Benoît Lethuin: "On the A57 construction site, there are no small details"!

It required closures of the A57 only at night during the weekend, in the Toulon - Nice direction, on different sectors, in order to limit traffic disruption. Thus, the final asphalt layer was applied to the A57 highway between Toulon and La Garde and, from now on, users benefit from the final roadway in both directions of traffic, on this section of highway to the East of the metropolis. We catch up with Benoît Lethuin, operations manager on the A57 construction site. "It was a symbolic stage for the A57 construction site. The final major operation by VINCI Autoroutes was successfully carried out over 2 weekends, that of February 14 and that of February 28, from Friday evening to Monday morning, between the Benoît-Malon and Pierre Ronde interchanges in both directions of traffic," says Benoît Lethuin. Named "final pavements", this operation consisted of laying the final wearing course on the different lanes of the widened highway.

12,000 TONNES

The VINCI Autoroutes manager adds: "After a first part completed two weeks ago in the Nice - Toulon direction, the hundred participants and the 5 pavers (large construction machines that apply the asphalt layer) finished the asphalt of the 2x3 lanes after application in the Toulon - Nice direction. In total, more than 12,000 tonnes were laid on the 6.5 km section concerned by this operation. To meet the deadlines, VINCI Autoroutes had the 5 pavers working at the same time and side-by-side across the 3 traffic lanes and the hard shoulder (Bande d’Arrêt d'Urgence - BAU) which tomorrow will be the lane reserved for public transport, which gave a very impressive look to the site. "Motorists can notice the appearance of the final white marking, as we have applied more than 50 km of paint. While white paint is synonymous with the end of the works, the area remains limited to 70 km/h because finishing works still need to be carried out, particularly between the Toulon tunnel and Benoît Malon, mainly for safety equipment and signs to be installed. There is also work to be finished at the interchanges and public lighting. These are not necessarily things that motorists see, but they are nevertheless important for user safety. Vigilance at the wheel remains essential," continues Benoît Lethuin.

NIGHT WORKS

Due to its location in the middle of the city and the heavy traffic using it, the A57 highway could not be closed during the day for this new major operation. It was therefore once again during the night that the beehive awoke. "The teams were able to take over the highway when it closed each evening, to apply the 6,000 tonnes of asphalt each weekend. However, the A57 highway remained open during the day, in both directions of traffic, during this weekend. Depending on the weather conditions and technical hazards of the construction site, we had scheduled backup weekends; we used one, that of February 28, and that of March 7 was not necessary," specifies the operations manager. "Regarding the remaining work, there is still a bridge to open at the Les Fourches interchange, road restorations to finalize and landscaping to continue. As for acoustic screens, everything has been installed, except around commercial areas since regulations do not require it. Now, we are mainly carrying out night works. These works are less spectacular but just as essential as the rest of the site. There are no small details on a construction site like the A57 in the middle of the city, everything is important," concludes the manager! Now VINCI Autoroutes has entered the final stretch with the last works and final finishes. A final safety inspection will have to be carried out in the spring by the services of the Ministry of Transport for a final commissioning of the route between Pierre Ronde and the entrance of Toulon. The ministerial decision authorizing the final commissioning of the new widened infrastructure is expected before summer. •