Editorial photo #11872296 Social Issue
Protest Against A Non-decision Of The Administrative Court On The A69 Highway In Toulouse
People stand in front of the Administrative Court while others speak. Between 100 and 1500 people gather in Toulouse, France, on December 15, 2024, against a non-administrative court ruling of the Administrative Court against the environmental authorization to build the A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres. The judge decides to reopen the files instead of giving the court decision. Plaintiffs (LVEL, Attac, Amis de la Terre, D'Ingrando, etc.) against the planned highway A69 go on 'administrative' trial against the French State along with the builder, NGE, and its concessionary Atosca. Alice Terrasse, the main lawyer for 'La Voie Est Libre' (opponents), pleads, among other things, that the main reason for building this highway, a 'Major Imperative for public interest,' is invalid. The main association 'La Voie est Libre' (i.e., 'The Way is Free'), opponents want the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content are given. Opponents of this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros without inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural fields will be destroyed. (Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto)
