Former businessman Jean-Michel Aulas, running for mayor of Lyon, unveiled in early January a plan for an 8-kilometer megatunnel to relieve congestion in the Fourvière tunnel. This proposal, aimed at easing car traffic, sharply divides the election campaign, pitting pragmatism against claims of self-interest. Critics argue it prioritizes private gains over alternative transport options.
The campaign for Lyon's municipal elections is deeply divided over Jean-Michel Aulas's megatunnel proposal. Running for mayor, the former business leader announced in early January plans for an 8-kilometer underground route connecting Tassin-la-Demi-Lune in the northwest of the metropolitan area to Saint-Fons in the southeast. The goal is to address ongoing traffic issues in the Fourvière tunnel, which handles 110,000 vehicles daily, including 15% in transit.
This initiative forms part of a strong critique of the current ecologist-led administration in Lyon. Aulas launched his bid by highlighting traffic jams from roadworks. He argues the megatunnel would enhance car flow in a city where vehicles remain vital. His ally Véronique Sarselli, a Les Républicains candidate for the Métropole de Lyon and mayor of Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, endorsed this approach at a transport conference on January 19. "The car won't disappear with a wave of a magic wand," she stated.
Opponents, however, view the plan as emblematic of self-serving business interests, charging that it favors automotive solutions over other transport modes. This controversy highlights two opposing visions for Lyon's urban development, between road expansion and ecological transition.