The project to bring together three sites of AGCO, a global tractor manufacturer, by building a bridge allowing cars to continue to circulate over Avenue Blaise-Pascal, has been debated for two years. With 20,000 vehicles daily, this major axis made it possible to cross Beauvais. Its closure has been traumatic for the daily lives of users by causing its share of traffic jams and difficulties for businesses in the area.
One question has always remained unanswered. Why was Avenue Blaise-Pascal closed to traffic on January 3, 2022, 15 months before the start of the work, formalized this Friday by the laying of the first stone. For a long time, the Beauvaisis Agglomeration, project owner and main funder (4 million euros out of 13, the rest having been financed by the region, the department and the State), hid behind "technical considerations", and in particular, "the need to carry out surveys to know the nature of the soils".
"AGCO is our economic nugget"
An argument refuted this Friday by Alain Dangleterre, director of activity delegate at Eiffage, responsible for the site. "Even though it made things easier for us, it was not necessary to close Blaise-Pascal Avenue to carry out the surveys and the work on the bridge," he said. When questioned, Thierry Lhotte, vice-president of AGCO, recalled the commitment made when his company bought the Froneri site (formerly Nestlé).
The new item must be completed by the end of the year holidays. Eiffage
"We made a commitment to U.S. shareholders to bring the three sites together," he says. We had 8 to 10 months to close, where AGCO did not invest in Beauvais. And the subject would remain sensitive internally. "This is the first question that Americans ask us when they come here," says Thierry Lhotte. They promised us the dollars, we promised the single site and to close the avenue. For Caroline Cayeux, the question did not even arise: "AGCO is our economic nugget, the largest employer in Picardy and the center of the Rev'agro project. »
Promise exceeded in terms of employment with 210 hires
The tractor manufacturer has also kept its promises in terms of jobs. "We committed to recruiting 195 people," recalls Thierry Lhotte. This goal is already exceeded since we have a balance of 210 people. It will be possible for us to recreate all of the 317 jobs lost with the closure of Froneri. We intend to increase our productivity by 20% each year, recruitment will follow. As for the Maison Monde Massey Ferguson, showcase of the brand, "the investment file will be filed next week for an opening a year and a half later," announces the manager.
As for the construction of the bridge, the foundations are now almost finished. "We're going to start the batteries," says Alain Dangleterre. The structure should be completed in September for the installation of the beams, then the deck, and the development of the embankments. The opening to traffic is planned for the end-of-year holidays. »
