Page 39 - Monaco Economy 130-2

Cap-d’Ail: a hopper in 2026?

by Milena Radoman
A two-way bypass to and from the Moyenne Corniche is the project supported by the Métropole
Nice Côte d'Azur and 80% financed by the Principality, to the tune of €8.8 million . Delivery is
*
expected in 2026.

The Cap-d’Ail hopper features prominently in
the Monégasque government’s urban mobility
plan. This future two-way and double-lane
underground road is “important for Monaco
in order to streamline traffic in the Rainier III
Tunnel and avoid too-regular closures,” believes
Minister Céline Caron. This development
consists of diverting traffic underground,
in order to minimise jams on the Moyenne
Corniche (RM 6007). “The presence on the
RM 6007 of an intersection managed by traffic
lights, just before the tunnels, causes bad
congestion, increasing travel times for the
thousands of daily users. These slowdowns
then impact traffic on the whole of the Moyenne
Corniche, beyond the town of Cap- d'Ail to Eze,
La Turbie and Beausoleil, but also in the A500
tunnel and the Rainier III Tunnel, the latter
having had to be closed 95 times in 2022 for
security reasons linked to the phenomenal
queues . These operating difficulties no longer
**
make it possible to ensure the safety of users
on the routes taken," explain the services of © Tous droits réservés
the Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur, convinced that
the fluidification of traffic on the RM 6007 "will Carrefour de Cap d’Ail aujourd’hui / Cap d’Ail crossroads today
in fact reduce the slowdown in the Rainier III
Tunnel, thus limiting queues and therefore this project have any impact on the 45 minutes
making this route safer.” to an hour of traffic jams that commuters Provisional timetable
experience every day on their way to work,” - Autumn 2023: public consultation to
The hopper raises its ugly head once more! he recently argued. collect opinions on the project
This project may have been a subject of - End of 2023/start of 2024: referral to
discussion for over 10 years – the first studies Beleaguered bypass the competent authorities (Architect
date back to 2013 – but it has made progress Cap-d'Ail has requested the cancellation of the of French Buildings, Environmental
in recent months. With the feasibility study two deliberations of the Metropolitan Council, Authority, Regional Archaeology
validated, the building contract signed in June voted on without taking into consideration the Service)
2023, a provisional schedule for the start of municipality's disapproval of such an urban - 2024: studies and consideration of
preparatory work at the end of 2024 and an project which would also lead, according to the regulatory advice
expected completion at the beginning of 2026, mayor, to the elimination of 30 parking spaces - End of 2024: preparatory work
everything will now depend upon the outcome and the loss of €30,000 in annual revenue for - 2025-2026: civil engineering and road
of Cap-d'Ail's appeal against this proposed the municipal coffers. “It is regrettable that works
artery. Mayor, Xavier Beck, who has always our neighbours [the Principality, Editor’s note]
spoken out against it, took the matter to the have decided to short-circuit and cut off all
administrative court in May 2023. “This hopper relations on this subject, speaking directly
is extremely detrimental to our municipality. to our friends in Nice,” declared Xavier Beck, *Monaco has also committed to paying €15.5 million
It was not approved as it should have been by during his very- politically-charged New out of the €20.5 million of the cost of works to widen the
the Metropolitan Council. The opinion of the Year speech, insisting that there would be hospital roundabout and boulevard du Jardin Exotique.
Cap-d'Ail Municipal Council was not obtained "no interest in transforming Cap-d'Ail into a ** Mont-Blanc regulations require the tunnel be closed
[...] Yes, we need to improve traffic conditions dormitory town or a car park for travelling to as soon as 100 metres of tailbacks form, at which point
but certainly not with a bypass. In no case will and from the Principality.” authorities are obliged to close it.

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