Western bypass of Nîmes: with the declaration of public utility are all the lights green ?

One of the objectives of the bypass: to relieve congestion across Nîmes between the motorway and the CHU Carémeau roundabout. Midi Libre – MiKAEL ANISSET

The decree of March 4 was published in the Official Journal. An essential step for the realization of CoNim, welcomed by the towns of Nîmes and Alès.

It was published this Friday March 8 in the Official Journal and was the subject of declarations of satisfaction from both Nîmes and Alès. But what does the decree declaring the work of the Nîmes west bypass (CoNim) of public utility mean ? Is it a real victory for the defenders of this project ? Can the opponents still be heard ? Decryption.

1. What's inside

The decree declares of public utility the works of the western bypass of Nîmes over a length of approximately 12 km, between its connections to the national 106 north of Nîmes and to the ;interchange with the highway 9 and the RN 113 in the town of Milhaud. 

He announces that "the expropriations necessary for the execution of the work must be carried out within five years from the publication of the' #39;arrested.

It indicates that the local town planning plans of the municipalities of Nîmes, Milhaud and Caveirac will have to be “made compatible", that is to say submit to the plans of this western bypass.

Finally, it indicates that the status of "express route" will be assigned to the newly created development .

2. What people say about it in Alès and Nîmes

On the Nîmes metropolis side, President Franck Proust raises his arms to the sky. "It is only the battles that we do not fight that we are sure to lose" he rejoices in a communiqué. "At l’Agglo we’have never lowered the arm, and this perseverance is bearing fruit today."  

Joined by Midi Libre, the president of Alès Agglomération Christophe Rivenq wants to be cautious. And recalls the path traveled: "It wasn't won, contrary to what one might think. At one point, Clément Beaune, the former Minister in charge of transport, told me "You know, given the funds available to us, the projects for national interest will come first. It's going to be complicated for the Nîmes bypass. Now there are still steps left."

3. What are the next steps ?

"I still stick to the idea of ​​2030-2032 for the opening of the bypass, indicates Christophe  Rivenq, optimistic. We lost a lot of time, but we can make up for it."

Not counting the probable appeals of opponents (read below), the project will be subject, among other things, to environmental studies. Not everything is necessarily certain on this point, since we remember the unfavorable opinion of the environmental authority issued in 2022.

It will obviously be necessary to carry out the necessary expropriations and, also, to move a retention basin, southwest of Nîmes, which must be crossed by a recently modified part of the route on Saint-Césaire.

On the financing side, for a total project cost of around 280 M€, "there is a commitment from everyone. Part of it is financed by Vinci, for the other part excluding road concessions, we should manage to get by", estimates Christophe Rivenq.

4. How will the opponents react ? 

The Caveirac Vaunage association, which opposes the bypass, does not intend to give up. And will take advantage of the publication of this decree to take legal action. "We were obliged to wait for the declaration of public utility (DUP) to be taken before taking action, explains Thierry Codou, president of the Caveirac Vaunage association, which opposes the CoNim project. We are going to meet next Friday in Caveirac town hall for an extraordinary general meeting and designate the lawyer we will hire to attack the DUP."< /em>