The administrative court of appeal has dismissed the appeal by the city of Nice. The municipality will have to restore two-way traffic on the Quai des États-Unis. The mayor has announced upcoming work to adapt the axis.
The Quai des États-Unis is going back to two-way traffic. The administrative court of appeal rejected the city’s appeal. The municipality had requested to maintain the one-way traffic. The court considered that the passing of exceptional convoys remained a priority. The Mayor of Nice acknowledged this on Friday on his X account. He will have to implement the ruling.
Christian Estrosi announced the news while the plenary session of the Municipal Council is currently being held. He stated that he was informed of the decision by the administrative court of appeal. He explained that it “rejected our appeal to maintain the one-way traffic on the Quai des États-Unis,” while adding that “this decision stems from the State’s refusal to downgrade the Promenade des Anglais from its special road status designed for the passage of very large exceptional convoys.” He indicated that the city “will comply with this decision to restore two-way traffic, which nevertheless requires adjustments to guarantee the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.” The timeline will be communicated in the coming days. The mayor also plans to hold meetings with residents, users, and affected businesses.
This decision comes after several months of debates. In July 2024, the Administrative Court of Appeal of Marseille had suspended a decision by the Nice Administrative Tribunal. The return of two-way traffic was then blocked. The municipality and the Metropolis wanted to prevent an immediate reopening. The court had agreed with them twice. They were not required to enforce the February 2024 ruling, which demanded the re-establishment of two-way traffic.
Several arguments had been put forward. An AtmoSud study showed that closing the west-east direction had reduced traffic by about 60%. Air quality had improved in the area. The city felt that a reversal would go against its environmental and quality of life commitments. It highlighted that the current layout benefited pedestrians and cyclists, arguing that this choice was in the general interest.
Several business owners had spoken on this matter at the time. “Two lanes might have meant more traffic even if the road is not really busy now, potentially leading to more nuisance.” In a message, the city reminded that Nice had developed measures to calm the public space. It stated that a “reversal would be incomprehensible to the hundreds of thousands of pedestrians and cyclists who regularly use this axis. It’s a matter of public health, environment, and quality of life.”
A decision that will please some
The final decision of the court aligns with the State’s position. It does not follow the logic defended by the city council. For some residents who regretted the current situation, it is good news.
At the time, some local residents did not understand the space management policy on this part of the road. “There is a pedestrian lane that is really unnecessary. Bikes, I understand, but on the other side, there is nobody,” they explained.
The departmental secretary of the PCF06, Julien Picot immediately reacted to criticize the mayor and his deputies: “As usual, Christian Estrosi is once again reminded by the court. This judgment on the Quai des États-Unis is clear: no one is above the law. Urban planning cannot be decided alone, without consultation, and outside the legal framework. We demand a complete reassessment of the project, involving local residents, users, and mobility stakeholders to ensure safety, efficiency, and respect for the law. Nice cannot be managed like a personal property. The court reminds the mayor of this; we will continue to remind the people of Nice.”
The Port and Environment Neighborhood Committee, which has been following the case from the start, can therefore be pleased with the decision. The municipality must now organize the works. The Quai des États-Unis will again change its operation. The case is probably closed this time after long months of proceedings. Local stakeholders will certainly follow the next steps closely.
