Future Auch hospital: the Agglo offers two sites with a preference for Pavia

The submission of applications for the construction site of the future Auch hospital center ends on March 17. The Grand Auch Cœur de Gascogne intends to position itself well for this AMI, call for expressions of interest. With not one, but two potential sites, even if in reality only one is really pushed: the land of Pavie, on the edge of the RN 21, as La Dépêche announced on February 13.

“It’s not quite final yet,” says the president of the urban community, Bernard Pensivy. A meeting was held at the beginning of last week, which brought together the services, the elected officials of Auch, as soon as the AMI was published. Two geographical situations are studied. The land located to the north, near Naréoux, or those located in Pavie, to the south, along the RN 21? In both cases, the surfaces belong to the Agglo.

The Agglo does not hide its preference for a location in Pavia, confesses the elected. “The Agglo is pushing in the same direction as the municipality of Auch. The concern for balance in the territory plays a major role, as does the territory’s health network. Bernard Pensivy, like the other elected officials, takes into account the choices of neighboring departments, which have an impact on Gers health. “We are talking about Toulouse, but also Tarbes: their hospital center is moving away towards Lourdes, and widening the gap a little more with the Gers. Our fellow citizens in the south of the Gers see the medical services go a little further. Moving the hospital closer makes sense. »

With or without bypass

One of the main reservations opposed to the choice of the site of Pavia concerns the crossing of Auch. A false debate, according to the Agglo, since vital emergencies are already leaving by air rescue. “If there is a transfer need, we use helicopters, and if we have to go by road, 2 or 3 minutes don’t change much,” says Bernard Ponsivy. This is our approach. »

But the ring road is one of the probable options, even if it is not immediate. The Grand Auch and the Department, led by the same majorities, are on the same wavelength. Meetings await dates, with the town hall of Auch and the departmental council. It remains to know the position of the State, which remains vague on its participation. “The two bypass options, from the Hurrée roundabout, to the west, or from that of Saint-Cricq, to ​​the east, are still on the table, confirms the president of the Agglo. But the position of the State is not clear on this question. »

West or East

The competence of the national roads must return entirely to the department by the end of the year 2025. On the subject of the ring road, the prefecture therefore returns the ball to the three partners: Agglo, city of Auch and Department. There too, we will have to meet and discuss a lot.

Especially since local elected officials do not want to hear too much about the western ring road. “We want to give priority to bypassing the east, which would also include that of Pavia,” says Bernard Pensivy. This route is rejected by the State for questions of higher costs, but it would be more relevant in terms of traffic. “Studies highlight the few vehicles that cross the entire town to get out. But this method of calculation does not take into account the traffic that passes from the RN 21 to the northern activity zones, such as Engachies.

Here again, the elected official observes “the benevolence of the departmental council”, but recognizes that “it will still be necessary to speak about it that the State puts its hand in its pocket, once the competence of the national roads is retroceded to the department. »