FAQs / Dialog

No, a construction site is a dangerous area, you are not allowed to enter it. On the Seine-Nord Europe Canal worksites, there are:

• Movement of trucks and construction machinery with little visibility for drivers
• Presence of dangerous machinery and equipment
• Falls possible (holes, objects on the ground, etc.)
• Other hazards possible (electric shocks, drowning, falling objects, burial, explosion, dangerous products, etc.)

Find the section on Security

Sector 1 of the CSNE, which fits into the Oise valley between Compiègne and Passel, has the particularity of being autonomous for its water supply, while sectors 2, 3 and 4 are interdependent. This also makes the construction site autonomous. Work was therefore able to begin in mid-2021 on this sector, which will be open to navigation first. Sector 1 is also "functionally" autonomous, that is to say that it already brings advantages for river navigation: the boats will be able to navigate faster and will then only have one only one lock to pass, compared to two at present – ​​which represents a saving in navigation time of almost an hour and a half (including 30 minutes by reducing the time it takes to enter the lock).

Have you seen those yellow, green or orange nets near the Canal construction sites? They are used to delimit the different types of spaces that must be preserved or given special treatment. The orange nets surround the invasive alien species (IAS) whose cutting, if necessary, respects a protocol which makes it possible to avoid their dissemination. The yellow nets delimit fragile wetlands, and the green ones, protected natural areas, for fauna or flora.

Why do the roads near construction sites need to be cleaned?

- Works companies plan to regularly circulate a sweeper on construction sites to clean the roads after the passage of trucks. This regular cleaning of the roadway ensures the safety of road users, which is a priority for the SCSNE.

How are the roads cleaned?

- The water used by these sweepers must not contain too much suspended matter (sediment) to avoid, in particular, the clogging of the sweeper nozzles and to ensure its cleaning mission.

- As far as possible and as a matter of priority, the water used is non-potable water. For example, companies can take advantage of artificial ponds on the construction site, which accumulate runoff (rainwater). Over time, the water settles enough to allow impurities to settle to the bottom of the water. This allows companies to use the water from these basins.

- In the absence of a non-potable resource, companies have to use water from the urban network to avoid creating water withdrawal points. Drinking water catchments are carried out under supervised safety conditions and with the authorization of the network manager (SAUR).

Could we use water from the Canal Latéral à l'Oise instead?

- The answer is no, mainly for security reasons.

- Canal water contains a percentage of silt. This mud would settle on the roads, and after a few passages, the roadway would become slippery.

With regard to the primary filling of the canal and the Louette water reservoir, this will take place over a period that will include two winters.

The initial filling of the Seine-Nord Europe Canal (21,5 million m³) will take between 3 and 4 months depending on the hydrology of the Oise. For an exceptional year like 1976, the filling would extend over a period of 7 months.

Filling the Louette water reserve (14 million m³) will take about 4 months. For an exceptional year like 1976, it would rather take 5 and a half months.

The sizing criteria for the water supply plan will be presented in detail during the public inquiry prior to the environmental authorization of the canal sectors between Noyon and Aubencheul-au-Bac which is scheduled for winter 2023, after instruction , in progress, of the application file by the State services.