Politics · France · 2 hrs ago
A412 work can continue as court orders biodiversity measures
A judge has allowed construction of the A412 motorway to continue in Haute-Savoie, eastern France.
The judge rejected a request to stop work, including tree clearing and earthmoving.
Project company AMEDEA must put biodiversity protections in place within eight days under the ruling.
The company faces a €20,000 fine for each day it misses the deadline.
French biodiversity officials had raised concerns about protections for fish, amphibians and beavers, and the court confirmed breaches of the project’s environmental permit.
Environmental groups say the required changes come too late to prevent harm to protected amphibians.
More court decisions are expected this week, including a Lyon appeal court hearing on a suspension request and a planned challenge to France’s Council of State; decisions on the merits are expected within ten months.
A French judge has allowed work on the A412 motorway in Haute-Savoie to continue while ordering the project company to carry out biodiversity protection measures.
Amedea has eight days to comply or face a penalty of €20,000 per day of delay.
The ruling confirmed breaches of requirements in the environmental authorization issued by the prefect on 28 August.
Environmental groups had sought a halt to the work, citing risks to protected species including amphibians, fish and beavers.
Further court proceedings concerning the project are expected on 28 October and 28 or 29 October.
- Who
- Amedea, the Eiffage subsidiary responsible for the project, must carry out the measures. The judge ruled on a request brought by the Annecy prosecutor.
- What
- The court allowed A412 construction to continue but ordered biodiversity protection measures.
- When
- The ruling was issued on Tuesday, 27 October 2026.
- Where
- The A412 motorway project in Haute-Savoie, France.
- Why
- The ruling followed reported failures to meet environmental authorization requirements, including protections for animals.
Environmental groups
The judge
Suspension of construction
Environmental groups
Environmental defenders sought a suspension, saying environmental harm and irregularities had been established.
The judge
The judge did not suspend the work.
Timing of measures
Environmental groups
FNE Haute-Savoie said compliance came too late and that protected amphibians had already suffered from the work.
The judge
The judge ordered Amedea to implement biodiversity measures within eight days while allowing construction to continue.
The prefect issued the environmental authorization for the project.
Work on the site began, according to FNE Haute-Savoie.
The Annecy prosecutor brought the matter before the judge.
The judge allowed work to continue and ordered biodiversity measures within eight days.
The Lyon Court of Appeal is due to examine a suspension request brought by the City of Geneva.
Associations, farmers and residents plan to challenge the 15 October decision at the Council of State.
- Project company
- Amedea, an Eiffage subsidiary
- Compliance deadline
- Eight days
- Daily penalty
- €20,000 per day of delay
- Environmental authorization
- Issued by the prefect on 28 August
- Reported wildlife concerns
- Fish, amphibians and beavers
3 sources
What people are saying
The populations of amphibians (salamanders, common frogs), protected species, will unfortunately have borne the full force of the work carried out at a forced pace, with the avoidable destruction of many specimens.
We deplore that neither the State nor the judge recognizes the imperative to suspend this work, when the harm and irregularities are proven.