VINCI commissions the Western Strasbourg bypass (A355)

17 December 2021 - 8:30 am - Events - France

• New road infrastructure that will ease congestion in Strasbourg and the surrounding area and facilitate the expansion of shared mobility solutions
• Unprecedented environmental measures taken during the construction and operating phase
• A 54-year concession for an investment of €561 million, €130 million of which in environmental measures

On Friday 17 December 2021, the Western Strasbourg bypass (A355) in eastern France was commissioned. Recognised as a public interest on 23 January 2008, this 24 km long road represents the most extensive motorway project undertaken in France in recent years.

The A355 was inaugurated in Ittenheim on 11 December 2021 by Jean Castex, France’s Prime Minister, and Pierre Coppey, the Executive Vice-President of VINCI and Chairman of VINCI Autoroutes, in the presence of Xavier Huillard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of VINCI, and many locally elected officials.

VINCI Autoroutes, as contracting authority, financed the €561 million cost of the project and will also operate and maintain the new motorway as part of a concession contract spanning 54 years.

Commissioning this motorway marks the culmination of a project launched in October 2018 after three years of studies and preparatory work, which involved 6,000 people and over 300 companies, a third of which are based in the Alsace region. The design and construction work was entrusted to a consortium of companies made up of VINCI Construction (Dodin Campenon Bernard, lead company, VINCI Construction Terrassement, VINCI Construction France and Eurovia), VINCI Energies (Cegelec Mobility) and Ingerop Conseil & Ingénierie.

By rerouting hauliers from the A35 urban motorway, the A355 will ease congestion around the city of surrounding area, saving up to 10 million hours of time lost each year, and will facilitate the expansion of shared, low-carbon mobility solutions, thereby helping to reduce air and noise pollution and improve the quality of life for local residents.

Its design, construction and operating model makes the A355 a ground-breaking project in road transport infrastructure, in terms of ecological transparency and environmental integration. For example, 1,315 hectares of land have been the subject of environmental offsetting measures – 4.5 times the total footprint of the finished motorway – and 130 wildlife passages were built, representing one passage every 200 metres, which in relative terms is 20 times more than on other motorway networks in France.

 

About VINCI
VINCI is a global player in concessions, energy and construction, employing 280,000 people in more than 120 countries. We design, finance, build and operate infrastructure and facilities that help improve daily life and mobility for all. Because we believe in all-round performance, we are committed to operating in an environmentally, socially responsible and ethical manner. And because our projects are in the public interest, we consider that reaching out to all our stakeholders and engaging in dialogue with them is essential in the conduct of our business activities. Based on that approach, VINCI’s ambition is to create long-term value for its customers, shareholders, employees, partners and society in general.