The fatal accident on September 7 at La Vrine highlighted the problematic side of this portion of the RN57. Even this tragedy occurred in particular conditions since it was “the attitude of the driver” which started everything, as noted by the public prosecutor, Étienne Manteaux.
The 25-year-old man is on trial this Wednesday, November 6 for involuntary manslaughter and involuntary injuries (the passenger was seriously injured), with two aggravating circumstances: unapproved vehicle and excessive speed.
“A short-term solution”
Which does not change the reality known to all users of this sector located in the commune of Val d'Usiers, in particular those who want to join the RN57 from the two departmental roads. In mid-October, rumble strips appeared overnight: “We intervened at the request of the Pontarlier sub-prefecture, to provide a short-term solution,” says Benoît Dartevelle of Dir-Est.
The limitation to 50 km/h was only temporary, “to avoid surprising users”, but it returned to 70 km/h. “The problem with vehicles arriving from Bugny and Goux-les-Usiers is the endless line of cars. Staying at 50 km/h can accentuate their accumulation and make insertion even more difficult”, explains Benoît Dartevelle, “in any case, to pass a section at 50 on a National, you have to base yourself on reliable figures and studies “.
That's good, the Dreal (Regional Directorate for the Environment, Development and Housing) is currently carrying out one for a development between the lower part of Saint-Gorgon and the Vrine, with several tracks: one or two roundabouts , turn left, turn right, three lanes… “The idea is to create a niche to allow trucks and tractors to overtake, reduce speed, allow better integration from the departmental roads. »
Bus shelter lighting coming soon
Ok, but when? This is what worries Aurélien Dornier, mayor of Val d'Usiers, who signed the petition launched online after the accident to secure the intersection. “With these bands, we went for the cheapest. These are heavy investments that we need,” he says, “we have been hearing about developments for 10, 15, 20 years and nothing is happening. And when we see the national economic context, I think we will wait a long time…”
Given that it is a national road and departmental roads, the councilor cannot do much: “We have included in the PLUi (local intercommunal urban planning plan, Editor's note) the parking lot behind the Relais local area as a carpooling area, which we can rehabilitate, we will put lighting for the bus shelter, even if it is not up to us to do it. And the land acquired by the municipality around the crossroads will be given to the State as soon as it deigns to begin the work.”
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