Velaines Bypass: Opening of the Ligny-en-Barrois Interchange
France RN135 – Velaines Bypass: Ligny-en-Barrois Interchange Now Open
On Friday, October 17, 2025, the Ligny-en-Barrois interchange, a central element of the Velaines bypass, was officially opened to traffic. Led by the NGE Group, this strategic project aims to improve traffic flow on the RN4—which sees between 10,300 and 14,300 vehicles daily—and enhance road safety in the Ornain Valley.
Co-financed by the French State, the Grand Est Region, GIP Objectif Meuse, the Meuse Department, and the Bar-le-Duc Sud Meuse Agglomeration Community, the project is under the ownership of DREAL Grand Est and the design supervision of EGIS Villes et Transports. The Ligny-en-Barrois interchange, now operating in a temporary configuration, includes four ramps, one overpass, two underpasses, two hydraulic structures, and a roundabout, ahead of the full bypass opening planned for 2028.
A Complex, Multi-Disciplinary Project
Spanning 18 months, the project mobilized six subsidiaries of the NGE Group: NGE GC (civil engineering, lead contractor), MULLER TP (earthworks), SLD TP (drainage), AGILIS (signage, extruded concrete, traffic management), NGE FONDATIONS (piles), PONTIGGIA, along with TRABET (asphalt) and Eiffage Métal (metal beams for PI3), illustrating the multi-disciplinary scope of the operation.
Among the five engineering structures, the largest, PS1, required the placement of 32 pre-stressed concrete beams, each 21 meters long, lifted by a 220-ton crane—a high-precision operation involving six staff members. The project also involved the excavation of 180,000 m³ of material and the placement of 110,000 m³ of fill, reused on site as part of a circular economy approach.
A Project Integrated into Its Environment
Crossed by two watercourses, the Ornain River and the Vaunéval stream, the site was equipped with amphibian-protection nets and straw filters to protect wildlife and limit water pollution. The presence of gas networks required close coordination with GRTgaz. Site access, shared with local residents, was organized with dedicated crossing zones.
Heavy rainfall in 2024 caused over 60 days of bad weather, affecting the pace of work. In total, 1,290 hours of environmental mitigation measures were carried out across the site.
Project Key Figures
- Construction cost: €18 million (excluding VAT)
- Engineering structures: 5
- Sanitation collectors: 2,200 linear meters
- Safety barriers: 1,300 linear meters
- Noise barriers: 140 linear meters
“This strategic project highlights the expertise of our teams in delivering complex, multi-disciplinary infrastructure, while contributing to smoother traffic flow and daily road safety. Our teams are proud to have participated in a project that truly benefits the region,” said Jean-Marie Costa, Operational Director Grand Est at NGE.
