A pointless stretch of road offering negligible time savings. In this joint statement, 25 organisations point out that the Environmental Authority has highlighted “a stark contradiction between the colossal cost of the A31bis project – nearly €2bn – and the actual benefits for users”. According to them, the promised time savings could be reduced to “just 3 or 5 minutes after a few years of operation”, due to the infrastructure gradually becoming saturated. Opponents also believe that the project “will prevent the introduction of a third lane for public transport and car-sharing”, whilst the A31 is set to be upgraded to a 2x3-lane carriageway between Nancy and Luxembourg.
The statement goes into great detail about the environmental and health implications of the project. The organisations cite “the conversion of natural and agricultural land”, “increased greenhouse gas emissions”, as well as “long-term noise and air pollution” near schools and residential areas. They also condemn “massive construction works” that would cause several years of disruption for local residents.
The toll: an ‘unacceptable racket’
The Bétange estate appears to be one of the focal points of the protest. The signatories point out that this listed site, comprising the park, the château and the Allée des Marronniers, constitutes ‘the only historic monument affected by the project’. They also highlight the ecological significance of the estate, which is said to be home to ‘88% of the bird species and 68% of the bat species recorded along the A31 bis project route’.
Another point of contention is the proposed toll. The associations have condemned it as “an unacceptable extortion scheme and a social divide”, arguing that cross-border workers could face costs of up to “€2,000 a year just to get to work in Luxembourg”. They also fear a massive shift in traffic onto the already congested, toll-free local roads. The text also quotes the Environmental Authority, which states that “the socio-economic benefit is significant only for the public authorities and the concessionaire”, whilst “the socio-economic balance sheet with a toll is virtually zero for light vehicle users”.
The signatory organisations also consider the project to be ‘out of step with the times’ in light of climate targets and policies promoting land use efficiency. They believe that the analysis of alternative solutions remains inadequate, particularly with regard to optimising the existing A31 motorway and promoting a shift towards public transport.
Companies facing uncertainty
The statement also highlights the economic impact of the project on the Sainte-Agathe area in Florange. The organisations claim that around twenty businesses have been facing uncertainty regarding their development plans for several years now, and they criticise the proposed relocation to a new business park on the edge of the Bétange estate, which they argue will lead to further conversion of agricultural land into built-up areas.
The signatories are calling for the abandonment of the Thionville western bypass and the associated business park project. In particular, they are calling for the A31 to be upgraded to a dual three-lane carriageway with a car-sharing lane between Thionville and the Luxembourg border, ‘as a continuation of the Luxembourg A3’, as well as for a study into a ‘modular barrier’ or a tunnel to cross Thionville.
Finally, the campaign groups have criticised the terms of the public inquiry, arguing that the 5,500-page dossier will only be made available once the inquiry opens, which is scheduled to run from 11 May to 27 June. In their view, a six-week timeframe does not allow the public sufficient time to properly familiarise themselves with the dossier, which “undermines the process”. The organisations also warn that, as things stand, the project “has not gained public support in any way” and could be subject to legal challenges before the administrative courts.
