Christian Estrosi reviewed the progress of the western exit development project of the Voie Mathis on November 22, alongside the team in charge of the works.
“The work is progressing,” reassures Laura Erbisti, project manager for the Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur in charge of the western exit of the Voie Mathis (SOVM). Although it is difficult to see the progress from the road, in reality, the entire tunnel entrance has been completed.
The entirety of the walls that form the tunnel are constructed. This “box,” composed of four reinforced concrete walls, represents a total surface area of 21,450 square meters. “We have overcome the most complex and difficult stages“, says Christian Estrosi, president of Métropole NCA.
“A new major stage of the construction site has begun today with the realization of the hydraulic plug,” he shares. This tunnel, 850 meters long, will be partially open. The covered parts correspond to the passage under the intersections of Avenue Grinda. For instance, tramway lines 2 and 3 will pass above this tunnel.
One will be able to access it at the level of the old Saint-Augustin station, right at the end of the Voie Mathis. The exit will allow direct access to Boulevard du Mercantour. It will be on the same axis, near La Poste, a few hundred meters from the entrance to the A8.
More Time, Less Pollution
This 165 million euro project is one of the most anticipated by the people of Nice, as it tackles a major congestion point, aiming to drastically reduce congestion on this road notorious for its high traffic, with 13,000 fewer vehicles on Grinda. Currently, the avenue is used by 39,000 vehicles during peak hours.
With such infrastructure, the promise is to save time and reduce pollution. The Métropole NCA mentions a travel time saving of 5 to 9 minutes and a 30% reduction in air pollution (-6500 tons of CO2, fine particles, NOx).
Christian Estrosi promises a real transformation of the neighborhood with substantial improvements to the quality of life. On the surface, the freed-up spaces will be vegetated to combat urban heat islands in favor of creating cool islands.
150 trees and 10,000 shrubs will be planted by November 2024. “This will also provide this western exit of Nice, which had a bit of an underwhelming aspect for all its residents, a very significant landscape area,” comments the mayor of Nice.
A Direct Connection to the A8 Delayed to 2027-2028
The work began in 2021 and is expected to be delivered in two phases. Phase 1 concerns the first part of the tunnel from the Nice Saint-Augustin station. The opening is scheduled for the end of 2024.
Phase 2, which involves the direct connection to the A8 via its on-ramp on Avenue Grinda, was supposed to be delivered in 2026, but Christian Estrosi is now speaking of the horizon 2027-2028. “We first need to focus on other priority projects like the hall we are arranging at the port, tramway lines T4 and T5, and also the cable car that must cross the Var.”
This part of the project is in partnership with Escota, a Vinci Autoroutes company that manages the highways of the Côte d’Azur. The network explained to actuNice in July 2022 that it had to “carry out feasibility studies and determine the best way to connect these two major roads.”
“We no longer have discussions in the sense that we agree, and it has been validated by both European notifications and regulatory ambitions on competition issues by the French State.” Now, we will have to schedule the second phase, likely in 2027-2028,” he states.
