In , rue du Bon Air was inaugurated to allow an entire neighborhood to breathe better

In , rue du Bon Air was inaugurated to allow an entire neighborhood to breathe better
In Antibes, rue du Bon Air was inaugurated to allow an entire neighborhood to breathe better

Qhen we remember here a year ago… A place transformed into a dump, with squatting, uncontrolled parking…” At the sight of Rue du Bon Air, its two lanes, its cycle path and its flaming sidewalks, its hundreds of freshly planted trees and shrubs, it is difficult to prove Xavier Wiik, deputy delegate for the Activities district, wrong.

But the major change remains that the old cul-de-sac is now open to vehicles, connecting Chemin des Combes and the Weisweiller roundabout, on the Route de (D35). Vehicles which were, moreover, few in number to use it, this Saturday noon, during the inauguration of the facilities. It will not always be this way. Especially when Lidl opens its doors, in place of the former Conforama, purchased in 2020.

The German company plans to set up a 1940m2 store there, which would be the largest on the Côte d'Azur and one of the largest in . We are expecting – according to the latest news, the opening is planned for summer 2026 – nearly 2,000 customers per day and 190 vehicles during peak hours (entry and exit). With the Carrefour Saint-Claude juggernaut right next door and the historically complicated traffic in the area, obviously it's going to be a lot…

So, to avoid further saturating the roads around the Hauts d'Antibes economic activity zone, in particular Chemin Saint-Claude and Route de Grasse, “a reflection has been carried out since the acquisition by Lidl, to find a way to improve traffic conditions, even before increasing traffic”, reveals Louis Despres, Director of Roads and Major Projects at Casa (Sophia Antipolis conurbation community). A study was thus carried out by the agglomeration and the German brand to test several development scenarios and it was, therefore, the extension and opening of rue du Bon Air which was chosen.

The Lyan route must also be extended

“The first step in global reflection”, adds the president of the Casa and mayor of Antibes, Jean Leonetti, in a “district which is urbanizing and which was in the process of saturating [lire plus loin].” Thus, the neighboring Voie Lyan will soon be extended to connect the Route de Grasse to Chemin Saint-Claude.

A global package of works which amounts to 2.5 million. And for which Lidl has largely put its hand into its pocket, as part of a PUP agreement (urban partnership project) signed from 2022.

The Over-the-Rhine group has, in fact, undertaken to take charge of the work to the tune of 2 million, but also to provide the 3,851m2 of land necessary for the development of the roads, estimated at 2.95 Me.

A requalification which takes into account the flood-prone nature of the area since in addition to the installation of a draining coating, six “rain trees” line the street, equipped with a device which directs road water towards the roots. Finally, a 450m3 retention basin was built under the road, to compensate (partially) for the waterproofing of the soil linked to newly created and future constructions…

What about Les Combes?

Below Rue du Bon Air, another construction site: that of the Combes project. Fortunately for local residents, “entry will be on the same side as Renault [par la route de Grasse] to prevent there being too many people on rue du Bon Air”, recalls Louis Despres. Because, like Lidl, it will bring back activity…

On the program: 135 housing units, 8,485m2 of floor space and an eco-responsible building (solar roofs, natural materials, recycling of gray water, etc.), a 1.5ha park, where 500 additional trees will be planted; and, at the heart of it, a 900m2 crèche with a capacity of 70 cradles.

The latter should arrive in fall 2025; at the same time as part of the park, which will be delivered in its entirety in 2026.

The housing will arrive in 2028. A 60 million project, supported by Eiffage and reflecting a “global thinking” for the neighborhood and summarized by Jean Leonetti: “We build less, not too high and we keep it green.”

The councilor maintains, nevertheless, “that we must continue to build. There are 1,500 jobs being created in Sophia and for these assets, the north of Antibes is strategically well placed.”

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