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The wait will be much longer than expected for the residents of Vitet and Dévé. The territorial road at the Quatre Vents crossroads, which begins the ascent to Vitet, has been blocked by imposing rocks for almost two months now, following the landslide that occurred on July 19 during an episode of heavy rain. As a result, the road is still not open to traffic. At a neighborhood meeting held on August 30, the President of the Collectivité put forward a date of October 5 for a possible reopening (see JSB 1581), but his forecasts have since proved to be more optimistic than ever. In a press release issued on Tuesday September 10, Xavier Lédée indicated that traffic on the road leading to Vitet and Dévé would not resume before October 25. Assuming the opening can take place on that date, this will mean more than three months of various constraints for local residents.
I would like to assure you that regular surveillance and maintenance of the main access road has been and will continue to be carried out for the duration of the blockade," wrote President Lédée in his press release. In addition, the repair work on the route de Marigot has been adapted to limit the inconvenience caused to school transport. "
Legal action by the owner
After the neighborhood meeting on August 30, the situation seems to have changed somewhat. Indeed, Xavier Lédée confirms that the Collectivité has "encountered additional obstacles". He explains: "Despite all our efforts to maintain a constructive dialogue, the owner of the plot in question has chosen the legal route, taking several legal actions against our local authority. "When asked by JSB on Tuesday 10th and again on Wednesday 11th for further details on the nature of the legal action taken by the owner of the plot overlooking the road, the President of the Collectivité did not respond.
However, in his press release, Xavier Lédée states: "Faced with this situation and the owner's apparent reluctance to undertake the necessary work quickly, I had to take decisive action to protect the general interest. That's why, on Monday September 9, I signed a new safety order, aimed at implementing specific works, based on expert recommendations and costed by qualified companies. "Once again, the Journal contacted the local authority and its president to find out how much the work would cost. To no avail.
A work schedule
A schedule for the work to be carried out has been unveiled. In week 38, i.e. the week starting this Monday, September 16, in the absence of any action on the part of the owner, the Collectivité intends to take the initiative in carrying out the underpinning work on the terrace. It should be noted that pillars have already been installed to prevent any collapse of the part of the house whose foundations were swept away by the landslide on July 19.
Weeks 39 and 40 will see the drilling of boreholes and the creation of a Berlin wall. A Berliner wall is a type of retaining wall, either temporary or permanent, made up of vertically resistant elements and constructed using metal sections and wooden planking, precast slabs or steel plates. In week 41, anchors will be installed. Finally, if all the stages have been completed on schedule, week 42 will be devoted to restoring the roadway. "Our aim is to reopen the road on October 25," writes Chairman Xavier Lédée, who says he is "fully aware that no timetable will meet" the public's expectations. "I pledge that, in any event, we will make every effort to shorten this deadline", he asserts.asserts the elected official, assuring us that he has "personally mobilized all the resources" of the Collectivité.
In addition, aware of the growing anger of the residents of Vitet and Dévé - some of whom have announced a blockade of La Tourmente if the Vitet road is not reopened as soon as possible - he has decided to take the necessary steps.Xavier Lédée asserts that he "fully understands the impact of this situation" on the daily lives of residents. He mentions the detours imposed, the time lost, the concerns about accessibility to homes... And he pledges to inform residents every week of the progress of the work.
A degraded Route des Trois Forces
For the more pessimistic residents of Vitet and Dévé, the announcement of a postponement of the road opening date to October 25 was greeted without emotion. Except for the disappointment they had already anticipated. For others, more optimistic, it was a cold shower. As was the case for this resident, who vacillated between amazement and anger. Three months is interminable," she complains. I'm not sure people who don't live in the neighborhood realize the problems and worries it causes us every day. "
Detours and accessibility are two obvious problems, but they are compounded by many others. The fact that the Route des Trois Forces, narrow and in a sorry state of repair, is now used daily by all types of vehicles (from scooters to cars to construction trucks) is one of them. But also the question of the danger of this road, which is now the only possible access. "Together, we will overcome this ordeal," reassures Xavier Lédée in his press release.
If patience is the mother of all virtues, the residents of Vitet and Dévé will have to consult it daily. For another two months or so. At best.
