Construction site of rue de Metz in Toulouse: traders attentive to access to the city center
If he does not question the pedestrianization of rue de Metz, the construction of which begins on Monday, the president of the association of traders on rue Croix-Baragon, Laurent Lopez, wants the city center to remain accessible for the inhabitants. of the Toulouse crown.
“A good for a bad. While this Monday, January 16, begins a two-year project to pedestrianize rue de Metz and rue Croix-Baragnon and Boulbonne, the president of the association of traders on rue Croix-Baragnon and elected to the CCI, Laurent Lopez , while reflecting some concern for the duration of the work, does not go back on the merits of the project.
“The beautification of the city, I am totally for”, says this representative of the traders. After the rue Alsace, the places Victor-Hugo and Saint-Sernin, pedestrianization but also cycle paths and greening will gain ground in Toulouse thanks to several redevelopment projects, such as the main street Saint-Michel, the rue of the Republic, rue Valade, the Saint-Pierre bridge…
Saturated car parks
What the president of this association of traders is pointing to is much more access to the city in general. The fourth city of France held well beyond Toulouse. Albi, Rodez, Montauban but also Montpellier, Perpignan… advances Laurent Lopez who does not forget the outskirts of the Pink City. And for all these potential customers, sufficiently large car parks are needed at metro terminals. This is not the case with car parks that are often saturated, as in Ramonville for example. Only the Basso Cambo terminus has just been equipped with a parking silo by Tisséo.
“It is important not to make a city center just for people from the city center”, emphasizes Laurent Lopez. Traders cannot be satisfied with intramurals. “The president of the association is all the more attentive to this problem as” the Covid pandemic has changed habits “.
On the eve of the winter sales which begin this Wednesday, January 11, the trader remains optimistic. “Yes, since the Covid, it has restarted” and this despite the ambient gloom. However, traders must face another deadline. “We are lucky to have been helped. But it’s a help, not a gift. And it will be necessary to repay the Loans guaranteed by the State. »