Strasbourg bypass surveys halted over environmental concerns

Further delays are looming for construction of the western Strasbourg bypass, a controversial toll motorway project in north eastern France. The government is concerned about environmental issues after Arcos, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Vinci responsible for building the bypass, said it was going to carry out field surveys in 1.5 hectares of what many consider environmentally sensitive areas.
September 27, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Further delays are looming for construction of the western Strasbourg bypass, a controversial toll motorway project in north eastern France.


The government is concerned about environmental issues after Arcos, the wholly-owned subsidiary of 5177 Vinci responsible for building the bypass, said it was going to carry out field surveys in 1.5 hectares of what many consider environmentally sensitive areas.

The project, which Arcos estimates at €553 million, is likely headed for a public inquiry towards the end of the year, according to media reports, with a construction start sometime in 2018.

In late 2015, French construction group Vinci’s consortium was named preferred bidder for the project. The win for Vinci came two years after winning the same contract, but which was cancelled over a lack of secure financing.

The 24km project is officially the tolled A355 Grand Contournement Ouest, a public-private partnership deal.

World Highways reported in March 2012 that the project was expected to cost up to €756 million, compared with the original estimate of €400 million quoted during the call to tender in 2009.

Construction was to have started in 2013 for opening by early 2017 at the latest.

Connected Construction

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Vinci Highways takes over TollPlus
    April 8, 2022
    The French group picked up the remaining 70% of US-based tolling software provider TollPlus.
    Read More
  • Stantec: coming to an infrastructure site near you
    April 13, 2017
    Acquisitive Canadian firm Stantec is snapping up more transportation expertise as it moves out of its home North American market. David Arminas reports. Last December, politicians from the US states of Kentucky and Indiana celebrated the opening of the second of two major bridges. A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place in cold wintry weather on the new 762m-long cable-stayed Lewis and Clark Bridge. The event marked the finish of the prestigious three-and-half-year Ohio River Bridges Project.
    Read More
  • Montreal’s new Champlain Bridge is shaping up for Christmas
    September 10, 2018
    Montreal’s Champlain Bridges - one going up, one coming down, reports David Arminas The importance of the new Champlain Bridge to Montreal and Canada can’t be overstated, given the crumbling nature of the not-so-old original Champlain Bridge. The original steel truss affair across the St Lawrence River and the adjacent St Lawrence Seaway canal is “a lifeline for residents and businesses” in greater Montréal, according to the national Auditor General - the public sector spending watchdog. “It accommodates
    Read More
  • Key French highway upgrade deal for consortium
    March 5, 2012
    The French Government has agreed a highway contract with consortium Atlandes for a section of the A63 autoroute in southwest France.
    Read More

Highlighted Content