(Toulouse, France, 2025-12-20 06:43:00) — An investigation has revealed that the construction of a French motorway between Toulouse and Castres has illegally encroached on protected areas, prompting a rebuke from the Toulouse prosecutor.
The A69 motorway project has resulted in an illegal footprint of 29 hectares – approximately 7% of the total project area – across 46 sites along the 53-kilometer route, according to an investigation by the French Biodiversity Office.
- An investigation found 29 hectares of illegal construction impacting the A69 motorway project.
- The Toulouse prosecutor has denounced the construction as “a serious disturbance to ecological public order.”
- Opponents of the project previously claimed over 42 hectares of additional land had been improperly utilized.
Illegal Encroachment Confirmed
The findings confirm claims made in late November by the collective of opponents of the A69, La Voie est libre, who alleged the existence of at least 42 hectares of additional rights of way that had been “artificialized” on the construction site, according to reporting by La Tribune.
Toulouse prosecutor Mathieu Galy denounced the situation on Friday as “a serious disturbance to ecological public order” during a hearing before the judge of freedoms and detention, according to reports.
The illegal footprint includes the “cutting down century-old trees” and “destruction of hedges and wetlands,” Galy stated.
Why It Matters
This development highlights growing scrutiny over large-scale infrastructure projects and their environmental impact in France. The A69 motorway, intended to improve transportation links between Toulouse and Castres, has faced sustained opposition from environmental groups and local residents concerned about its ecological consequences. The confirmation of illegal land use raises questions about oversight and enforcement of environmental regulations during the project’s development and could lead to legal challenges or delays.
“A serious disturbance to ecological public order” – Toulouse prosecutor Mathieu Galy on the A69 motorway construction.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by La Tribune and added independent analysis and context.
