On January 21, 2025, the administrative court in Toulouse rejected an urgent request to suspend the construction of the controversial A69 highway, which aims to connect Castres in Tarn to Toulouse in Haute-Garonne.

The court justified its decision by stating that the legal case regarding the project will be judged in depth next month, indicating that the construction will have minimal immediate impact before then.

Despite the ongoing legal challenges, the court determined that the urgency to freeze the project was not demonstrated, allowing construction to continue.

Construction is well underway, with the contractor Atosca reporting that 45% of earthworks and 70% of civil engineering works have been completed.

The decision to allow construction to proceed surprised environmental groups, especially following a favorable recommendation from the public rapporteur in November 2024, who suggested that the project's authorization should be annulled.

During a hearing on November 25, 2024, the public rapporteur recommended canceling the project's authorizations, citing a lack of imperative public interest.

Major construction activities, including the diversion and filling of watercourses, are scheduled to begin after mid-February 2025 and will extend over several months.

Opponents argue that many compensatory measures proposed would harm protected species, viewing this as a critical moment in their fight against the highway project.

Legal expert Julien Béthaille criticized the quality of environmental assessments for large infrastructure projects in France, suggesting that more thorough evaluations could mitigate public protests.

Opponents of the A69 project have raised significant environmental concerns, particularly regarding the heavy construction activities planned in the coming weeks.

A recent op-ed signed by over a hundred lawyers and academics expressed concerns about the judiciary's handling of the A69 case, fearing a prioritization of economic interests over environmental law.

A new substantive hearing regarding the A69 project is expected to take place by the end of February 2025, as the court continues to review the case.