The beautiful island home to the 'world's most expensive road' costing whopping £1.56bn

Réunion, a stunning French island in the Indian Ocean, is set to boast one of the world's most expensive roads.

The 12.4-kilometer (7.7-mile) coastal route, known as the Nouvelle Route du Littoral (NRL), is an ambitious civil engineering marvel linking the island’s capital, Saint-Denis, with the town of La Possession, located on the northern coast.

So far, eight kilometers (five miles) of the route are operational.

Despite significant technical challenges and delays, the project is expected to be completed in four years.

The NRL opened to one-way traffic last year and has now opened to traffic in both directions.

Réunion, located near Madagascar, is a fully-fledged European territory as one of France’s four overseas departments. The NRL, once finished, will have cost an astounding £1.56bn ($2.74 billion), a record-breaking sum for road construction.

Since the project’s inception in 2015, it has faced numerous hurdles, including material shortages and technical difficulties. The coastal road features alternating suspended viaducts and breakwaters constructed directly on the seabed.

The aim is to replace the old, hazardous coastal road plagued by landslides and adverse weather conditions, which pose significant safety risks.

The current road sees around 60,000 vehicles daily, making easing congestion crucial. Despite opening partially in 2022, the NRL's completion is vital for ensuring safer and more reliable transport between Saint-Denis and La Possession.

The project has not been without controversy. In addition to technical and logistical issues, the NRL has encountered legal challenges, with French authorities uncovering signs of financial irregularities in the project’s accounts.

As work continues, the completion of the NRL promises to be a monumental achievement, transforming travel on this beautiful island and cementing its status as the home of the world's most expensive road.