He answers questions from La Gazette du Var.

Ces 5 années, passées à Toulon, vous ont-elles changé ?Non, je n'ai pas changé, je suis resté le même comme le chante si bien Julio Iglesias ! Par exemple, quand la Ville de Toulon m'a remis une médaille d'honneur, je ne m'y attendais pas. De toute ma carrière, c'est la première fois que je reçois une distinction de la part d'une commune. C'est vrai que j'ai reçu la légion d'Honneur en 2020 de la part du ministre des Transports mais jamais une ville n'avait pensé à me distinguer. Ce jour-là, dans les salons de la mairie de Toulon, ce fut donc une grande surprise et un grand honneur et, dès le lendemain, mon téléphone a été inondé de SMS pour me féliciter ! Je pense même que j'ai été plus félicité que lors de la remise de ma légion d'Honneur !

How do you explain such a movement of sympathy?

I think it is thanks to my local roots. Admittedly, I am only an engineer, but the Ville recognized, by honoring me, the work I accomplished for the benefit of the territory. This means that we did a good job, my team and I. I was also officially thanked by the chief of staff of the préfet du Var who wanted to congratulate me on the achievement. I spent nearly 10 years of my life in Toulon (2015 – 2025) and I also worked on the Montpellier bypass construction site for ten years (2007 – 2017). In ten years, a lot happens in a life. Montpellier and Toulon represent twenty years of my career, meaning two-thirds of it. That is quite exceptional! But, I admit that I have a very particular job. At the end of the A57 widening project, we carried out the work that was requested of us and we even did it very quickly considering the procedures, public inquiries, consultations, etc. At no point was the work slowed down because we were very proactive. And we also benefited from a lack of opponents to the construction site. Nevertheless, between the start of the procedure and the end of the work, ten years went by.

What was your method for managing this construction site?

I have a very simple method: I handle the files one after the other. My way of looking around me. But mine leads to concrete results. My strength is being interested in others. That is what I do constantly, and I can tell you that, sometimes, it is exhausting!

Is this method also in your DNA?

Indeed. It corresponds to the context in which I grew up. And because I do not forget where I come from. I come from a working-class background where people hold onto their roots. In my native country, Maroc, we had respect for others, and not behaving well was unacceptable. I learned not to disrespect others and to have respect for others, whoever they may be. During the construction work, local residents understood this well. My credo is to serve the general interest and not to distinguish people based on their status. For this, experience is needed, knowing how to adapt, and a lot of reflection and anticipation.

Was this also demonstrated in your relations with local authorities?

As operational director of the A57 construction project, and as project owner, relations with local authorities are essential, if not vital. I was helped by my dynamic and professional team, which had many skills. Furthermore, having been in Toulon since 2016, I had a good knowledge of the traffic on the A57 and all its important characteristics in order to know how best to organize in relation to local residents and also daily users on this section to be widened.

And how will the next chapter of your career be written?

I think I will continue as long as I have the desire and my health allows it, and as long as I am allowed to work my way. I have always been practical. It is the only thing that motivates me. •