In a way, it is the front steps where everyone wipes their feet before entering France. And what a porch! You don’t have to go far back in our archives to find particularly low-praise articles about the Portes de France motorway area of the A31. Some fellow journalists go so far as to describe it as the most repulsive area in France. Is right.
Latrines in a terrible state, premises in tune with, as a bonus, inscriptions of uninspired poetry on the walls, the grass strewn with waste … In short, anyone with a minimum of humanity would not have sent their worst enemy, if only to relieve himself in an impromptu way.
Since then, the many times announced (and hoped for) work has taken place. Started at the end of 2018, they ended in 2020 with a bonus inauguration in September. Dry and ecological toilets, redone asphalt, lots of places planned for heavy goods vehicles… What about after six months of operation? Will the Porte de France make people forget its dirty reputation?
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The best
Once there, it is clear that there is indeed change. As much to say it right away, there is indeed rubbish lying around. Masks, cigarette ends, a shoe, an exploded truck tire… Good citizenship is obviously still not on the agenda, but the waste present is in much smaller proportions than before. On this point, we meet the standards of what is visible in other French areas. Especially since the overhead bins seem to be well and truly used.
Same observation level sanitary. In terms of cleanliness, we can obviously see that some users have left traces of their passage, but no obscene graffiti on the wall or damaged earthenware. In addition, their ecological side seems to require users to a little more respect. Especially since the maintenance seems regular.
If there were to be a real criticism to be made, it would certainly be on the side of the explanatory plaques which detail the operation of these eco-responsible toilet blocks. The filtration of rainwater reused for hand washing is thus explained, as is the use of cranks to operate the machinery or the vermicomposting of stools. Reading remains interesting, but it is done only… in French. For an area where Luxembourg, Lithuanian, Romanian, German, Belgian, Spanish plaques are visible, it’s almost a shame. English and German would probably not have been too much.
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