Salvador Nunez: 'My credo: adapt, think a lot, and anticipate'!

A civil engineer and recognized specialist in complex projects, the Andalou of origin has never lost his taste for the field, where he stands out for his inimitable style and sense of contact. Thus, under his direction, the A57 construction site enabled the widening to 2x3 lanes over 7 kilometers, the construction of several engineering structures, and the reconfiguration of all interchanges, among others in a dense urban area with an average traffic of 110,000 vehicles per day, a feat rarely achieved in France. He answers questions from La Gazette du Var.

Have these 5 years spent in Toulon changed you? Salvador NUNEZ.

No, I haven't changed, I remained the same as Julio Iglesias sings so well! For example, when the Ville de Toulon awarded me a medal of honor, I did not expect it. In my entire career, this is the first time I have received an award from a municipality.

It is true that I received the légion d'Honneur in 2020 from the ministre des Transports, but no city had ever thought of distinguishing me. That day, in the salons of the mairie de Toulon, it was therefore a great surprise and a great honor, and the very next day, my phone was flooded with text messages to congratulate me! I even think I was congratulated more than when I received my légion d'Honneur!

How do you explain such a wave of sympathy? SN.

I think it is thanks to my local roots. True, 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 worked well, my team and I.

I was also officially thanked by the directrice de cabinet du préfet du Var who wanted to congratulate me on the completion of this project. It is quite rare to be congratulated at the same time by the city and by the préfet. These congratulations were deserved because we worked hard for the success of the construction site.

Does this mean that the mission has therefore been accomplished? SN.

Indeed, this means that we have perfectly met the expectations and needs of the territory. However, I have always thought that it is not up to me to judge whether what I did is good. It is up to others to say so and, clearly, they did.

I spent nearly 10 years of my life in Toulon (2015 – 2025) and I worked on the construction site of the rocade de Montpellier for ten years as well (2007 – 2017).

In ten years, a lot happens in a life. Montpellier and Toulon represent twenty years of my career, which is to say two thirds. It is quite exceptional!

But, I admit that I do a very particular job. At the end of the widening project of the A57, we did the work that was asked 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 project. Despite everything, between the start of the procedure and the end of the project, ten years went by. What was your method for leading this project?

SN.

I have a very simple method: I handle the files one after the other. My way of working is in line with who I am. We can very well respect the regulations without being bound to behave in an administrative manner!

Certainly, I apply the rules, but that must not stop us from working as a team, and being in a strict framework, constrained by regulations, does not prevent finding a solution when necessary. To achieve this, one must be available at every moment. So, this obliges us to invest ourselves and to make decisive choices.

My working method is not the one I see around me. But, mine leads to concrete results. My strength is taking an interest in others.

This is what I do constantly, and I can tell you that, sometimes, it is exhausting! Is this method also in your DNA? SN.

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 project, local residents understood this well. My credo is to serve the general interest and not to distinguish people based on their status. For this, it takes experience, knowing how to adapt, and thinking a lot and anticipating.

Was this also demonstrated in your relations with the collectivités? SN.

As the operational director of the A57 construction site, and as the maître d'ouvrage, relations with the collectivités 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 specificities to know how to best organize with respect to local residents and also daily users on this section concerned for widening.

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

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 in my own way. I have always been focused on the concrete. That is the only thing that motivates me.