Work on line 1 of the bustram in Montpellier: worried traders are demanding adjustments

Rue de la Vieille-Poste, les travaux comprennent la création d'une voie propre pour le bustram. Midi Libre – Jean-Michel Mart

Depuis le 6 décembre, les travaux de la ligne 1 du bustram ont débuté dans le quartier Millénaire, avec un impact significatif pour les commerçants. Ces derniers demandent quelques ajustements.

"For 48 hours, I haven't seen anyone". Traders on rue de la Vieille-Poste, in the Millénaire district, have been facing work on line 1 of the bustram since December 6. A construction site which involves the one-way passage of said street and Boulevard Philippe Lamour. A reduction in lane which then extended from the Verchant estate to the crossroads where Geoderis is located, at the intersection between rue de la Vieille Poste and rue Léonard de Vinci. < /p>

Monster traffic jams

"I live 10 km away and it takes me 1 hour 30 minutes to get home in the evening,” laments Nathalie Bardot, manager of the Brasserie de l'Europe. The day after the start of the work, a huge traffic jam was also created at the Majoria campus, with nearly 2 hours of waiting to leave this area, due to of the delay in work on the north aisle of the Pompignane technology park. "Since then, many workers have started teleworking.  They no longer come even though they represent a large part of our turnover", continues the trader . A drop in attendance that it still observes today, even if the Metropolis reopened, from December 7, the northern access to motorists. ;to streamline the exit of workers. Last week, on December 14, boulevard Philippe Lamour was also restored two-way traffic (see boxed).

"I saw a lady climbing over the barriers to cross"

"We are already at -30% of our turnover", notes Régis Julietti,  manager of the 'Jours Meilleurs" grocery store, located at the intersection with rue Léonard de Vinci. "Especially since at the start, they told us that the work would be done section by section. But there, everything was blocked suddenly, regrets the manager of the brewery. Since the work, the street in front of the businesses has been completely closed. Only the one opposite is accessible in one direction. "But from the Dell roundabout to the grocery store, there is no pedestrian access. They are forced to take the grand tour. Even for people who stop at the bus stop (Pinville, Editor's note), they cannot cross to us. The other day, I saw an old lady climbing over the barriers, regrets Nicolas Delmas, from the tobacco shop. 

A time range not respected ?

Especially since despite this loss of turnover, the Metropolis does not provide any compensation due to the duration of the work, which is considered too short. ;quot;. “But with a loss between -30% and -40%, I can't last the nine months of construction", estimates the tobacconist. Traders also highlight the daily working hours not respected by site workers. "We were told that the schedule would be from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. to reduce the total duration of the work. But for several days, from 3 p.m. onwards, there has been no one there,” observes the manager of the brewery. "And I'm afraid with the arrival of the holidays", raises, for his part, Régis from the grocery store.

Together, they decided to set up an association of traders to challenge the Metropolis and bring forward their demands to obtain adjustments. "We would like Rue Michel Chasles to be reopened, like Rue Alfred Nobel, to allow customers to come to us and leave peacefully. Because since the work, no one dares to take rue de la Vieille-Poste anymore, explains Bernard Bianchetto of the Le Passeo brasserie.

The traders of Pompignane won their case

A bit like the traders on Avenue de la Pompignane, who requested a meeting with the project managers before the launch of the work scheduled for February 2024. "When From the announcement of the work concerning us, we noticed that access to our businesses was going to be condemned. Our customers had to make the grand tour. However, motorists represent 80% of our customers. On the other hand, right next door, the Total station would have maintained access. It wasn't fair, explains Mathieu Puyeo, manager of Jacques' grocery store. After numerous requests for meetings, they finally won their case on December 13. "Rue des Pélicans and rue des Cormorans will remain open. Now, we will work to maintain pedestrian access and a small piece of sidewalk in front of our businesses,” he continues.

As a reminder, the first phase of work on line 1 of the bustram extends until September 2024 . "This lack of consultation, they don't see that it keeps us from sleeping. The Metropolis must work with us, and not behind our backs, especially since we are not against this project, they conclude.

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