Road INFRASTRUCTURE — Flic-en-Flac Bypass: new road corridor to the West

In order to improve accessibility to the West, the Road Development Authority (RDA) is proposing the establishment of an alternative route linking Pierrefonds to Xavier. This Flic-en-Flac Bypass project, 4.8 km long, will be carried out on land belonging to the Medine group and will require the acquisition of approximately 207 acres of land.

Located within the boundaries of the Rivière-Noire district, the project should directly benefit neighboring communities, including Xavier, Cascavelle and Beaux-Songes. The planned route mainly crosses agricultural land and avoids sensitive areas, with the exception of the crossing of the Rivière-du-Rempart, where a hydraulic structure will be built.

The project includes the construction of a single carriageway road, later expandable to a double track. It also provides for the construction of an interchange with an elliptical roundabout at Xavier, the development of several roundabouts to improve road connectivity, as well as the construction of a culvert (Box Culvert) of approximately 75 meters on the Rivière-du-Rempart.

Added to this are the installation of raised sidewalks and cycle paths, the installation of drainage systems and retaining structures, the relocation of certain bus stops and existing infrastructure, as well as the integration road safety equipment and public lighting. Work to relocate public service networks and landscaping is also planned.

In accordance with current legislation, in particular the Environment Protection Act 2002, this project is subject to the carrying out of an environmental impact study (EIA), entrusted to the firm VYYAASS Consulting Engineer Ltd. The report analyzes direct and indirect impacts on the physical environment, as well as social, cultural and economic dimensions, while proposing mitigation measures to ensure sustainable development.

Among the positive impacts identified are a significant reduction in traffic on the Palma road (B2), a reduction in travel times to the West, an improvement in road fluidity, as well as the creation of around 70 jobs during the construction phase.

This project also aims to reduce the costs of transporting goods, improve the mobility of users, increase economic productivity and strengthen the competitiveness of the country. Environmental measures, such as efficient drainage systems and landscaping, will be implemented in order to minimize impacts. The future Xavier–Pierrefonds road thus constitutes a major structuring project. By bypassing the Palma road (B2) and the village of Beaux Songes, it will offer an effective alternative to Flic-en-Flac. Overall, this project presents benefits p