A new important step in the fight against floods reached in Nîmes with the baptism of the tunnel boring machine

The tunnel boring machine, 110 m long and weighing 380 tonnes, was named “Claude-Jordane”. Midi Libre – Y.B.

The different partners and actors who help fight against flooding. Midi Libre – Y.B.

Le tunnelier, placé sous la protection de Sainte-Barbe, a été baptisé. Midi Libre – Y. B.

Dans le cadre du Papi III, un tunnelier est utilisé pour l’aménagement du cadereau d’Uzès en zone urbaine dense pour un coût d’un peu plus de 53 M€.

Placed under the protection of Sainte-Barbe and with as godmothers the Nîmes elected official Claude de Girardi and the project manager at the Agglo Jordane Lafaye, the tunnel boring machine, as part of the development of the Cadereau d’Uzès in a dense urban area, was baptized this Monday, July 8 in the morning near rue Sémard. The most spectacular and impressive part, of the Papi III (Flood Prevention Action Program) Vistre which required nearly 54 M€ and constitutes the second largest operation in France.

Le tunnelier du Cadereau d’Uzes utilisé dans la lutte contre les inondations a #Nîmes a été baptisé Claude-Jordane. pic.twitter.com/0YMJaA2y2r

— Midi Libre (@Midilibre) July 8, 2024

A project financed 50 % by the State, 30 % by Nîmes Métropole, 10 % by the Department of Gard and 10  % by the Occitanie Region. Project management falls to the Agglo for the part which concerns its territory and to the EPTB Vistre for the rest of the territory covered by Papi III, the largest in France, excluding Ile-de -France.

End of work in 2028

The representatives of the financiers of this operation which will protect several tens of thousands of inhabitants and property by 2028 were able to observe, on the site of the work, the imposing measurements of the tunnel boring machine, "a beautiful baby"as some have described it, "110 m long, which weighs 380 tonnes, requires an electrical power of 900 kw and digs, progresses every 24  ;nbsp;hours of 14.5 meters", specified Marc Petit, director of major projects for the company Razel Bec which consolidates its reputation with this site.

The various past and future achievements in Nîmes.

The manager spoke of the importance of these steps taken with the creation of two tunnels of 990 m and 855 m, six meters deep, in the Sernam-Faïta-Valmy area without forgetting & nbsp;their chants (rue Van Dyck and square V. Guiu). "There, we begin a step which will make the work effective. This will truly be the realization of flood prevention", says Claude de Girardi, community advisor responsible for the management of aquatic environments and flood prevention.

Invisible operation but with "vital"effects

A colossal project up to the Limites which will be a landmark and will complete what has been implemented for years at the Cadereau d’Alès with the continuation, for example, of the Antiquailles basin, the revitalization of the Vistre (24 km in total according to EPTB president Thierry Agnel). "For more than 20 years, the municipality has shown its desire to do everything possible to protect the city faced with this omnipresent risk of flooding. […] We can be proud of the progress made", indicated Julien Plantier, first deputy mayor who paid tribute to Jean-Marie Filippi, former elected official in charge of the file who died .

President of Nîmes Métropole, Franck Proust, recalled for his part the importance of this operation "invisible but whose effects will be vital for generations of Nîmes. […] Through this work, 34,000 residents and more than 1,000 jobs are targeted. It saves surface heritage and sometimes even lives. The elected official underlined the risk culture of the Nîmes population after the deadly floods of October 3, 1988 "which is combined with major protection plans for decades".

Franck Proust returned to the Gemapi tax, "the decisive effort of the citizens of the territory", which also made it possible to obtain aid from the State for this file: "The Gemapi tax is 10.50 & ;euro; per inhabitant. In return, the State pays 62 euros. These are tens of millions of euros; which will not weigh on the local taxpayer." The effects of all these projects carried out over several decades are beginning to be perceptible.

Partners mobilized on the site

The various partners, who highlighted the importance of the 126 M€ for Papi III Vistre (2022-2028), were present at the baptism of the tunnel boring machine this Monday, July 8: the prefect of Gard J& rôme Bonet, Franck Proust (Agglo), Fabrice Verdier (Region), Berengère Noguier (Department), Julien Plantier (City), Thierry Agnel (EPTB Vistre ) without forgetting the Razel Bec team, a company mobilized on the site.