Does a sign direct motorists in Strasbourg to a toll?

• The opening, on December 17, of the Great Western Bypass (GCO) of Strasbourg, aimed at relieving traffic congestion at the entrance to the city, did not only make people happy.

• On Facebook, a very shared publication denounces the new signage put in place, which would encourage (by omission) motorists to take a toll lane rather than free (but not indicated) access to Strasbourg.

• Joined by

  20 Minutes

  , the Bas-Rhin prefecture and Vinci Autoroutes both evoke the need for an initial “adaptation period” for users.

As the end of year celebrations approach, motorists driving near Strasbourg would they be the victims of a signage “scam”?

On Facebook, in a publication shared more than 15,000 times in just a few days, an Internet user openly protests against this “geographic dishonesty”.

Photo of a supporting sign, he explains: "With the opening of the Grand Bypass West of Strasbourg (GCO), a toll motorway, public operators have installed new signage on the A4, the motorway between Paris and Strasbourg.

It turns out to be intentionally false.

Result: it creates traffic jams.

"

“[This photo] was taken south of Brumath.

On the right, it is written "direction Schiltigheim" [city of the suburbs of Strasbourg].

The Strasbourg inscription has disappeared.

However, you are only less than 10 minutes from the center of the European capital.

This is clearly the most direct route.

This route is completely free, ”he continues.

And the Internet user to add: “On the other hand, Strasbourg now appears on the left-hand signage, that of the A355, the new toll motorway - 5 euros for a car.

This lane deliberately bypasses the city and therefore takes you away from your destination.

"

FAKE OFF

The photo was indeed taken south of Brumath (Bas-Rhin), as can be seen on Google Street View, where we can see in passing that the discord traffic sign was already installed in March 2021 - without that its indications are not visible.

As indicated by the Sanef motorway group in a press release, since December 17, “the entry into service of the Strasbourg West Bypass motorway has changed traffic conditions on the A4, as it approaches the urban area. Strasbourg ”.

Its map for road users clearly indicates that the new access, via the A355, provides access to Strasbourg bypassing the city from the west, while the “Schiltigheim access”, via the A4, offers direct entry into the Eurometropolis.

An "initial period of adaptation"

Joined by

, the Vinci Autoroutes group, whose Arcos subsidiary is the concessionaire of the GCO motorway, indicates that "the choice of the indications and locations of the road signs does not depend on the motorway concessionaire, the approval of the signaling master plan being a decision that is the responsibility of the public authorities. "Regarding the appropriation of signage by users, the commissioning of a new infrastructure is often accompanied by an initial period of adaptation, the time for users to take their new landmarks and adopt their preferred routes" , continues the group, access to Strasbourg by the A355 amounting to 5 euros for a complete journey.

Contacted by

, the Bas-Rhin prefecture refers us to its press release of December 22 on the subject.

She explains that the western bypass aims to "reduce traffic on the central part of the current M35 motorway" (to the south-west of Strasbourg), in particular to bring about "an improvement in air quality in the city. 'agglomeration and limitation of noise pollution'.

“The road signs put in place were defined in 2018, after consultation and taking into account the observations of all the communities concerned.

It aims to encourage users to use the bypass rather than taking the M35, for transit traffic but also for certain local uses, ”explains the prefecture.

Before concluding: "The commissioning of this new road infrastructure leads to a change in habits and a necessary period of adaptation on the part of users, who test different routes by evaluating their advantages and disadvantages".

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