The "Roads" sector
of activities covers the design, construction, maintenance
and operation of highways, and includes "intelligent
roads".
From ultra-thin asphalt concrete to laying techniques
via visibility in fog or smart highway systems,
all aspects of the road are covered.
The economic importance of
roads needs no further demonstration; the road carries
90% of passenger transport and 75% of goods transport.
The sector has had notable successes: effective management
of a road stock with an estimated value of 183 billion
Euros, only for the national road network, and the existence
of a genuine "French roads policy" which has been responsible
for important international success for the 1500 French
firms operating in the sector. However, there are also
some weaknesses: This sector finds it difficult to improve
road safety, and is attempting to do this by considering
the role of infrastructure.
Finally, the environmental aspect is specifically considered
in the road sector, particularly in its research into
reprocessing pavement materials or noise reduction.
