Toulouse: the puzzle of the Grande rue Saint-Michel now one-way
Kick-off of the experimentation phase of the Grande rue Saint-Michel this Monday, March 7. In order to calm traffic in the district, motorists could only drive one way between Place Lafourcade and Rue du Gorp.
It is an upheaval that does not leave motorists indifferent. This Monday, April 7 begins the experimental phase of the one-way Grande rue Saint-Michel. Between Place Lafourcade and Saint-Michel prison, only drivers coming from the south of Toulouse to the city center can now use this portion. This achievement constitutes a first phase of development of the REV1 (express bike network), before a more structuring intervention within the framework of the renovation of the Heart of the Saint-Michel district.
While buses and bicycles can still use the freed lane, several motorists were taken by surprise this morning. Evidenced by the many police vehicles posted along the way, and the honking that continues to remember. “It hasn’t been stopped since this morning! It’s a mess!” lets go of Patrick, whose pharmacy litters the Grande rue Saint-Michel. “To get out by car, we are made to make endless loops! It is still a penal way to deify motorists in the city. But in terms of solutions, we bring nothing, and we continue to create traffic jams”, continues the pharmacist .
“An upheaval like this takes time”
“We are only on the first day of the experiment, we must give users time to adapt”, reassures Jonnhy Dunal, the mayor of Saint-Michel. “An upheaval like this takes time, especially to install the new signs and markings on the ground. We see it on rue Beethoven, whose direction of traffic is now reversed. ‘ to be destabilized”, explains the city councilor, who recalls that this experiment “is not a permanent installation”, and should succeed, if the results are positive, by 2023. A budget of 8 million euros is planned for this new development of the Grande rue Saint-Michel.