"A sign stands against the A69 highway. Opponents of the plan..."

#12534631

6 July 2025

A sign stands against the A69 highway. Opponents of the planned A69 highway gather in Maurens-Scopont, Tarn department, France, on July 6, 2025, for a weekend of protests called 'Turboteuf' at the domain of the Maurens-Scopont castle. After protesters try to break into the work site to reach a bridge, riot police and protesters scuffle. Riot police use volleys of tear gas canisters. The decision of the Administrative Court of Appeal of Toulouse greenlights the resumption of leveling works on the A69 highway. The Administrative Court of Toulouse decides on February 27 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 say they want to bypass the decision of the Administrative Court of Toulouse. Atosca states all leveling works have begun and that more than 70% of highway structures are completed. However, the leveling works and highway structure do not match the numbers given by Atosca. Moreover, 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') wants the building of the highway to stop 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.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.