It is “a nerve center“traffic in Loire-Atlantique. Michel Ménard, the president of the departmental council recognizes it, the Viais interchange is a very important crossing point in the south of the department, where pass every day more than 26,000 vehicles on the Nantes-Challans axis. Since the end of the work and the commissioning of the interchange at the end of 2021, travel times have been shortened.
Less traffic jams
Officially inaugurated on Tuesday, January 12, the Viais interchange, located in Pont-Saint-Martin (Loire-Atlantique) has therefore been in service for nearly two months now. In place of the old central roundabout now stands a portion of 2×2 lanes between Nantes and Challans, served on its sides by two roundabouts. A way to considerably fluidify traffic and save time, morning and evening.
Before, it was traffic jams all the time. It took fifteen, twenty minutes, sometimes even half an hour to pass this roundabout. With the interchange, it’s true, it’s more fluid “- Yannick, a regular on the Nantes-Challans axis for almost 20 years.
“A real relief“also for the inhabitants of Pont-Saint-Martin according to the mayor of the town, Yannick Fétiveau. Next to the interchange, a carpool area has also just been created, as well as a bicycle storage room. All managed by the Loire-Atlantique Departmental Council for a total cost of more than eight million euros.
Upcoming projects
Now make way for the extension of the 2×2 lane over two kilometers between Pont-Saint-Martin and the town of Sorinières. Work should start during the year 2024. At the same time, another site should see the light of day. A VRTC, a Lane Reserved for Public Transport, should also be built on the same axis, from the Viais interchange to Boulevard de Vendée in Nantes.
A first in France
Concretely, it would be of a third way exclusively reserved for bus transport and carpoolers. It would be a first in France. The same idea is also favored on the Nantes-Pornic axis, from Bouaye to the Nantes ring road. According to the Loire-Atlantique department, work should start around 2025.