“Yes, we can applaud”: a sigh of relief for this very special inauguration on the Lien, north of Montpellier… and future projects

A €27 million interchange and a troubled Link that unites determinations at the time of cutting the ribbon. Midi Libre – GIACOMO ITALIANO

For more than four decades, the Link (or RD986), supposed to connect the A9 to the A750, has been constantly delayed, even threatened. This Tuesday, October 1, on the occasion of the inauguration of the Saint-Gély-du-Fesc interchange, everyone went there with their determination. Notably the prefect, who refocused the debates on mobility.

All that for a roundabout? But what a roundabout! First of all, say interchange please. And on three levels (Ganges-A750, Ganges-Montpellier and Montpellier-Saint-Gély). 9 km of pipes, 2 km of electric cables… Total cost of the operation: 27 million euros. Yes, 27 million euros per interchange, each of the speakers this Tuesday, on the occasion of the inauguration, to salute the complexity, “unique in the departure of the Hérault and certainly also in the neighboring departments”. And of course, the symbolism, as this work of art on the very particular construction site of the Lien embody many symbols.

At speech time, the mayor of Saint-Gély, Michèle Lernout, between the prefect and the president of the Department. Midi Libre – GIACOMO ITALIANO

“Yes, we can applaud because it's extraordinary”, Michèle Lernout, the mayor of Saint-Gély, whispered off the microphone, through her lips, as soon as the ribbon was cut. In her speech, she will return, sorry she “denounce the legal guerrilla warfare” which the Link, officially launched as a project in… 1988, had to face, not to mention the "degradation and violence" (burned vehicles in particular), highlighting the "exorbitant cost for taxpayers" of these protests. Kléber Mesquida, President of the Department, also made his plea, recalling the environmental efforts made on biodiversity, as a token of justification. “This road traffic must be moved”.

The prefect in a presentation of general policy dedicated to mobility

But the most determined in the story, like his predecessor, Hugues Moutouh, is perhaps the prefect, François-Xavier Lauch, putting forward the law already, but also “the great challenge of welcoming the population” which is arriving in ever greater numbers in Hérault, “this mobility which, if it does not exist, prevents access to employment, to culture… ” The representative of the State, in an exercise close of a general policy presentation dedicated to mobility, also highlighted the work on biodiversity, “all this work of avoidance and compensation” and recalled the difficult conditions in which this interchange was created. “We will always oppose all these facts, it is a matter of democracy and the life of the territories.”

But also the LGV line, the COM, the Serm

Of course, François-Xavier Lauch broadened his remarks to two other major mobility projects that he is responsible for carrying out: the LGV line and the COM, the Montpellier Western Bypass, for which he hopes to grant environmental authorisations within a year. Also specifying the outlines of the Serm, the Metropolitan Regional Express Service wanted by the State and supposed to improve travel around a large Montpellier metropolis, from Sète to Lunel and Lodève.

“Tomorrow's cars will run on electric power, buses and trucks on hydrogen”

“I believe a lot in this Serm, he explained. Not to make ever bigger roads and highways. We will work in two directions. First, multimodalities in which cars have their place. The cars of tomorrow will run on electricity, buses and trucks will run on hydrogen. And we are working on methods that are respectful and essential to our social life.” Concluding his remarks: “I approve of and share this determination of the Link.”

The last section is taking shape. 7.8 km that will connect Saint-Gély to the A750. Midi Libre – GIACOMO ITALIANO

For the Link, this famous Northern Intercantonal Bypass Link, the RD986, it is the Department of Hérault that is the designer and financier. There remains one last section, 7.8 km between Saint-Gély and the A750, via Bel-Air. According to Dominique Jaumard, Deputy Director General of the Department, it will be put into service in 2028, at a cost of an additional 60 million euros excluding tax.