Rain, heavy goods vehicles, new residence… Near Rouen, a landslide encroaches on the departmental road

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It was inevitable, according to the mayor of the town, who launched the alert repeatedly. On Monday December 9, 2024, a landslide occurred in Moulineaux (Seine-Maritime), along the RD3, over more than 30 meters, at the bottom of the Mardote residence.

“The lessor reacted quickly,” said Frederick Le Goff, the mayor of the town, but two families had to be relocated quickly.

Too many heavyweights

This landslide was to be expected sooner or later. In the past, part of the forest extended up to this level. “To build the residence, it was destroyed, as well as the root system which held the earth,” continues the elected official.

That would not be the only cause of this landslide: heavy rainincluding those of the Darragh storm, and the vibrations caused by the passage of heavy goods vehiclescertainly contributed to this.

Large heavy goods vehicles and exceptional convoys have been passing here for a very long time, even though this route is prohibited for them above 19 tonnes.

Despite repeated requests to the prefecture, nothing happens.

Gabions to consolidate

Quickly, Logéal, the lessor, contacted a company to consolidate places using gabions. “The area, with its 13th century church of Saint-Jacques-le Majeur, is classified. It must be preserved,” adds the mayor. Over three days, a company delivered these large iron crates filled with stones, which required the road closure during this intervention.

These heavy gabions each withstand a pressure of more than 6 tonnes and there are 36 of them, but it is a waiting solution. “An expert must come and observe and draw up a report. Then, we can begin the restoration and consolidation work,” continues Frederick Le Goff.

At the moment, it is difficult to say when the road will return to its usual appearance. “I think thatit will take almost a yearbetween the study and the work, before the sector regains its appearance and above all find a way to once again prohibit the circulation of more than 19 tonnes, which is the recurring problem,” concludes the mayor.

For heavy goods vehicles, the RD 3 saves them a long detour estimated at €30 per vehicle.

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