state. The latter immediately announced to appeal to the TA decision. Is it reasonable? Wouldn't it be more judicious for the power to put an end to this fiasco which has only lasted too much? The file obviously recalls that of Nantes airport. Emmanuel Macron had the courage to cancel the project, before the work started. The fact that they are very committed to the A69 is not enough to bypass the law.

And beyond the law, is it not time for elected officials, especially on the left, to put into perspective the importance of gaining a few minutes of transport, to promote economic benefits far from obvious? Isn't it time to favor the modernization of existing infrastructure, rather than artificializing always and always more soils? Is it simply not time to recognize that this highway project is anachronistic? In any case, he suffers from too many flaws to be defended beak and nails.