As a member of the Oc’Via consortium, which holds a 25-year contract, Bouygues Travaux Publics is responsible for the construction of a new high-speed railway line in the South of France, bypassing the cities of Nîmes et Montpellier. The 80-kilometre line will be France’s very first mixed-use high-speed line, catering to both passenger and freight transport.

Linked to SNCF Réseau and its financial partners by a public-private partnership, Oc’Via has undertaken to provide integration opportunities for the long-term unemployed. In concrete terms, between 400 and 500 apprenticeship and full-time employment contracts were created. Eighty jobseekers taking part in integration programmes were active in the earthworks and civil engineering phases. Another commitment specific to this project was to contract 20% of works to local small and medium-size businesses and craftsmen. They were primarily involved in works connected to archaeological excavations, roads and utilities, and the layout of the line.

Although Oc’Via strived to limit the environmental impact of the project, there remained residual impact for which compensation must be provided under European regulations. Among other compensatory initiatives, the consortium purchased land and formed partnerships with farmers to implement ecologically-inspired protection measures. Specially planted crops of alfalfa have helped ensure the conservation of the little bustard, a protected species one third of whose stocks are found in the Gard department.