A47 Motorway Set to Reopen After Exceptional Floods
The A47 motorway, which connects Lyon and Saint-Étienne, is scheduled to reopen on Saturday morning, following its closure due to severe flooding that impacted the Centre-East of France. François Durovray, Minister Delegate for Transport, announced the reopening during a visit to Givors (Rhône) on Friday. He stated, "We are today on the A47 motorway which remains closed but, as you may see behind me, with teams who are intervening and who will allow the complete reopening of the axis tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 06:00."
Durovray emphasized the importance of restoring traffic flow, especially as many French citizens are preparing for holiday travel. He noted that dozens of agents, including firefighters and road department personnel, have been deployed to assist in the cleanup efforts. "We are in the final phase of removing the mud," he added.
Safety Measures and Ongoing Challenges
As part of the reopening process, extensive safety checks have been conducted to ensure that the motorway approaches are safe for motorists. However, it was noted that the emergency lane will remain closed due to the collapse of an embankment. Durovray reassured the public that all necessary precautions are being taken to prevent further incidents.
The floods, which struck on Thursday, were of exceptional magnitude, prompting the evacuation of approximately a thousand residents in affected areas. Tragically, one individual lost their life in Paris after a tree fell during the storm. This incident highlights the severity of the weather conditions that have affected various regions, including the Centre-East and South-East of France.
