Why the new A69 motorway in France costs over €20 return, and who set the price

The A69 between Toulouse and Castres has barely opened, and it's already at the centre of a row. The reason is simple: a return trip on this 53 km motorway costs more than €20.

Even local politicians who backed the project are complaining. They say they feel betrayed by the promises they were given.

What happened?

The A69 opened on Friday 6 November, after four years of bitter conflict over the project. Opponents had called it environmentally destructive, and residents along the route also criticise the "enclavement" (the feeling of being cut off) created by its path.

But it's the price that has caught everyone's attention. At about 16 cents per kilometre, the A69 is one of the most expensive motorways in France. The national average is around 11 cents.

Why is it so expensive?

The toll wasn't a surprise: it was set before construction started. The motorway's operator, Atosca, sets the prices under a contract it signed with the French state in 2022. That deal covers building and running the road until 2077, with rules and price caps. Atosca proposes its tariffs, and the state checks they respect the contract.

A cut was in the works, though. The state, local authorities and Atosca had negotiated €41 million in extra public subsidies in exchange for toll cuts of about a third on two sections. But in late September, the Conseil d'État (France's top administrative court) gave a negative opinion on legal grounds. The government suspended the deal, so the original tariffs apply.

For comparison, the A65 between Langon and Pau costs about 19 cents per km. On the A14 near Paris, around 20 km can cost up to €10.80, or 51 cents per km.

What's next?

Prices could still fall. The state and local authorities could agree a new amendment to the contract that respects the legal rules raised by the Conseil d'État. Transport minister Philippe Tabarot said on Friday he is working with local authorities on a legal solution.

The other option is for Atosca to lower prices voluntarily. The contract figures are ceilings, not minimum prices, so it is allowed to charge less.