A61: between Toulouse and Narbonne, these sometimes grotesque speed limits
The work to widen the A61 was indeed suspended during the summer period, but passing motorists may have been surprised by these sometimes incomprehensible speed limits, especially on the route between Lézignan and Narbonne. “They meet security obligations”, answers Vinci-Autoroute. And will only end when the construction is finished.
Finally ! A perfectly smooth and redone black ribbon, three lanes clearly delimited by dashing ground markings, a protected central reservation: the accelerator pedal wriggles with ease… but, disappointingly, the speed remains limited to 90 km/h… while, a few kilometers further, when the A61 only has two lanes in their juice, the speed drops to 130 km/h. On their journey between Toulouse and Narbonne, and in particular on the Lézignan-Narbonne section, motorists are confronted with very changing and sometimes grotesque speed limits. In appearance, however.
“These speed limits meet very specific safety requirements, established by the prefectural authority, respond Vinci-Autoroutes. Everything depends, in fact, on the safety equipment that has been placed around the structures for the duration of the As long as the construction site is not finished, they are kept in place, and the speed is therefore limited. The choice between 90 km/h and 110 km/h, instead of the 130 km/h, authorized when everything is finished, therefore depends on this state of completion”. Very strict rules, fixed by prefectural decree, from which Vinci cannot derogate. Drivers are therefore reduced to chomping at the bit.
Additional work in progress
On the other hand, since the beginning of the week, and until Thursday, September 8, Vinci has carried out additional work on the sections which have not yet been completed, in Aude as in Haute-Garonne. This work – installation of gantries, re-marking on the ground, relocation of work areas, work on interchanges – took place on the two sections under construction in the sector of Villefranche (14 km in Haute Garonne) and Lézignan (10 km in Aude). They were accompanied by the establishment of diversions. “These are secondary works, Vinci-Autoroute, which do not concern the resumption of the main site, for which calls for tenders are in progress, and which must resume at the beginning of next year”.
A delay due to the withdrawal from the construction site of the company Spie Batignolles, last spring, for reasons which have not been disclosed.
The state of the site
Here is the current status of the construction site.
A first section of 10 km, belonging to the East section, in Aude, was completed in the summer of 2022. This is the section between Bizanet and Lézignan. The remaining 10 km, still on this eastern part, will be completed in the summer of 2023. This is the section between Bizanet and the A9/A61 junction, almost at Narbonne.
For the section of Villefranche, located in Haute-Garonne, Vinci envisaged an end of work this summer. This 14 km section will therefore be completed in the summer of 2023 as well, with work resuming at the beginning of next year. We will still have to be patient, on this very produced axis.