The operational director of the A57 construction site assures us: “It’s a little early Christmas present.” After more than three years of work, the widening operation carried out by the Vinci Autoroutes teams in the Var is, in fact, clearly coming to an end. Motorway users have just been “rewarded” for their patience.
At the end of last week, the third track became accessible over the entire portion affected by the construction site, from Toulon to La Garde, via Valletta. And this, in both directions of traffic. A first outcome of the early opening of this additional lane, initiated at the end of September on part of the route, to allow motorists to begin to benefit from the new development.
“This is honestly good news, because we are doing on time what we said we would do.rejoices Salvador Nuñez, head of operations on the highway site. This anticipation of the commissioning is not at all usual. And it would not have been possible without the help of the prefect and his services. As he pointed out in September, this is a major step forward made possible by collective work.”
“After a first section inaugurated last September, at the eastern end of the site, it is now possible to drive on the three lanes of the urban boulevard, over a distance of 7kmcontinues the prefect of Var, Philippe Mahé. This new progress in the work will help improve driver safety and traffic flow for the benefit of Toulon residents, but also vacationers.”
A first glimpse of the improvement
From now on, on the current section of the A57, you can drive on three lanes everywhere. The width of the current tracks is also the final width. “We are really in the final configuration for the vehicle lanes, but with yellow paint and without the dedicated bus lane”indicates the operational director.
What gives an idea of the improvement that the change to two three lanes is supposed to bring, in the long term? “We are in the process of measuring this, but it should already provide an improvement in the situation. It was even explained to me that things have already been going better for a few days. So much the better and fortunately, I want to say.”
Works until the beginning of 2025
Obviously, users are still called to be vigilant, while the speed remains limited to 70km/h and the work, day and night, has not yet been completed.
As we previously mentioned in our columns, we will probably have to wait until next spring for the ribbon to be cut by elected officials and the authorities. Until then, inspections carried out by the services of the Ministry of Transport will follow one another in the Var.
“At the beginning of next year, we will have to make possible restarts and finish what needs to be finishedexplained Salvador Nuñez. At the end of February, beginning of March, we should then carry out the final work, creating the final wearing course and applying the white paint. And then, we will have to wait for the official commissioning under ministerial decision, which will allow us to put the whole thing into operation, with the dedicated bus lane and the bus stops.” After that, the entire project will be able to “do one’s work”.
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