the cost of The canal project Seine-Nord Europe between the Oise and the Scheldt, is strongly revised downwards, to around 4.5 billion euros, and this great site bearer of growth could start as early as 2015, according to a report released Wednesday, the department of Transport. – Pascal Rossignol, POOL
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They have put the time, but there it is : the State, the regions of the Hauts-de-France and Ile-de-France and the departments concerned are managed on Monday to “an agreement on a draft financial protocol” for the realisation of the canal Seine-North Europe, a project of 4.5 billion euros to date constantly pushed back, announced the secretary of State for Transport Alain Vidalies.

This book will connect the basins of the Seine and the Oise to the european network of the north of Europe, becoming a pathway to wide-gauge and, in part, an alternative to road traffic on an axis leading business.

” Alain Vidalies, and the communities welcome the outcome of this negotiation phase, which has just marked the willingness and the commitment of all partners for the realisation of this major project, supported by Europe, at the service of the territories and of the national economy, ” according to a press release from the secretariat of Transportation.

End of work in 2024

there’s just a week, the Prime minister Manuel Valls has reaffirmed the commitment of the State to see ” begin the first work as early as next year “. They must be completed in 2024. The estimated cost of $ 4.5 billion (bn) euros are net of tax.

Long 107 kilometres, situated between Compiègne and the canal Dunkerque-Escaut, the new infrastructure will, in part, the current path of the canal du Nord, including routes, currently 14 to 17 feet wide, will be extended to 54 metres. Six locks and 61 bridges, road and rail will have to be built.

The new canal will allow the transportation of shipments, which will reach, by train, up to 4.400 tons, or the equivalent of approximately 180 trucks. The transfer of traffic from road to water should reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and relieve congestion on the regional highways. The environmentalists of EELV dispute, however, the interest of the project.

Before a decisive meeting that was held Monday at the ministry of Transport, the funding was broken down as follows : 1.8 billion in the european Union (40 %), 1 billion of the State, and 1 md of communities to 0.7 md loan. This loan will be ” guaranteed to all by the State and communities “, according to the region Hauts-de-France. Among the communities, were planned 302,65 million of the Hauts-de-France, 110 of the region Ile-de-France, 200 in the Northern department, 130 of the Pas-de-Calais, 100 of that of the Oise, and 70 million of the Sum.

The forcing of Xavier Bertrand

The contribution of the région Ile-de-France has been downgraded, as it was initially planned to amount to € 210 million. For several weeks, this community was pull on her ear and wanted to know, before committing permanently, the amount of annual income made to its budget by the State.

The agreement reached on Monday was made possible “thanks to an additional effort of the region Hauts-de-France”, directed by Xavier Bertrand (LR), according to a ministerial press release. This effort has been provided in the surroundings of Xavier Bertrand, represents “50 million euros” and, in exchange, this region will have one more seat on the Board of directors. In addition to the representatives of the regions of Hauts-de-France and Ile-de-France, the departments of Nord, Pas-de-Calais, Somme, and Oise, are parties to the agreement, according to the ministry of Transport.

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