 A public inquiry into "Transport in the Rhone Valley and Languedoc Coast" was held between 27 March and 26 July 2006.This new road would avoid the widening of the A7 to 2×5 lanes between Lyon/Valence and Orange and would offer a credible alternative for traffic to the Rhone Valley.It would serve a host of new communities in several departments (Ardèche, Haute Gard, Haute Vallée de Hérault) would be served