Grand Chalon: the region's economic momentum is growing

This is the third motorway interchange to be built on the A6 motorway in the Grand Chalon area of Saône-et-Loire. The region is continuing its economic development drive by opening up even more to businesses, while greatly improving the quality of life of its residents. The economic ecosystem will benefit directly from this new entrance to the SaôneOr industrial zone to the north of the Chalon conurbation, where more than 360 companies are already located. A guarantee of attractiveness for the area's current and future partners and residents, this milestone marks a new stage in the success of Grand Chalon's outreach to its endogenous and exogenous publics.

 

Greater safety and an improved quality of life

The new motorway half-interchange on the A6 will enable an estimated one-third of the traffic using the existing Chalon Centre interchange to be diverted to the north of Chalon. Until now, a large proportion of these vehicles were HGVs serving the SaôneOr industrial zone via local roads. This new development will therefore reduce traffic on local roads in Champforgeuil and Chalon-sur-Saône, shorten the distances travelled by HGVs to the business parks, and improve local traffic flow. This will relieve the local roads in the residential areas of northern Chalon, reduce noise pollution and cut greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric pollutants. These emissions are estimated at 50,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent 20 years after entry into service. This new facility will also reduce the proportion of residents affected by nitrogen dioxide levels in excess of 20 μg/m3, a target value for health protection.

 

Specific developments for the ecologic transition

Right from the design stage, APRR designed the infrastructure to reduce its environmental impact, by avoiding, reducing and offsetting carbon emissions. For example, the final configuration has been modified to avoid large areas of land. Reduction’ measures have been taken during the works, such as adapting the schedule to preserve biodiversity during sensitive periods (life cycles), low levels of night lighting (solar LED) and the protection of plant species. The toll equipment comes from another APRR site in order to reuse as much of the materials to be recycled as possible. Finally, the ‘compensatory’ measures mainly concern wetlands, with more than 2.7 ha redeveloped out of a total ecological compensation area of 3.5 ha.

The construction companies have also used resources from their local sites. This choice limits the need to travel and promotes the economic development of the region of Chalon. As part of the Motorway Investment Plan (PIA) and APRR's concession contract, the creation of the Chalon Nord semi-interchange, which was delivered on schedule, is at the heart of a dynamic shared by all stakeholders.