France: ‘Ground-Breaking’ Environmental Road Opens
A new 24-kilometre road that incorporates ‘unprecedented environmental measures’ has been opened in France. The Western Strasbourg bypass (A355) was recently inaugurated by French Prime Minister, Jean Castex and Pierre Coppey, Vinci Group’s Executive VP and Vinci Autoroutes’ Chairman.
Financed by Vinci, the two-lane 110kmph motorway cost €561 million to build, with around €130 spent on its “ecological transparency and environmental integration” alone. To offset the negative environmental impact of its construction, 1,315 hectares (13,150,000m2) of land have been renatured to allow biodiversity to flourish. “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”, said Vinci Autoroutes.
Hudson Tunnel Project Gets A Go For Construction
The Project proposes to rehabilitate the existing tunnel under the Hudson River that carries Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT Northeast Corridor passenger trains between New Jersey and New York, and construct a new tunnel and associated railroad infrastructure to carry passenger rail trains while the existing tunnel is being rehabilitated. In a milestone event, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced on December 1st the issuing of a permit to allow construction of the tunnel and tracks under the Hudson River.
Work on two new tunnels and the rehabilitation of the two 111-yearold existing tunnels could begin as early as 2023. The Gateway Development Corporation said federal financing for the Hudson Tunnel Project could be ready by the end of 2022. The project is expected to be complete in 2035.