• The Grand western bypass (GCO) of Strasbourg was opened to traffic on 17 December.

    Since then, many cars and especially trucks use it.

  • Does this have consequences for air quality in the Alsatian capital?

  • "We have not observed a significant drop or rise in the concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particles (PM10), the two markers of road traffic", answers érenice Jenneson, head of the monitoring unit at the local air quality constable.

Winter 2021-2022 will remain a rarity in the Strasbourg conurbation.

For the first time since their introduction in 2017, Crit'Air vignettes were not requested.

Understand that no differentiated traffic day has been imposed on motorists in the event of a pollution peak.

Would the air now be more breathable in the Alsatian capital?

“No, the indices that measure all of this have been poor for a long time in recent months.

There was little wind and little rain, which led to a stagnation of pollutants”, answers Thomas Bourdrel, doctor and president of the “Strasbourg Respire” collective.

The figures from Atmo Grand-Est confirm this with an air quality index that is often "degraded" or even "bad" in the Eurometropolis.

All with measurements close to those recorded the previous winter.

Even since December 17, the day of the opening of the Great western bypass (GCO) of Strasbourg.

This 24 km motorway section launched with the aim of relieving the M35 which crosses the city.

"We have not observed a significant drop or increase in the concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particles (PM10), the two markers of road traffic", supports Bérénice Jenneson, head of the monitoring unit at the local air quality constable.

However, visibly, today there are far fewer trucks and cars using the M35... At the end of January, official figures mentioned a fall "of 35% in the volume of heavy goods vehicles, against Light vehicles ".

For its part, the Vinci Autoroutes dealership estimated that “7,000 per day on average” the number of vehicles opting for its A355.

“You have to wait at least six months”

Wouldn't all this be felt in the stations of Atmo Grand-Est?

Bérénice Jenneson is asking for more time for the answer to be complete.

“You have to wait at least six months to know if the GCO really has an impact on air quality.

From one year or one month to another, NO2 and PM10 pollutants can vary depending on weather conditions (rainfall, wind speed and direction, etc.) and emissions from human activity (residential heating, industries, agriculture, etc.).

So see you, at best, in June.

Even if we should not expect miracles according to Thomas Bourdrel.

“Before the opening of this highway, Atmo Grand-Est had estimated that the reduction of these famous pollutants would be at best 10%.

This will be much more important when the car fleet has been renewed and public transport will be used more.

“The doctor is still positive: “During the first confinement (March 2020), we observed reductions in these emissions of up to 60% in certain cities.

When everyone was at a standstill.

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  • Strasbourg

  • Planet

  • Pollution

  • highway

  • Great East

  • Air pollution

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