In this town in Vendée, the creation of a roundabout will complicate traffic for six months

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The town of Venansault redesigns its town center. A desire born in 2010 to rediscover “a village spirit”, confided its mayor Laurent Favreau.

In 2022, the first demolitions started for a better thought-out reconstruction in order to densify businesses and residents in the nerve center of the municipality.

The first installmentwho saw two islets emerging from the ground, completed early last summer. The first businesses were able to set up, such as the hairdresser, the Crédit Mutuel from the start of 2024, the driving school in June and very recently the tobacconist. “The first feedback from residents is positive, the architecture and layout are pleasing,” underlines Laurent Favreau, who takes the opportunity to announce their inauguration on December 14 next.

Two new islets

But there are still four installments left. And the next two planned for 2025 will seriously change the face of the town.

The project is in fact tackling the demolition of the last island of buildings where the former premises of Crédit Mutuel and the tobacco shop are located. THE snacking will take place during all month of November.

Once the buildings are on the ground, two new islets like the first two, will emerge from the ground with commercial cells on the ground floor and housing upstairs. A first block will accommodate a future and big bakerywhich will be held by Thomas Bonnaud. “This will be the second bakery in the town and it will also benefit from an outdoor snacking area,” explains Laurent Favreau. The second island will accommodate the florist and a optician. Delivery of these two buildings is announced for October 2025.

A future roundabout 24 m in diameter

But it's a other slicewhich also began in parallel with the demolition, which will deeply impact the quiet little life from the town center for the next six months. In this project to reorganize the town, it is planned toimprove and secure traffic for all users, whether motorists, cyclists or pedestrians.

This section has undergone some modifications since the initial project.

In fact, the municipality had, in June 2023, the opportunity to buy the old presbytery for €250,000 from the diocese. “It was not planned, but by gaining more space, we could further improve the roads,” explains Laurent Favreau. A new traffic plan was then drawn, offering a wider lane and the creation of a larger roundabout with safer paths for pedestrians and bicycles. “The current roundabout is 15 meters wide with the tracks. We are going to increase to a diameter of 24 meters,” announced the first councilor. This influence will also have consequences on the project to develop the church square. “The water staircase is in question, because we will no longer have the space. It could turn into a wall of water,” explains the mayor. Another change: the Stop sign on the Route des Clouzeaux “which caused concern, because it was blocking” will be permanently removed.

This overhaul of the roundabout generates additional costs of €130,000 and increases its price to €380,000. “This forces us to postpone the development of the leisure area,” admits the elected official, obliged to prioritize investments.

Since October 15, the first works have started and mainly concern the passages of networks, water, gas, lighting… A start of construction which does not prevent vehicles from crossing the town. But it won't last. “We know, it’s going to be a mess in 2025,” admits the mayor.

The town closed to traffic

Until December, the work will focus on the networks, with no impact on traffic. The “bazaar” will begin in January 2025 with the closure of rue Pierre-Loué (route des Clouzeaux) for two weeks. A street that sees some 4,800 vehicles per day! This street will then be one-way during the work. A detour will be put in place, but will complicate crossing the town.

We will have to wait until April or May 2025 for rue Pierre-Loué to regain its double meaning, just like rue Clemenceau. “In May, the town will be closed to traffic for two days, in order to make the carpet. But this work will be done at night, to limit the impact on traffic,” warns Laurent Favreau, who is counting on the understanding of his constituents. “I know that the population is impatient, that they would like things to go faster, but they also know that this work is for a better future living environment. »

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