Editorial photo #12372263 Environmental Issue
The Planned Highway A69 Work Sites After Its Stoppage By Judges Two Months Ago
The A69 construction site near Verfeil, Haute-Garonne, where the 'Verger' stand stands before being cleared by police in September 2024. After the decision of the Administrative Court of Toulouse to suspend all works on the A69 project highway between Toulouse and Castres, NGE/Atosca files an appeal against this decision and asks the Court to let the works continue during the time the appeal is judged. Two senators and two MPs from the Tarn department propose a retroactive law to authorize the building of the A69. They state 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'), opponents want the building of the highway to stop until all the justice decisions on the content are given. All expropriations for farmers are not cleared. Opponents of this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 is sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway costs EUR512 million (in 2018 euros without inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural fields face destruction. In Toulouse, France, on May 15, 2025. (Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto)
