APRR Safety Awards 2026: Winners & Commitment to Construction Safety

March 23, 2026 Priya Shah – Business Editor Business

Third-place awards were presented Thursday, March 19th, at AREA headquarters in Jonage, Rhône, recognizing safety initiatives on French roadway construction projects, according to Alexandre Claude, Director of Infrastructure and Concession Contracts for Eiffage’s roadway concessions in France.

The 2026 Trophies, established in 2022, aim to improve risk prevention on projects within the APRR, AREA, and ADELAC networks. The awards consider the involvement of all parties, from project owners to companies and safety coordinators.

Three main trophies – gold, silver, and bronze – were awarded for rigorous application of Pass Sécurité guidelines. A jury prize also recognized innovation and best practices. “These Trophies also recognize concrete actions, daily professionalism, and a collective will to move forward,” Claude stated. Notably, no work-related accidents resulting in time off work were reported on the winning projects.

Spie Batignolles société Le Foll TP received the gold trophy for its work renewing roadways on the A71. Aevia was awarded the silver trophy for work on the A46 Viaduc de Sermenaz. Eurovia’s Clermont-Ferrand agency took the bronze trophy for renewing roadways at the Montpertuis and Pessat-Villeneuve service areas on the A71. The jury’s special prize went to Cofex-GTM for upgrading the PS 411 on the A6.

“We must continue to work, analyze risk situations, and anticipate more to avoid accidents,” Claude concluded. “Our goal is ambitious: to achieve a frequency rate of less than 5 and maintain that level over time. This is not just an indicator; it reflects a requirement we set for ourselves to protect those who retain our infrastructure alive.”

AREA, a subsidiary of APRR, was created in the early 1970s and employs over 800 people across a network spanning nearly 430 kilometers in the Rhône-Alpes region. Alexandre Claude previously served as director of the AREA network until December 31st, 2023, before taking on leadership roles at ALIAE and the Compagnie Eiffage du Viaduc de Millau, according to a January 18, 2024 report.