Vinci denies it

In recent days the city of Strasbourg announced that the Vinci group was unable to build the western bypass of the city for lack of funding. The city council stated: "Quite apart from the underlying debate between supporters and opponents of the GCO, it has to be noted that the VINCI group has been unable to bring together the banking consortium needed to make the financial package set out in the draft concession contract between the State and the group a reality. This clearly shows that, despite the financial support of the State, the Alsace Region and the Conseil Général du Bas-Rhin, the economic viability of operating the GCO cannot be achieved. On getting to the 'heart of the matter', VINCI's specialists gauged the foreseeable failure of the scheme."

The PS–Les Verts alliance had campaigned against the project (read the article in L'Alsace). This evening, Vinci issued a statement denying that it had abandoned the Grand Contournement Ouest de Strasbourg project. It points out "that several banks had already confirmed their participation in the financial package". Vinci adds: "Extending the preferred concessionaire status beyond 28 May 2012 was meant to allow the last two financial institutions to confirm their participation in the project, and so to complete the financing round within the maximum time allowed."

By decision of the Socialist mayor, Roland Ries, Vinci is stripped of its preferred concessionaire status and the city of Strasbourg is abandoning the project.