Inflation: “Don't give in to the ambient catastrophism!”, the watchword of Gard public works professionals

Les entrepreneurs du secteur des Travaux publics et les élus se sont réunis au Mas Merlet, mardi 14 janvier. X.T. – Midi Libre

Public works in Gard and their main clients, public authorities, want to be optimistic about the future. Despite a context of inflation that is affecting order books.

“We will try not to give in to the ambient catastrophism”, warns Olivier Giorgiucci, president of the Regional Federation of Public Works (FRTP), at the 2025 wishes ceremony of Public Works in Gard, in Nîmes, Tuesday, January 14. A sector that has 200 companies and 3,000 employees in Gard.

The sentence, which seems to be based on the Coué method, is based on encouraging signs. Including the number of orders from local authorities, the main clientele, stable over the past year. “The need for infrastructure maintenance has driven our activities.” A stability that should continue until early 2025.

Postponed projects

Despite this displayed optimism, “the situation is tense”, confides Christophe Ruas, president of the Gard delegation of the FRTP. Certainly, in the Gard, no business failures have been recorded in the sector in 2024. “Even if it is more difficult for rural areas, where companies see their order books and their activity decline.” This is the case for 40% of the companies surveyed by the federation, often small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); compared to 60%, a stable order book. “The situation is not catastrophic, but it alerts us.”

On the regional council side, it is admitted that “It's the most complicated year to balance the budget.” With €187 million less in the budget, “a certain number of projects will be postponed, such as the renewal of the railway fleet, warns regional councilor Fabrice Verdier. That said, 2025 will impact us less, because we are continuing our multi-year plan. We are more worried about 2026-2027.”

Same fears for professionals. “2024 is the penultimate year before the municipal elections. Usually, we see projects hatching at this time, but that was not the case in 2024”, regrets the president of the FRTP.

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Carbon footprint: efforts to continue…

Despite inflation, the Public Works Federation says it is continuing its efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of companies in the sector by 40%. In the Gard, some have reached this threshold, using electric machines, biofuel or through eco-driving training (braking less, etc.). The reuse of recycled materials remains on the margins. “The contracting authorities must include it in their calls for tenders”, invites Christophe Ruas. A meeting to this effect with the Department should take place in a few days.

Multi-year envelopes maintained

“The context is complicated by inflation on materials, processes, salaries…”,lists Philippe Ribot, president of the association of mayors of Gard. The elected officials of Gard want to be optimistic. “There will be work on the Alès agglomeration”, reassures Christophe Rivenq, president of Alès agglomeration, whose Aggl'eau project provides for more than €200 million of multi-year investment.

In Nîmes Métropole, President Franck Proust recalls the €54 million of investment dedicated to public works in 2024. “It will be roughly the same volume in 2025. The envelopes will be stable, including for 2026”.

Airport, prison, bypass… Investments announced

In 2025, the Nîmes urban area plans to continue Papi 3 (flood prevention works program), the start of work on the airport (networks), displaying the ambition of “develop an industrial sector for water bombers”. The Magna porta economic district project “should see a start or at least announcements on companies in the second half of 2025”. The positioning of the future remand center “is definitively decided on the Zac Ocvia. We hope to lay the first stone in 2026.”

Concerning the Nîmes (Conîmes) western bypass project, a meeting will take place between local elected officials and the Minister of Transport Philippe Tabarot on Thursday, January 23. Other projects should soon be announced in the Gard rhodanien and Pays d'Uzès regions.

A sector that lacks attractiveness

Public works in Gard are struggling to recruit. The regional federation of public works (FRTP) is banking on internships open to second-year students. Last year, many young people did not find a company for their internship. A point to work on. At the end of February, second-year internships will be offered via the National Education website.

660 young people are trained in work-study programs at IFTP (Institute for Training in Public Works) but this is not enough to meet the needs each year.

“A fog from Paris”

In the City of Nîmes, the construction sites of the convention center (€60 million) and the road network (€12 million) will support the sector. “€600 million will be invested through our four priority neighborhoods, announces First Deputy Julien Plantier. They will be completely turned upside down, transformed.”

In summary, despite “a fog from Paris, which hides the prospects of our companies, image the president of the FRTP, referring to the national political context, we must stay the course of investment!”, addresses the president of the public works federation to the attention of the elected representatives of the territory. Contrary to the horizon, the message is clear.