“Anger of the farmers”: from Bagnols-sur-Cèze to Pont-St-Esprit story of a Friday of traffic jams on the RN 86

Un papa, sa fille et le maire de Saint-Nazaire spectateurs du blocage de la RN 86. DR – DR

The RN 86  which allows you to go from Bagnols-sur-Cèze to Pont-Saint-Esprit via Saint-Nazaire and Saint-Alexandre was paralyzed on Friday January 26, 2024 by major traffic jams. A word to traders and elected officials from villages bordering this national road. 

Overall they say they understand the farmers' anger. The traffic jams caused by the anger of the peasants are  lived with philosophy by the living areas bordering the RN 86 which connects Bagnols-sur-Cèze to Pont-Saint-Esprit. "We are impacted. There is no activity so there is stock, we can still help ourselves to fuel" explains Alexandre Mazellier boss of the Total station located  at 22 avenue François Mitterrand in Bagnols-sur-Cèze.

Pump attendance

In this station, the drop in attendance at the pump is estimated at 80%. On the road, the situation is static. "School buses are blocked. From time to time we let them pass. It's part of the game, it's our customers who demonstrate" declares the owner of the gas station. "We can understand them too."  Faced with the social crisis, Alexandre Mazellier shows resilience. He says he understands the situation.

Agriculture a difficult profession

Equally attentive to the evolution of the situation, the mayor of Saint Nazaire, Gérald Missour would like to emphasize it: "The profession of&# 39;farmer is very difficult."It's 5 p.m. A father approaches the mayor. His children who are at college in Bagnols-sur-Cèze cannot return. They have been on the bus since 4 p.m. and it has moved barely twenty meters. The councilor of Saint Nazaire nevertheless repeats it, he understands the anger of the farmers.

"Fed up"

Gérald Missour knows the reasons for the revolt. He denounces this system where it is the one who produces who earns the least.  "It's not  possible, not at  at this level, we cannot be  paid a few cents for a liter of milk or a kilo of meat. This is not possible. We can understand their fed up". Gérard Missour therefore puts into perspective the blockages caused by farmers' demonstrations. This obviously creates disruption in a village which is traditionally crossed by 20,000 vehicles(1) by   day.

Be patient

 " In Saint-Nazaire, we have many more heavy goods vehicles than usual. But this time it was necessary  be patient, especially with alternating traffic, once blocking the Bagnols-sur-Cèze Pont-Saint-Esprit axis and once in the opposite direction. ;quot;  In the evening when the grip loosened at the roundabouts, we had a very significant influx of trucks. Gérald Missour has therefore decided, with the agreement of Dire Méditerranée, during busy traffic times to cut the traffic lights to make traffic flow more smoothly. But again, there was far too much  of traffic.  In Saint-Nazaire, heavy goods vehicles came to a complete stop for long hours on the national road.

"Let everyone defend their steak"

Another village crossed by the RN 86, Saint-Alexandre was only slightly impacted by the farmers' movement. The village is dotted with crossroads. To go to Laudun you can go through Saint-Etienne-des-des Sorts. "It's not like Bagnols-sur-Cèze or Pont-Saint -Mind where it's a little more complicatedunderlines Jaques Bertolini. The mayor of the town is just as understanding than his counterpart in Saint-Alexandre. "We can understand that everyone defends their steak, he comments. There are nevertheless situations behind which can arise&# 39;envenom. If people block the roads it's because they are angry. They are  forced to take somewhat strong actions while being careful that things don't get out of control. Afterwards, it's certain that there are constraints. The famous other side of the coin.

“The limit not to be crossed”

Big anger on the other hand in this restaurant for truckers which is located in Paris. on the edge of the national 86. The operator of the establishment supports the angry farmers. But she doesn't want to do it à whatever the price. Friday, January 26, she didn't take off. of an unusual scene & to which she was entitled: "We had a visit from two tractors with hooded drivers. We also saw guys à faces hidden in a white pick-up with plates masked with tape. What were they doing there? Did they come and look at the trucks parked in the parking lot to see if they were French or foreign, probably to empty them afterwards? I don't think it's gratifying to act this way. We support them but until 'à a certain limit still" warns the merchant.

(1) Saint-Nazaire is the axis of  unloading of highways when they are blocked either after an accident or after a strike. I subscribe to read more