Following the A69 highway and despite the intense controversies it sparked, the French government does not appear ready to change its regional development policy. Two new highway projects, equally contested, are now on the discussion table. One of them is even said to be in an advanced stage of development, suggesting the emergence of new conflicts between project promoters, the government, and environmental opponents.
What are these two new highway projects?
While precise details and final routes have yet to be officially confirmed, the projects discussed are part of the continuation of major infrastructure works aimed at opening up certain areas and easing heavy goods vehicle traffic. The prospect of these construction projects materializing immediately reignites the debate between the stated economic necessity and the ecological imperative.
A first project already well advanced
Available information indicates that one of the two projects has already passed several significant preparatory stages, placing it in a more concrete position than the second. This progress suggests a strong political will to see it through, despite anticipated obstacles.
Why are these projects controversial?
The reasons for controversy are numerous and echo the classic arguments in debates on land artificialization. Opponents point to the disastrous environmental impact: destruction of ecosystems, fragmentation of natural habitats, and increased greenhouse gas emissions. Added to this is the question of the real usefulness of these infrastructures at a time of global warming and the necessary ecological transition, which advocates instead for a shift towards less polluting modes of transport like rail.
A tense social and political context
The memory of significant mobilizations around projects like the A69, Notre-Dame-des-Landes, or Sivens creates a volatile social context. Distrust towards major development projects is high, and any new announcement is perceived by some as a provocation, promising new waves of protests and civil disobedience actions.
The central question therefore remains whether the state will succeed in imposing its vision of economic development or whether public pressure and environmental concerns will prevail over these two new highway projects.