FILE. Line 5 works: laying the rails, running tests… what remains to be done one year before the tramway is put into service in Montpellier

Des dizaines d’ouvriers œuvrent au quotidien devant le GGL Stadium. Midi Libre – TANYA CONTRERAS

Il reste 10 % des rails à poser sur le secteur nord et 50 % sur le secteur ouest. Les délais seront respectés. Rétroplanning d’un chantier titanesque avec Julie Frêche et Claire Rancoule.

Tick-tock, tick-tock… In exactly one year, the Montpellier Metropolis will inaugurate its 5th tramway line from the Girac roundabout in the north of the city to the Genneveaux roundabout in the southwest.

We take stock with Julie Frêche, vice-president of the Métropole, delegate for mobility and Claire Rancoule, the head of the line 5 project.

Progress of the construction site and the laying of the rails. Infographic Midi Libre – Antoine Llop

Northern sector

Rails. There are still 10% of the rails to be laid in this sector. The last rail will be laid in February 2025. This is the most advanced part of the construction site. “Because it's a new area with universities and research labs. It's less complicated than the old center in the western part,” emphasizes Julie Frêche.

Currently, the work is focused on everything related to systems: traffic lights, railway lights, high and low voltage, operating systems, passenger information terminals, and the installation of station shelters which will start at the end of the year…

Station.The very first station will be installed on the Marc Bloch square (formerly the Via Domitiana). Probably during the Christmas holidays.

Artificialization. In the north, a particular effort has been made to avoid artificializing the soil and the green meadows (which will not be watered) are beginning to be seen: “Technically, the rails are laid on two longitudinal beams to increase the space of a natural terrain where water can naturally infiltrate thanks to the installation of drains”, emphasizes Claire Rancoule.

Tension. During the first quarter of 2025, the overhead contact line (Lac) will be drawn along the entire route: an impressive construction site on the aerial part: “This will feel like the end of the construction site, by something very visible”, smiles Julie Frêche. She will be put under tension in mid-May.

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Tests. In five months: the first tests of the first Urbos 100X CA trains will begin. In June, the park and ride work will be completed. From July to December, there will be dry runs: “A running-in period where we will check the performance of the system.”

Training. The 500 drivers will be trained, as well as all the technicians who manage maintenance.

West Sector

Rails.Things are moving less quickly in this sector. But the main projects are underway. There are still 50% of the line to be laid. The infrastructure works (edges and laying of rails, etc.) will last until July 2025, while the northern part will begin rolling tests. Planting is well underway between the Paul Fajon stop and the Gennevaux terminus.

Marquise. The awning of the Dôme brewery, Place Saint-Denis, has just been removed to be rebuilt in the same spirit with the agreement of Bâtiments de France. It will be reduced in size to allow the train to make its turn to enter Rue Clemenceau.

After the first rail is laid at the height of the future Parc Clemenceau station. Midi Libre – GIACOMO ITALIANO

Work on Avenue Clemenceau . Midi Libre – GIACOMO ITALIANO

Tensions. During April 2025, the systems will be ready and the Lac will be installed during the summer. The infrastructure work will be completed in September 2025. The tests will take place from August to October 2025. Then from October until the commissioning in December will take place.

The transformation of the Place du 8 mai 1945. Midi Libre – Tanya Contreras

Workers. On this part, which is the most intense part of the construction site, there are 600 workers on the ground every day, including 50 in integration. And we need to add about a hundred people to provide engineering and support services.

Tests. The subsystem tests will take place from August to October 2025. “There will be fewer tests on this part. We expect the dry run to take place between the fall and commissioning”,note Julie Frêche.
And the inauguration will take place on December 20, 2025, at 11 a.m.

300 land acquisitions, 90% amicable and 10% expropriation

It was necessary to proceed with 300 land acquisitions, of which 90% were carried out amicably and 10% through expropriations. But in these 10%: “Often there is an agreement but there is not enough representation for large co-ownerships or there are family stories, successions that are not settled”, notes Claire Rancoule.

The real disputes “can be counted on the fingers of one hand”, insists Julie Frêche. A team is fully dedicated to this issue. In addition, three mediators manage and resolve on a daily basis all the problems of local residents, businesses, shops, garage entrances, deliveries, garbage collection…

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