Developing the network, services, safety and economic performance

Further to the process of privatising France's motorway concession operators, APRR has been a subsidiary of Eiffage since 20 February 2006. The Group's strategy revolves around four interlocking core objectives: safety, service, growth and economic performance.

Further improving safety
The figures for 2007 confirmed the APRR network's status as the safest in France, with an "all accidents" figure that fell by 5% compared with 2006. Safety is a key priority for the Group's capital investment programme, with particular attention being paid to accident-prone locations on roads and in tunnels.

An optimised service offering
The search to improve customer service is a priority issue that has resulted in concrete action :

• Making traffic flow more smoothly, through efficient scheduling of roadworks, the development of dynamic equipment (including the new CESAR control unit on the AREA network) and automation, particularly remote toll systems (which handled more than 25% of all car transactions in 2006)
  
  
• Creating a radio station, Autoroute INFO 107.7 FM, that covers both the APRR and AREA networks.
  
  
• Maintaining the level of comfort provided by the infrastructure, and in particular the quality of road surfaces.
  
  
• Improving and developing service areas through partnerships with local authorities.
  
  
• Providing additional, secure rest area capacity for heavy goods vehicles, including the opening of the first Park+ secure parking area on the A31 in Langres.

Actively expanding the network
In accordance with contracts signed with the French Government, the APRR Group continues to expand and renovate its network. The 10.5 km Coynelle - Col du Fau section of the A51 entered service in March 2007. Work is continuing on the various tunnels operated by the Group, including work in the Maurice Lemaire tunnel, the second stage of the renovation work at the Epine tunnel (A43) and the A40 tunnel compliance project.

The Group is also building new road interchanges (e.g. Villefranche North on the A6, Crolles on the southbound A41 and improving interchanges on the A42 and northbound A46).

Stronger economic performance
The Group has developed a strategy to enhance performance by gradually simplifying its organisational structure. Profitability is also being improved through tighter cost control and by seeking productivity gains in the area of toll collection. The APRR Group is also optimising the revenue streams generated by its network.