L’inauguration, Wednesday October 30, 2024, of the new development of the crossing of the Orx marsh marks the culmination of a long work of conciliation.
“Seven years ago, when I was elected president of the community of communes (Macs; Maremne Adour South Coast, Editor's note), I committed to creating equipment to help open up Orx. It could have been imagined, and it had been considered, to remove this route, to make Orx a peninsula, this is not the file chosen,” recalls Pierre Froustey.
The option chosen was “to preserve” this dyke road and “to act soberly”. “We had the possibility of widening, of biting into biodiversity, we did not choose that”, to respect “the natural environment”, continues the socialist.
In the absence of cyclists or pedestrians, cars are authorized to drive on the reserved lane.
Isabelle Louvier / SO
The option chosen, with a budget of 840,000 euros, was the creation of a chaucidou, a lane shared with cars, but which gives priority to pedestrians and cyclists. Announced objective of this work carried out by Macs and 50% financed by the Department: to improve the safety of cyclists on this 1.7 km dyke road. A roadway considered with “low daily traffic”, less than 2,000 vehicles per day, according to Macs.
“Opening up”
For Bertrand Desclaux, mayor of Orx, this is an “important achievement for the village, an umbilical cord, which will finally be able to allow residents to walk, cycle and drive slowly to admire the landscapes, and to have even more links with Labenne”. During the inauguration speeches, he highlighted the “long and hard work”. “But today,” he added, “I will remember the pleasure of being with you. »
Isabelle Louvier / SO
Signage at the entrance to the track explains how it works.
“It was about time that we arrived at this beautiful piece of equipment”, “a tool for opening up pedestrian and cycle paths”, also expressed Paul Carrère, of the Joint Syndicate for the Management of Natural Environments and departmental advisor. “To secure the space”, the curves of the road were redrawn, he recalled.
“The model of our nature reserves may be in danger”
Regional delegate of the Conservatoire du Littoral, owner of the Orx marsh site, Nathalie Madrid looked ahead to future projects: “I can't wait until we can open the other stages of work. We are going to follow the marsh, cross fields and gradually bring the cyclists towards the town of Orx, I am eagerly awaiting what happens next. »
Isabelle Louvier / SO
Chaucidou is the contraction of “roadway for gentle traffic”.
Projections which are part of a national context of budgetary restrictions. “I say it in front of everyone. I am very worried about the future, the noose is tightening at the financial level, the model of our natural reserves is perhaps in danger,” warned Paul Carrère.
Definition
What is a chaucidou? “When a motorized vehicle takes a chaucidou, it travels on a central two-way lane, framed by two corridors marked by ground markings. These corridors are dedicated to cyclists and pedestrians. When two vehicles pass each other and in the absence of cyclists or pedestrians, they are authorized to drive on these lanes. In short: priority for cyclists and pedestrians,” summarizes the Macs community of communes.
