the Rouen motorway bypass, a project that goes against the climate emergency
Posted on July 26, 2022
While road traffic is one of the main emitters of greenhouse gases, the construction of new infrastructure in the territory questioned. In Rouen, the eastern bypass of the metropolis via two toll motorways is arousing strong opposition, due to its very strong impact on the climate and the environment. Throughout the week, Novethic offers you a tour of France of the most climaticidal projects, based on the study “Local project, global impact” published last May by the firm BL Évolution and the association Terres de Lutte*.
It’s a sea serpent, over fifty years old. The eastern Rouen bypass project via a 41.5 km toll motorway linking the A28 to the A13 and the A154, and divided into two branches called the A133 and A134, did not pass. On the road side, it is ensured that the quality of life of the inhabitants will be improved while Rouen is the only French metropolis of this size without bypass. On the other hand, the opponents denounce a project of economic interest and not of general interest.
“This project will relieve congestion in the metropolis of Rouen and improve the quality of life of its inhabitants, who will spend less time in traffic jams“, declared at the end of last year Jean Castex in Paris-Normandy. The former Prime Minister then gave the green light to the project, the work of which was to begin between 2027 and 2028, for commissioning in 2030-2031. Public subsidies are expected to cover more than half of the cost, at around one billion euros, including 200 million euros from the Seine-Maritime region.
“We refuse a modal report for short journeys”
“The inhabitants of the territory will not be affected by this paying bypass. It will benefit more transit traffic, those who only cross the metropolis. We are instead proposing a modal ratio of goods to freight and the river. In addition, in Rouen, 500,000 daily journeys made by car are less than 5 kilometres. Here again, we will indicate a modal ratio towards cycling or public transport. These are measures that could really decongest the metropolis“, argument Guillaume Grimat, from the collective “No to the A133-134”.
Today, it’s not just the steps #Look for
ACTION IN PROGRESS ON #ROUEN
NO to the East Rouen “pseudo-bypass” project
Citizens, collectives & associations oppose the A133-A134 motorway project, a climaticide project, a project from another time… pic.twitter.com/H0N9eBCZSZ
— Extinction Rebellion Rouen (@XR_Rouen) March 12, 2022
If all civil remedies have now been purged, in vain, the collective “No to the A133-134” does not intend to lower its arms. “We are preparing criminal proceedings for damage to health due to the pollution that this new motorway infrastructure will cause. We can also attack communities and the State for climate irresponsibility. We will also closely scrutinize the contracts made with the future dealer”, details Guillaume Grimat.
The transport sector is the only one experiencing an increase in emissions
According the study “Local project, global impact” published last May by the firm BL Evolution and the association Terres de Lutte*, which is studying 65 projects, this motorway project would be one of the most impactful currently carried out in France, in terms of emissions of greenhouse gases with one million tonnes of CO2 emitted over 30 years and 500 artificial hectares. Road transport accounts for 93% of transport emissions and emissions from the sector have increased by 9% between 1990 and 2019. It is the only sector where emissions have increased over this period. Road networks represented 16% of new artificial surfaces between 2006 and 2014, i.e. 78,000 hectares.
“Motorway projects have a significant impact in terms of soil artificialisation and greenhouse gas emissions. The projects are counting on an increase in the number of vehicles, which is aligned with the vision set out in the SNBC but question with respect to the sector’s necessary reduction trajectory Even for projects whose objective is a traffic report, the reduction in projected greenhouse gas emissions does not offset the emissions induced by the construction of infrastructure“, note the authors.
Concepcion Alvarez @conce1
*Find here the entire study “Local project, global impact” published in May 2022 by the firm BL Evolution and the association Terres de Lutte.