The February board meeting accepted that the overall project should be modified to reinforce the ‘harmonious integration’ required under the City-Port Charter – but meanwhile agreed in principle to short-term works estimated at €10-12 million for essential modernisation of intermodal facilities within the port perimeter.
Stressing this would have no impact outside the port perimeter, the board said the work was essential to support the indispensable growth of rail transport and accompanying growth in both container and ro-ro traffic.
Ultimately the Mourepiane project is also intended as an urban development handling the Marseille region’s continental traffic. The board said the interim work would be conceived in a way that preserves the potential synergies of this traffic with port business.
Pointing out that the port generates 18,000 jobs, the board added that its decisions underlined both a commitment to the port’s economic development and a wish to fully contribute in devising a new and mutually beneficial urban project.