More infrastructure developments on the Riviera

New shopping centres

Two new major shopping centres will be constructed east of Nice. The largest, to be built in Cagnes sur Mer, will resemble an American mall, with leisure facilities and a large number of retail stores. It will cost 300 million euros and create up to 1,000 new jobs.Close by, in Villeneuve-Loubet, will be a new 3,700 square metre shopping centre. The complex will lie at the heart of the famous Marina Baie des Anges in Les Maurettes, where more than 2,700 hotels and restaurants already exist. Meanwhile, an extension of the existing Cap 3000 is planned. Parking facilities will be relocated towards the seafront, and additional stores will be built on top of the current parking lots.

Nice - Villefranche  tunnel 

The construction of an underground tunnel connecting Nice to Villefranche-sur-Mer was revealed in March this year. The tunnel will pass underneath Mont-Boron and provide easier road access for vehicles travelling west of Nice.Surveys, road pilot studies and investigations are due to be completed by 2015 and construction is expected to begin the following year.  The 2,850-metre long tunnel will start at Pont Michel in Nice and emerge in the Malariba Valley on the Basse Corniche, following the coast to the east of Villefranche-sur-Mer.The 150 million euro project is due by 2018.

Sophia-Antipolis aqua park 

Sophia-Antipolis will welcome a new state-of-the-art swimming complex next year: the Complexe Aquatique Communautaire. This 15-million euro development will boast a 25-metre outdoor competition pool with a stadium equipped to seat 300 spectators. Inside the complex will be a 15 metre training pool with two spas and a Jacuzzi. Visitors will be able to indulge in luxury Turkish baths, spa and sauna facilities as well as a sunbed room. There's even a restaurant for people left feeling a little peckish after a day of indulgence. 

Odeon tower

When a multi-billion euro land extension project for Monaco was called off in March 2009, another project that had been on hold was given the green light - the Odeon Tower. Comprising twin towers of 47 and 49 floors on Avenue d'Annonciade, it will be the third tallest building on the French mainland behind the Montparnasse (210m) and Total tower (187m) in Paris. It will provide 50,000 square metres of office space and apartments and is due to be completed around 2014.

The Odeon finally got off the ground in October 2009 after months of tortuous negotiations and discord over how many apartments will be allocated to the state (for Monegasque nationals), how many will be private (costing 10 to 20 million euros), and its height. The decision to go with the Odeon tower came within months of the axe falling on a 15 hectare land extension off Portier (Grand Prix tunnel area), that would have added 275,000 square metres of surface area to Monaco. 

New Monaco Yacht Club

The new Yacht Club de Monaco, to be built on reclaimed land from the harbour on the opposite side of Port Hercule to the current site, is well behind schedule due to "unforeseen" complications. Delivery is now due in May 2013.The building's total surface area will be 23,700 square metres compared to the current 5,000. The terraces alone will cover 4,100 square metres and future facilities include a pool, restaurant for members only, bar and exhibition area.

It will also be home to the Société Nautique.Designed to reflect the slender lines of a cruise ship, the 90 million euro budget is being funded mainly by the state. Not surprisingly costs are creeping up, from an initial estimate of 66 million euros in 2006 to 112 million.

Cassandra Tanti, Louise Kirby, Claire Lathbury, Aila Stöckmann and Silke Seehars