Quality of life is a central concern for residents and elected officials. It determines the attractiveness of the French territories and therefore their wealth. For these reasons, obstructed views, noise, heat islands and pollution are major concerns. These disturbances can cause health and well-being problems for local residents, especially in dense areas.
In the face of climate change and public health issues, APRR motorways are taking a proactive approach, often going beyond the regulations to make the territories more breathable, calm and resilient. Our approach aims to improve the existing system and reduce emissions at the source by exploring new solutions for better integration of the network into the landscape. This is about the well-being of everyone and acceptance of our projects. For a motorway that benefits everyone.
Beautifying our premises
For our closest neighbours, we maximise the integration of the infrastructure into the landscape. We optimise the routes and create landscaping to integrate the motorway into the local topography and reduce its visual impact.
The A75 is an example of successful landscape integration. Partly in a trench or on a hillside, it is often masked and integrated into the local scenery. Where it features six total lanes in two directions over 11 km at Clermont-Ferrand, one of the challenges was to successfully integrate it into a remarkable site in terms of landscapes, geology and agriculture. To blend into this backdrop, 700 trees, 20 saplings and thousands of shrubs were planted along the entire route to maintain the green line that characterises the Clermont-Claude area.
Limiting noise
Limiting noise pollution is the subject of numerous works and investments. Several technical solutions are possible: partial coverage of the roads (N87), insulation of the facades of the exposed houses, acoustic coatings, embankments and screens. The latter also contribute to vegetation by providing a habitat for local plants. For the A480 at the entrance to Grenoble, we installed 6 km of sound screens for the comfort of residents.
Starting in 2023, on the A6 motorway between Evry-Courcouronnes and the Fleury toll gates we will upgrade the acoustic screens and extend them by 1.6km to ensure greater peace and comfort for local residents.
Easing traffic
APRR is carrying out development work to improve travel and enable better co-existence between different modes of transport. This is the case, for example, with the Rondeau interchange on the A480, which has been reconfigured to improve all travel (cars, cycles, pedestrians and public transport) and to strengthen its integration into the environment with a landscaped garden, the upgrading of the historic crossroads and the creation of a scenic lookout on the new footbridge. The latter offers a new fully secure bicycle route and erases the cut-off effect of the interchange.
