"An opponent of the A69 highway holds a placard against the A..."

#13085491

11 December 2025

An opponent of the A69 highway holds a placard against the A69 highway in front of the Administrative Court of Appeal of Toulouse. A final hearing on the legality of the environmental authorizations for the planned A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres takes place in the Administrative Court of Appeal of Toulouse. Plaintiffs against the A69 ask the court to nullify all environmental authorizations given for the A69 project. Opponents gather in front of the Administrative Court of Appeal during the hearings. They argue that this highway is not legally sound, that NGE/Atosca (builders) do not respect even their own documents about ecological compensations, violence against opponents, non-compliance with regulations, etc. NGE/Atosca and the Minister of Ecology plead that this highway is 'necessary by nature' and that the first decision of the Administrative Court to scrap the authorizations is an 'anomaly'. The verdict will be given on December 30, 2025. The main association 'La Voie est Libre' (i.e., 'The Way is Free') wants the construction of the highway to be stopped until all judicial 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. This takes place in Toulouse, France, on December 11, 2025.

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#13035679

28 November 2025

An opponent of the planned A69 highway holds a placard reading 'to fight is good for health' in front of the Administrative Court of Appeal of Toulouse after the hearings. A rare hearing takes place in the Administrative Court of Appeal of Toulouse, where plaintiffs against the A69 are joined by the SAF (Union of French Lawyers) to request the recusal of two judges who participated in a ruling that reauthorized the continuation of work on the planned A69 highway. Plaintiffs have already asked these judges to recuse themselves, but they refused. Plaintiffs go to the Administrative Court of Appeal, stating that these judges must be recused to protect the confidence of French citizens in the administrative courts and the entire judicial system. Lawyers also argue for the impartiality of the justice system. More than a dozen lawyers are present, as this is a very rare case in the French justice system. According to custom, if a judge has already judged a case, he recuses himself if the same case goes to court again. The main association, 'La Voie est Libre' (i.e., 'The Way is Free'), wants the construction of the highway to be stopped until all judicial decisions on the matter are made. 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 in Toulouse, France, on November 28, 2025.

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#12420531

28 May 2025

A woman holds a placard reading 'A69 Stop! protest against the highway'. In Toulouse, France, on May 28, 2025, opponents of the planned A69 highway gather after the decision of the Administrative Court of Appeal of Toulouse, which 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 allow the works to 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, 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') and opponents want the building of the highway to be stopped until all judicial decisions on the content are given. 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 costs EUR512 million (in 2018 euros without inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural fields will be destroyed.

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#12392680

21 May 2025

An opponent holds a placard reading 'The state imposes the A69 despite Justice' after hearings at the Administrative Court of Appeal of Toulouse following 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 allow the works to 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, stating 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 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' (meaning 'The Way is Free') and opponents want the building of the highway to be stopped until all judicial decisions on the content are given. 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 in Toulouse, France, on May 21, 2025.

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#11809903

25 November 2024

A man holds a placard reading 'A69 in the fire, Donald Trump and Elon Musk in the middle'. People gather in Toulouse, France, on November 25, 2024, as plaintiffs, including LVEL, Attac, Amis de la Terre, and D'Ingrando, go on an 'administrative' trial against the French State, along with the builder NGE and its concessionary Atosca, regarding the planned highway A69. Alice Terrasse, the main lawyer for 'La Voie Est Libre' (opponents), pleads that the main reason for building this highway, a 'Major Imperative for public interest', is invalid. The main association 'La Voie est Libre' (meaning 'The Way is Free'), which opposes the project, wants the construction of the highway to be stopped until all judicial decisions are made. Opponents of the project argue that reprofiling the N126 will suffice for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway is projected to 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.

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#9610100

18 February 2023

An activist holds a placard reading 'No to the A69'. The collectives 'La Voie Est Libre' (ie 'The Way Is Free') and XR Toulouse (Extinction Rebellion Toulouse) organized in Lavaur (Tarn) near Toulouse an action/occupation of one of the headquarters of the pharmacy group 'Pierre Fabre to denounce the decried future highway Toulouse-Castres, the A69. Pierre Fabre, the founder of the group successfully lobbied politicians to built a highway between Toulouse and Castres (Tarn) to 'open' Castres 40 years ago. They entered the headquarters to put banners, make a false highway on the gardens and burn smoke. This highway would cost (at date) EUR512millions for 54 kilometers, half of the money will be public and some portions of the N126 which are free today will be charged when the highway will be built. Opponents at this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be suffisant for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. More than 100 protected species, 80 homes and 400ha of agricultural field would be destroyed if the A69 highway is built. Lavaur. Tarn. France. February 18th 2023.

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#9610106

18 February 2023

A man holds a placard reading 'After the corner Death'. The collectives 'La Voie Est Libre' (ie 'The Way Is Free') and XR Toulouse (Extinction Rebellion Toulouse) organized in Lavaur (Tarn) near Toulouse an action/occupation of one of the headquarters of the pharmacy group 'Pierre Fabre to denounce the decried future highway Toulouse-Castres, the A69. Pierre Fabre, the founder of the group successfully lobbied politicians to built a highway between Toulouse and Castres (Tarn) to 'open' Castres 40 years ago. They entered the headquarters to put banners, make a false highway on the gardens and burn smoke. This highway would cost (at date) EUR512millions for 54 kilometers, half of the money will be public and some portions of the N126 which are free today will be charged when the highway will be built. Opponents at this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be suffisant for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. More than 100 protected species, 80 homes and 400ha of agricultural field would be destroyed if the A69 highway is built. Lavaur. Tarn. France. February 18th 2023.

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#9610094

18 February 2023

A woman holds a placard reading '400ha will be destroyed'. The collectives 'La Voie Est Libre' (ie 'The Way Is Free') and XR Toulouse (Extinction Rebellion Toulouse) organized in Lavaur (Tarn) near Toulouse an action/occupation of one of the headquarters of the pharmacy group 'Pierre Fabre to denounce the decried future highway Toulouse-Castres, the A69. Pierre Fabre, the founder of the group successfully lobbied politicians to built a highway between Toulouse and Castres (Tarn) to 'open' Castres 40 years ago. They entered the headquarters to put banners, make a false highway on the gardens and burn smoke. This highway would cost (at date) EUR512millions for 54 kilometers, half of the money will be public and some portions of the N126 which are free today will be charged when the highway will be built. Opponents at this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be suffisant for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. More than 100 protected species, 80 homes and 400ha of agricultural field would be destroyed if the A69 highway is built. Lavaur. Tarn. France. February 18th 2023.

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#9562802

8 February 2023

An opponent dressed as a bat is taking a selfie in front of the sign 'NGE' in Toulouse, France, on February 8th, 2023. La Voie Est Libre, the farmers organization Confederation Paysanne 81, and XR Toulouse (Extinction Rebellion Toulouse) have organized an action to denounce works on the decried future highway Toulouse-Castres, the A69. They are disguised as giant bats and have entered the parking of the headoffice of NGE-Atosca in Toulouse to play bats hunting NGE workers. NGE-Atosca has closed holes in old trees on the planned route of the highway, blocking bats and birds from occupying the holes, even though the environmental studies are not complete and they do not have the right to do so. Opponents are claiming that the NGE group (poised to build this highway) does not have all the environmental authorizations to begin the works. This highway is estimated to cost EUR512millions for 54 kilometers, with half of the money being public. Opponents of this project argue that the reprofiling of the N126 would be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. More than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural field would be destroyed if the A69 highway is built.

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#9562824

8 February 2023

An activist is holding a placard reading 'Alert' in front of the head office of NGE-ATOSCA in Toulouse, France, on February 8th, 2023. The collectives 'La Voie Est Libre', the farmers organization Confederation Paysanne 81 and XR Toulouse (Extinction Rebellion Toulouse) are organizing an action in Toulouse to denounce works on the decried future highway Toulouse-Castres, the A69. They are disguised as giant bats and entering the parking of the headoffice of NGE-Atosca in Toulouse to play bats hunting NGE workers. The concessionaire NGE-ATOSCA is closing holes in old trees on the planned route of the highway, blocking bats and birds from occupying the holes. As the environmental studies aren't complete, NGE-Atosca doesn't have the right to close the holes in old trees. Opponents are acting as the NGE group (poised to build this highway) doesn't have all the environmental authorizations to begin the works. This highway would cost (at date) EUR512millions for 54 kilometers, half of the money being public. Opponents of this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 would be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. More than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural field would be destroyed if the A69 highway is built.

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#9562780

8 February 2023

An activist dressed as a giant bat is holding a placard reading 'To preserve us from mosquitoes, let's save the bats'. On February 8th, 2023, the collectives 'La Voie Est Libre', the farmers organization Confederation Paysanne 81 and XR Toulouse (Extinction Rebellion Toulouse) organized an action in Toulouse, France, to denounce works on the decried future highway Toulouse-Castres, the A69. They were disguised as giant bats and entered the parking of the headoffice of NGE-Atosca in Toulouse to play bats hunting NGE workers. The concessionaire NGE-ATOSCA had closed holes in old trees on the planned route of the highway, blocking bats and birds from occupying the holes. As the environmental studies aren't complete, NGE-Atosca doesn't have the right to close the holes in old trees. Opponents are acting as if the NGE group (poised to build this highway) doesn't have all the environmental authorizations to begin the works. This highway would cost (at date) EUR512millions for 54 kilometers, half of the money being public. Opponents of this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 would be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. More than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural field would be destroyed if the A69 highway is built.

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#9562816

8 February 2023

An activist dressed as a bat is posing for a picture in front of the head office of NGE-ATOSCA in Toulouse, France, on February 8th, 2023. The collectives 'La Voie Est Libre', the farmers organization Confederation Paysanne 81 and XR Toulouse (Extinction Rebellion Toulouse) are organizing an action in Toulouse to denounce works on the decried future highway Toulouse-Castres, the A69. They are disguised as giant bats and are entering the parking of the headoffice of NGE-Atosca in Toulouse to play bats hunting NGE workers. The concessionaire NGE-ATOSCA is closing holes in old trees on the planned route of the highway, blocking bats and birds from occupying the holes. As the environmental studies aren't complete, NGE-Atosca doesn't have the right to close the holes in old trees. Opponents are acting as the NGE group (poised to build this highway) doesn't have all the environmental authorizations to begin the works. This highway would cost (at date) EUR512millions for 54 kilometers, half of the money being public. Opponents of this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 would be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. More than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural field would be destroyed if the A69 highway is built.

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#9562796

8 February 2023

Opponents are singing in front of a banner reading 'Revenge of the Bats. A29 Renouncement. N126 Adjustment' as La Voie Est Libre, the farmers organization Confederation Paysanne 81, and XR Toulouse (Extinction Rebellion Toulouse) are organizing an action in Toulouse to denounce works on the decried future highway Toulouse-Castres, the A69. They are disguised as giant bats and are entering the parking of the head office of NGE-Atosca in Toulouse to play bats hunting NGE workers. NGE-Atosca is closing holes in old trees on the planned route of the highway, blocking bats and birds from occupying the holes, even though the environmental studies are not complete and they do not have the right to do so. Opponents are claiming that the NGE group, poised to build this highway, does not have all the environmental authorizations to begin the works. This highway is estimated to cost EUR512 million for 54 kilometers, with half of the money being public. Opponents are saying that the reprofiling of the N126 would be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. More than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural fields would be destroyed if the A69 highway is built. Toulouse, France, on February 8th, 2023.

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#9562784

8 February 2023

Opponents are putting up a giant banner in front of the entrance of the head office of NGE-ATOSCA in Toulouse. It reads 'Revenge of the bats. A69 renouncement. N126 adjustement'. The collectives 'La Voie Est Libre', the farmers organization Confederation Paysanne 81 and XR Toulouse (Extinction Rebellion Toulouse) are organizing an action in Toulouse to denounce works on the decried future highway Toulouse-Castres, the A69. They are disguising themselves as giant bats and entering the parking of the headoffice of NGE-Atosca in Toulouse to play bats hunting NGE workers. The concessionaire NGE-ATOSCA is closing holes in old trees on the planned route of the highway, blocking bats and birds from occupying the holes. As the environmental studies aren't complete, NGE-Atosca doesn't have the right to close the holes in old trees. Opponents are acting as the NGE group (poised to build this highway) doesn't have all the environmental authorizations to begin the works. This highway would cost (at date) EUR512millions for 54 kilometers, half of the money being public. Opponents of this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 would be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. More than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural field would be destroyed if the A69 highway is built. Toulouse, France, on February 8th 2023.

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#9562806

8 February 2023

Opponents are putting up a banner reading 'Revenge of the bats. A69 renoucement. N126 adjustment' in front of the head office of NGE-ATOSCA in Toulouse, France, on February 8th 2023. Collectives 'La Voie Est Libre', the farmers organization Confederation Paysanne 81 and XR Toulouse (Extinction Rebellion Toulouse) are organizing an action to denounce works on the decried future highway Toulouse-Castres, the A69. They are disguising themselves as giant bats and entering the parking of the headoffice of NGE-Atosca in Toulouse to play bats hunting NGE workers. NGE-ATOSCA is closing holes in old trees on the planned route of the highway, blocking bats and birds from occupying the holes, even though the environmental studies are not complete and they do not have the right to do so. Opponents are claiming that the reprofiling of the N126 would be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. If the A69 highway is built, more than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural field would be destroyed, at a cost of EUR512millions for 54 kilometers, with half of the money being public.

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#9562790

8 February 2023

Opponents are wrapping a false NGE-ATOSCA worker in a textile in front of the head office of NGE-ATOSCA in Toulouse, France, on February 8th, 2023. Collectives 'La Voie Est Libre', the farmers organization Confederation Paysanne 81 and XR Toulouse (Extinction Rebellion Toulouse) are organizing an action to denounce works on the decried future highway Toulouse-Castres, the A69. They are disguised as giant bats and have entered the parking of the headoffice of NGE-Atosca to play bats hunting NGE workers. NGE-ATOSCA is closing holes in old trees on the planned route of the highway, blocking bats and birds from occupying the holes, even though the environmental studies are not complete and they do not have the right to do so. Opponents are acting as if the NGE group (poised to build this highway) has all the environmental authorizations to begin the works. This highway is estimated to cost EUR512millions for 54 kilometers, with half of the money being public. Opponents of this project are saying that the reprofiling of the N126 will be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. More than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural field would be destroyed if the A69 highway is built.

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