It has now spread to the entire French territory, or almost. Launched from Occitanie last week, the farmers’ angry movement has since grown in many departments. The actions, which aim to protest against increased taxes and standards restricting the agricultural profession, most often result in road blockages using straw bales or tractors. This causes, in fact, very serious traffic disruptions. Update on the situation this Wednesday, January 24.
In New Aquitaine
In Gironde, the most spectacular action is in Bordeaux, where a snail operation has been underway on the ring road since 5 a.m. this Wednesday morning. A new blocking operation also took place on the Aquitaine bridge at midday. Several motorways are blocked in the region: the A10 between Pons and Saint-Jean d’Angély, the A62 near Agen, the A63 near Bayonne, the A89 near Périgueux and the A65 near from Mont-de-Marsan.
In Occitania
In Occitanie, where the first roadblocks began, many farmers are still mobilized in the departments of Haute-Garonne, Gers, Tarn, Hautes-Pyrénées, Aveyron and Tarn-et- Garonne. The most significant blockage is on the A64, where the road has been closed between exits 26 and 27 since Monday. The demonstrators are well organized: improvised barbecues, food supplies… Without doubt the best organized blockades in France.
Still in Haute-Garonne, part of the A62 between Toulouse and Montauban, and the A61, at the Villefranche-de-Lauragais exit are also blocked. This Wednesday morning, breeders were also present in the Toulouse metropolis, blocking certain roundabouts. The Toulouse prefecture has also called on road users to postpone their trips as much as possible.
Around Toulouse, in the Gers, the Vic-Fezensac/Manicet-Eauze axis is still closed, and has been since Monday evening. In Tarn, the N88 road is closed to the north, towards Aveyron. Finally, in Tarn-et-Garonne, the Aussonne interchange, on the A20 motorway, north of Montauban, is also the victim of an agricultural blockage.
In Auvergne Rhône Alpes
This Wednesday morning, in Drôme, traffic is cut off on the A7 motorway (exits 12 and 19) and on the A 49 (exits 6 and 8). And in Cantal, a blockage is in progress on the A75 (exits 28 and 29). From 2 p.m., blockages are announced in the Lyon metropolitan area on the A47 in Givors and on the M6 metropolitan boulevard in Limonest.
In Pays-de-la-Loire
After some actions on Tuesday, the movement is gaining momentum in Pays-de-la-Loire this Wednesday. Since this morning in Vendée, farmers have been organizing an “open toll” operation on the A83, with actions around the Herbiers. In Maine-et-Loire, a total blockage this Wednesday at 9 p.m. is announced on the Angers – Rennes axis near Lion-d’Angers, indicates West France. Loire-Atlantique will join the discontent with an undoubtedly spectacular action tomorrow Thursday: several tractor parades will converge at the end of the morning towards the prefecture, in the city center of Nantes. Mayenne will not escape the “snail operations and blockages” on Thursday, particularly in Laval and on its ring road.
In Brittany
Rather calm until Wednesday, the mobilization of Breton farmers has gained strength in recent hours in Ille-et-Vilaine. The main axes connecting Rennes are cut, in particular the Rennes-Nantes, Rennes-Caen and Rennes-Saint-Malo connections. A large regional demonstration is also announced in the city center of Rennes on Thursday noon. Finistère is also affected since blockages are underway in the towns of Brest, Quimper and Morlaix.
In Hauts-de-France
Several highways in Hauts-de-France are currently blocked at certain points by farmers. This is firstly the case on the A16, in the Paris towards Belgium direction, at the Coquelles interchange serving in particular the cross-Channel terminal. Access to the port is also seriously disrupted, as the ferry companies feared this Wednesday morning. To avoid any accident, the prefect of Pas-de-Calais issued an order prohibiting traffic on this motorway at three interchanges, but also for the A26 motorway, also affected by a blockage. The authorities also noted other blockades by farmers, on the A2 motorway between interchanges 21 and 25, but also on the A25 where bales of straw were dumped on the roadway near Bergues, near Dunkirk.
In the Great East
In Bas-Rhin, around 400 tractors are expected in Strasbourg at the start of the afternoon. According to FDSEA 67, they will demonstrate for a minimum period of 24 hours. The prefecture is already forecasting major traffic difficulties, particularly at the Cronenbourg necropolis in Strasbourg where a regrouping is planned and on the M35.
In the Meuse, farmers blocked the A4 in both directions, before converging on the D903. The tractors return to the highway to block it at Haudainville (Meuse). Since the end of the morning, gatherings of tractors have also been heading towards the Manheulles bridge, one part from the Haudainville toll, the other part from the Ville en Woëvre toll.
In Moselle, the Young Farmers (JA) covered the radars located at the side of the roads with tires during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, making them unusable. A slogan has been included many times: “We’ll save you fines, save us from bankruptcy.” »