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| Bouygues to build the new Marseille bypass The Société de la Rocade L2 de Marseille, formed by Bouygues Construction (Bouygues Travaux Publics, the lead company, Bouygues Travaux Publics Régions France, DTP Terrassement and Bouygues Energies & Services), Colas Midi-Méditerranée, Spie batignolles, Egis, Meridiam Infrastructure and CDC Infrastructure, has signed a partnership contract with the French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy for the new Marseille bypass, known as the L2 or the A507. This 30-year public-private partnership covers the maintenance and renewal of the engineering structures and equipment of the infrastructure. The largest infrastructure project awarded in France in 2013, the total investment amounts to €620 million. The L2 will take traffic away from the centre of Marseille and decongest the city thanks to the creation of a toll-free urban the A7 motorway (leading north to Aix-en-Provence) and the A50 (an eastbound motorway towards Aubagne and Toulon). It will also allow the urban regeneration of neighbourhoods served by the road. The L2 will make it possible for a number of projects to be carried out which will encourage the development of public transport services. Two distinct stretches will be designed and built: a completely new section to the north of the city (4.1 km) and completion of the construction of the east section, 5.5 begun some twenty years ago. The new link will deploy the most energy-efficient and environmentally friendly lighting and ventilation systems. There will be more than 500 people working onsite at peak periods. The works will last four years, with handover of the whole bypass scheduled for October 2017. The project will be jointly financed by the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region, the Bouches-du-Rhône Department and the Marseille Provence Métropole Urban Community through the payment of grants during the period of construction. When the L2 East section comes into service, the French Government will pay a royalty which will primarily allow the reimbursement of the financial bond of approximately €165 million invested by the Société de la Rocade L2 de Marseille with the Allianz group; as well as covering the cost of upkeep, maintenance and renewal of the infrastructure. Yves Gabriel, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bouygues Construction, said: "The residents of Marseille and all those who travel through the city each day have been waiting for the L2 bypass for decades. All the contractors in our consortium are proud be taking part in making it a reality. We will make it a benchmark urban expressway and a model for development that will benefit all the residents of greater Marseille." write your comments about the article :: © 2013 Construction News :: home page |