THE A55 MOTORWAY: MARSEILLE-FOS, SECTION PENNES-MIRABEAU-MARTIGUES

THE PENNES-MIRABEAU-MARTIGUES SECTION OF THE A55 MOTORWAY, 20 KM LONG, LINKS THE MOTORWAYS NORTH OF MARSEILLE AND THE MIRAMAS REGION. IN COMING YEARS IT WILL BE EXTENDED UP TO THE INDUSTRIAL ZONE OF FOS. IT CONSISTS OF A TWO CARRIAGEWAY MOTORWAY OF 7 M, AND A CENTRAL RESERVE OF 12 M, THE LAYOUT OF WHICH REPRESENTS A COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE NEEDS TO ADAPT TO SOIL CONDITIONS AND TO THE OBJECTIVES OF SERVING THE AREA BY MEANS OF FIVE MAJOR INTERCHANGES. THE WORK HAS BEEN CHARACTERIZED BY: THE MAGNITUDE OF THE EARTHWORKS (400000 CU M OF WHICH TWO-THIRDS WERE CARRIED OUT IN LIMESTONE ROCK); THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RELOCATION OF NETWORKS, DUE IN PART TO THE PRESENCE OF OIL PIPELINES; THE PAVEMENTS OF GRAVEL-BITUMEN (30 CM IN TWO COURSES) WITH A WEARING COURSE OF 8 CM; THE POUSSAGE TECHNIQUE FOR THE OF A STRUCTURE ON A MOTORWAY IN SERVICE, WITHOUT INTERRUPTING THE TRAFFIC. THE WORK WAS COMPLETED IN 30 MONTHS MAINLY BY CONTRACTORS WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF SOME SUB-CONTRACTORS. THE COST WAS 140 MILLION FRANCS OR 7 MILLION FRANCS/KM. THE FIRST PART OF THIS ARTICLE APPEARED IN CONSTRUCTION NO 10, OCTOBER 1975, PP 265-278.