French Court Declines to Suspend Autoroute A69 Construction
Toulouse Administrative Tribunal Rules Against Immediate Halt; Environmental Concerns Await Further Hearing
The Toulouse administrative tribunal has ruled not to suspend the construction works of the Autoroute A69, citing minimal immediate impact ahead of a substantive hearing scheduled for next month.
In a statement, the tribunal explained that since the court proceedings on the project's merits are expected soon, the current continuation of construction will produce little tangible effect in the interim.
The tribunal noted that the global environmental impacts of the construction project have already been accounted for.
It emphasized that even if an emergency suspension were to be granted, its effects would align closely with the scheduled substantive hearing in February.
This hearing will further examine the environmental authorizations that are currently under review.
During a recent court session on January 13, opponents of the A69, including the collective 'La Voie est libre' and other associations, sought an urgent suspension of the construction due to concerns about the environmental impact from the heavy works planned in the near term.
This legal action followed a reopening of the investigation into the environmental permits associated with the project, as ordered by the Toulouse tribunal on December 9.
The decision of the tribunal came as a surprise to the associations involved, who have been unsuccessfully contesting the 53-kilometer highway segment for several months.
They had renewed hope after a public rapporteur, whose recommendations are often influential, suggested annulling the construction authorization during a merit-based hearing on November 25. The anticipated substantive hearing is expected to occur before the end of February, as communicated by the tribunal to the opposing parties.
In a statement, the tribunal explained that since the court proceedings on the project's merits are expected soon, the current continuation of construction will produce little tangible effect in the interim.
The tribunal noted that the global environmental impacts of the construction project have already been accounted for.
It emphasized that even if an emergency suspension were to be granted, its effects would align closely with the scheduled substantive hearing in February.
This hearing will further examine the environmental authorizations that are currently under review.
During a recent court session on January 13, opponents of the A69, including the collective 'La Voie est libre' and other associations, sought an urgent suspension of the construction due to concerns about the environmental impact from the heavy works planned in the near term.
This legal action followed a reopening of the investigation into the environmental permits associated with the project, as ordered by the Toulouse tribunal on December 9.
The decision of the tribunal came as a surprise to the associations involved, who have been unsuccessfully contesting the 53-kilometer highway segment for several months.
They had renewed hope after a public rapporteur, whose recommendations are often influential, suggested annulling the construction authorization during a merit-based hearing on November 25. The anticipated substantive hearing is expected to occur before the end of February, as communicated by the tribunal to the opposing parties.
