Long-awaited by-pass in La Rochefoucauld should be ready by 2010

Description:

The long-awaited by-pass for the town of La Rochefoucauld is on target for completion by 2010, according to engineer and project manager Alain Dudoit.

Pending any major technical or financial catastrophies, the 8.2km of tarmac should open as planned in 2010, bringing relief to the town's residents.  The RN141 currently passes through La Rochefoucauld, causing disruption for both residents and drivers, and initial work started two years ago with archaeological excavations and land clearing.  Work on the by-pass started in earnest this time last year, and progress has been steady.

The completed project will cost 54 million euros, with the government, region and department all contributing to the pot.  The 23.3 million euros required for the first stage has been met, with the government and Poitou-Charentes picking up 40.35% each, while Charente has met the remaining 19.3%.  How the remaining 30.7 million euros is to be funded has yet to be revealed, but the feeling is that Charente will again be asked for a contribution to the project. 

Some locals feel it should be funded on a national level, as part of upgrading and maintaining the national trunk road system, and the Département of Charente has recently pushed-back against separate demands for contributions to the planned LGV rail line, indicating an unwillingness to pass on costs to residents.

For the immediate future, the project will focus on the 5.8km eastern stretch of road, with earthworks completing in November, as well as the new bridge that is required to take traffic over the River Tardoire.