Editorial photo #12372261 Environmental Issue
The Planned Highway A69 Work Sites After Its Stoppage By Judges Two Months Ago
A view of the A69 construction site in Saoual, Tarn, France, on May 15, 2025, where Atsoca, the concessionaire, tries to replant a rare and protected clover outside its habitat. After the Administrative Court of Toulouse decides to suspend all works on the A69 highway project between Toulouse and Castres, NGE/Atosca files an appeal against this decision and asks the Court to allow the works to continue during the appeal process. Two senators and two MPs from the Tarn department propose a retroactive law to authorize the building of the A69, stating they want to bypass the decision of the Administrative Court of Toulouse. Atosca claims all leveling works have begun and that more than 70% of highway structures are completed. However, the leveling works and highway structures do not match the numbers given by Atosca. Additionally, several problems plague the work, such as water evacuation and protection of species. The main association, 'La Voie est Libre' (i.e., 'The Way is Free'), opposes the project and wants the building of the highway to be stopped until all judicial decisions are made. All expropriations for farmers are not cleared. 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)
