A69 Highway: Government Seeks Suspension of Ruling to Resume Construction Pending Appeal

The government has announced its intention to appeal the cancellation of the environmental permit for the A69 highway project, while requesting a stay of execution to allow work to resume. This decision follows a court ruling in late February that halted the project — a first for a highway of this scale in France.

A Project Halted Despite Significant Progress

Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot stated that the appeal would be filed in the coming days: “We are working on a brief to lodge the appeal and, above all, to request a stay of execution.” He warned of the severe economic impact of the stoppage: “3,000 to 4,000 people are indirectly affected, including subcontractors who had placed equipment orders and are now facing bankruptcy.”

The minister stressed that halting a project already two-thirds complete — with €300 million invested and two out of three major engineering structures built — would be “absurd.” He added that dismantling the existing infrastructure would result in massive financial losses and jeopardize future large-scale infrastructure projects.

An Economic and Political Turning Point

Philippe Tabarot reaffirmed the government’s determination to see the project through, arguing that it is essential to improve connectivity in the Tarn region and preserve the state’s credibility: “The state’s credibility is at stake. If this project is canceled, it will set a precedent nationwide, signaling the end of major infrastructure developments.”

Addressing the project’s opponents, the minister pointed out that they had filed multiple legal challenges: “They can’t accuse the state of appealing when they themselves have done so several times.” He also called for reforms to prevent future legal deadlocks, suggesting that a public utility declaration and an environmental permit should be better aligned to ensure greater project security.