Access to the Comédie car park: please note the change from Monday October 28 in Montpellier

À partir du 28 octobre, l’accès au parking Comédie se fera par ce qui était l’ancienne sortie du tunnel. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

It was announced, it is happening. In ten days, the western entrance to the Comédie car park will no longer be via Verdanson and the Charles-de-Gaulle esplanade but via allée Henri-II-de-Montmorency and boulevard Mistral.

Let's be clear: the Comédie car park has two entrances. One on the Babote side, via Boulevard Victor-Hugo. This one is maintained. The other entrance, however, will be changed. Starting Monday, October 28, it will no longer be possible to access the car park via Boulevard Sarrail (Esplanade). The second access will now be via Avenue Frédéric-Mistral (which is the old exit of the Comédie tunnel), therefore going up Allée Henri-II-de-Montmorency.

“This access via Frédéric-Mistral will be simpler, clearer, more readable, stressed Mayor Michaël Delafosse this Thursday. No more hassle with this complex access via the Verdanson quays and going back up via Sarrail", which will be, "calm" since there will be no cars.

A narrow car access, 2.70 m wide, to prevent motorists from speeding when entering the car park. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

Simpler? Maybe. Everyone can form their own opinion based on their starting point. What was complicated, however, was the preparation of this entrance. And especially when it was necessary to break through the tunnel wall to enter the Comédie car park. At level – 2. A 1.20 m wide wall, attacked with a cable saw for three days to extract 2 cubic meter blocks. “A technical feat“, according to Michaël Delafosse. This Thursday, it was still time to tarmac the entrance. A tight, narrow axis, only 2.70 m wide, “to prevent motorists from speeding”, according to Yohann Dunez, Project Manager at Tam, on this long and descending entrance. A gauge will be set, SUVs and small maintenance will be able to pass.

A “mobility hub” in the spring

That's it for cars. But what is being prepared in terms of the parking lot and the tunnel is intended to be “multimodal”, as Julie Frêche, vice-president of the metropolis, in charge of mobility, specified. On level – 3, there will be 190 secure spaces for bicycles. And on level – 1, new parking spaces for bicycles, electric charging stations and even car sharing. With also between 40 and 50 spaces reserved for motorcycles. Opening of this “mobility hub” in the spring, the elected official emphasizes.

The Comédie tunnel transformed into a cycle path will reopen in the second half of 2025

The transformation of the Comédie tunnel into a cycle path is also progressing. A 3.50 m high wall, largely made of formwork concrete, was built precisely to separate and secure the cycle path from this entrance. Scheduled opening: second half of 2025.