Opponents of the underground section of tram line 2 want to change things.
Gathered around their leader, Patrice Benoit, opponents of the underground section of tram line 2 met on Tuesday, June 24, to discuss the next steps in their action.
The main objectives of this vigilance committee are primarily to inform the public about the risks of the tramway going underground, to create conditions for a new form of response, and to advocate for an alternative project.
According to them, the tunnel is a dangerous and costly idea due to technical, geological, and budgetary uncertainties.
Aside from the fact that taxpayers in Nice “will once again have to dig into their pockets,” they regret that residents near the underground tramway were not consulted and that the municipality remains completely silent on the subject.
Present at the gathering, Josiane Pastorel, president of the Victor Hugo neighborhood committee, even states that the residents in this sector of Nice still believe that line 2 will go along the Promenade des Anglais, as initially planned.
Éric Fontolliet, a freelance architect and committee member, asserts that “when you can build a tramway on the surface, you don’t build it underground.”
In his view, numerous risks surround the tunnel: seismic risks, as Nice is located in a highly exposed area, flood risks due to potential floods of the Paillon, and finally, risks of cracks from the construction works on the old city’s buildings, which do not have reinforced concrete foundations.
He also points out the budget needed to construct a 3.2-kilometer tunnel, which only includes four stations spaced 800 meters to 1 kilometer apart.
Éric Fontolliet proposes an alternative project he believes is more useful and economical. His entirely surface-level route would improve coverage of the city center, reduce pollution, and eliminate the previously mentioned risks.
Stay tuned for updates.
