Langoiran, France – A three-year dispute over traffic direction between two municipalities south of Bordeaux has been reignited by essential water network maintenance, causing significant detours and resident frustration. The core of the conflict between the mayors of Langoiran and Tourne centers on the one-way circulation on Avenue du Pont de Rose in Tourne, a decision made in 2022 that Langoiran’s mayor, Jean-François Boras, has consistently contested in court.
A three-year-old traffic dispute between two French villages is causing major travel headaches due to ongoing utility work.
- A traffic direction dispute between Langoiran and Tourne, France, has been ongoing for three years.
- Current water network maintenance has closed Avenue du Pont de Rose, exacerbating detour issues.
- Residents are reporting significantly longer travel times and increased fuel costs.
- Langoiran’s mayor claims the work was imposed without adequate consultation, calling residents “hostages.”
- Tourne’s officials state the work was necessary and that Langoiran rejected a proposed solution for traffic flow.
The latest legal battle saw the administrative court reject an appeal from Langoiran on March 18, which sought to reinstate two-way traffic on Avenue du Pont de Rose. However, recent work by the Inter-municipal Union for Drinking Water and Sanitation of the Langoiran Region (SIAEPA) to maintain the water network has led to the closure of Avenue du Pont de Rose, bringing the issue back into sharp focus.
Detours Spark Widespread Annoyance
The road closure has disrupted daily commutes for many. Nathalie Mourlanne, who travels to Bordeaux for work, finds her routine complicated. Adding to her difficulties, other roadwork on the D10 in Tabanac makes accessing the main route even more challenging. “It’s a bit complicated for me to go and go back in the evening,” she admitted.
Beyond the inconvenience, the extended travel distances are impacting residents’ budgets. Mourlanne estimates an additional €50 per month for fuel. “It’s not negligible. I have a small budget,” she stated.
On the other side of the L’Estey stream in Langoiran, a resident of Avenue Michel-Picon expressed similar frustrations. What was once a 50-meter journey from the supermarket now requires a kilometer-long detour. “It’s anything,” the resident fumed. This has led some drivers to ignore the closures and travel the wrong way down Avenue du Pont de Rose, a trend confirmed by locals.
“Hostages” of the Situation
Jean-François Boras, the mayor of Langoiran, did not mince words when discussing the situation. He expressed bitterness over the lack of a resolution with Tourne and felt his town was “put at the foot of the wall” by the work. Boras claims he was only given a third of the notice for future work in the neighboring village.
Incivility, there are always. What I regret is that there was no solution found with the town of the Tourne. We were put at the foot of the wall for this work.
He continued, “The inhabitants of Langoiran and Tour are taken hostage. I deplore it. Frankly, this is not how it should work between two resident municipalities.”
Work Deemed Necessary
Christophe Hellies, an assistant mayor in Tourne responsible for associative, cultural life, and communication, countered Boras’s claims. He emphasized that the SIAEPA, not the town hall, is conducting the maintenance. “These works were necessary. If we were waiting, we should have cut the water for the inhabitants to be able to make them,” Hellies stated.
These works were necessary. If we were waiting, we should have cut the water for the inhabitants to be able to make them.
Hellies also indicated that Langoiran had refused a proposal to revert to two-way traffic on Avenue Michel-Picon. He acknowledged the current inconvenience but suggested the detours are minimal, attributing some of the heightened reactions to the approaching election period. Hellies did confirm issues with signage and expressed hope for a swift resolution, with the work scheduled to conclude on August 15.
