the essential
An experiment with changing the direction of traffic on Chemin de Cournaudis, between Tournefeuille and Colomiers, would generate significant slowdowns during peak hours. Motorists and cyclists confide that they are fed up. For its part, the town hall is procrastinating, evoking a temporary test.
The recent change in the direction of traffic on the second part of Chemin de Cournaudis in Colomiers towards Boulevard Paul Valéry does not seem completely unrelated to significant slowdowns and traffic jams all along Chemin de Pahin.
Indeed, the opening to traffic in the heights of Colomiers and Tournefeuille towards Les Ramassiers and in particular the aeronautical industrial sectors has allowed many motorists to change direction, thus deserting rue Etienne Collongues for this new route. The consequence: the Terre d’Envol roundabout located on the border between Tournefeuille and Colomiers often finds itself blocked due to the priority of vehicles coming from avenue des Marots and rue Etienne Collongues over people coming from Tournefeuille via the Chemin de Pahin.
Traffic slows north of Tournefeuille
Congestion thus increases almost every morning to beyond the roundabout in front of the Léonard de Vinci college, with traffic often at a standstill. It is then not uncommon to see cyclists (no cycle path is present on this axis) and two motorized wheels going up the line of stopped vehicles, causing conflict and dangerous situations. A recent example is for example the simultaneous arrival of a motorcycle and a car on the Terre d’Envol roundabout entering from Chemin de Pahin towards Rue Etienne Collongues, causing surprise and annoyance of the motorist. The situation could have degenerated, the disgruntled motorist having chased the offending motorcyclist for several hundred meters, honking his horn and following him very closely.
Another collateral effect of this increased traffic in this direction on Chemin de Cournaudis is the non-respect of priority on the right which must be given to vehicles arriving from Rue du Beau Soleil. Faced with these daily non-compliances, residents have also affixed a sign on a lamp post printed on a right-hand priority sheet (black cross in a red triangle). In addition, the large flow of cars on Chemin de Cournaudis often traveling at speeds above 30 km/h makes this route dangerous for cyclists for whom no specific facilities are provided.
“A six-month experiment”, according to the Tournefeuille town hall
DDM illustration – Marie-Pierre Volle
The town hall has indeed heard of the discontent of Tourfeuillais motorists. Chemin de Cournaudis, on the edge between Tournefeuille and Colomiers, becomes a traffic black spot in both towns during rush hours. However, the town hall is nuanced, mentioning that “some local residents have told us that this saves them time”, while “others encounter difficulties” getting around in the Pahin district.
A test launched by the Metropolis
The experiment with reversing the direction of traffic on Chemin de Cournaudis results from “the metro construction site”, specifies the municipality. In this context, Toulouse Métropole has modified the road layout in the area. With a request, coming from Tournefeuille. Indeed, the mayor demanded “before implementing the change in traffic direction, that it be a six-month experiment”. Result: the first returns are divided. If some motorists, especially Columérins, gain fluidity morning and evening at the wheel of their vehicle, some Tournefeuillais drive slowly, and have been doing so since Leonard-de-Vinci college.
Road development
The first returns will be known in the first quarter of 2025, with “the assessment of traffic by the metropolis in March”. The long-term objective is that “the solution chosen is the one which allows the improvement of mobility in the sector”.
As such, “the town of Tournefeuille asked Toulouse Métropole to study the creation of a cycle path between Les Ramassiers and Les Hauts de Tournefeuille”. Discussions and results expected during the coming year.
