La Réunion's New Coastal Road (NRL) has entered a decisive phase. Following the launch of Phase 2 works in November 2025, the Regional Council has confirmed the full construction timeline: completion and opening to traffic scheduled for June 2030.
Three Contracts, Three Horizons
NRL Phase 2 breaks down into three distinct works packages. The La Possession interchange — a critical connection between the coastal road and the north-south network — is already under way. The sea wall, tendered in October 2025, moves into construction from mid-2026. Finally, the NRL viaduct — the showpiece structure — begins in 2027 for a June 2030 handover.
A Major Project in a Challenging Context
The NRL is the most expensive and technically complex road infrastructure ever built on Réunion Island. It aims to secure the link between Grande-Chaloupe and La Possession, an axis currently vulnerable to rockfalls and extreme weather. The final section — primarily the viaduct — is the most ambitious stretch, suspended over the sea for several kilometres.
Regional Financial Mobilisation
The 2026 regional budget allocated €1.06 billion, of which the NRL is an absolute priority. The project also benefits from European cohesion funds for outermost regions (RUP). According to transport director Guillaume Branlat, works are on schedule despite the site's geotechnical challenges.
Why It Matters
The NRL is more than a road: it is the backbone of Réunion's mobility. Its 2030 completion will coincide with the scaling up of the RRTG public transport network, fundamentally reshaping the island's north-south flows. For construction firms, transport SMEs and local authorities, the 2026-2030 agenda represents a major economic opportunity in a territory where unemployment stands at 18%.
Sources: Imazpress, La1ère Réunion, Région Réunion — data July 2026.