This centerpiece left Italy at the end of October and has been stagnating for a month in the south of Spain. The latest estimates give hope for an arrival in the last week of December.
It is a well-known bridge locally. In the city of dukes, the Anne-de-Bretagne bridge separates the city center from the island of Nantes. Its occasional closure for work regularly arouses the ire of motorists and traders. Currently being transformed, this structure will have tripled in width in two years, to provide more space for pedestrians, bicycles and the tram. As part of this project, a huge framework was ordered from the Italian company Cimolai, a specialist in large-scale metal structures, located between Venice and Trieste.
After six months of production, this piece, 150 meters long and 42 meters wide, left Italy by boat on October 27 to reach Nantes. “The choice of transport by barge on the river makes it possible to avoid 100 round trips by truck from Italy”explained Nantes Métropole, in a press release at the end of October. Initially, the community estimated an arrival on site between “the 3rd week of November and the 3rd week of December”. However, as revealed The Parisianthe assembled deck is not expected before December 29 in Nantes. The 3,100-ton convoy has been stuck for a month in the south of Spain, not far from Portugal, off the port of Cadiz, prevented from going up the Atlantic because of the weather.
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“It’s navigation at sea. Compatible sea conditions are required. For the moment, transport companies are waiting for a more favorable window.confirms to Figaro Sophie Louis, project manager at Nantes Métropole, in charge of project management. According to its latest information, arrival is now estimated for the last week of December.
5000 kilometer journey
Six months were necessary for the construction of this work. The frame was fitted with temporary guying. These cables make it possible to hold the structure during the 5,000 kilometer journey. The big departure took place from the port of Monfalcone, in the north of Italy. After crossing the Adriatic Sea, the Mediterranean, circumventing the Iberian Peninsula and following the Atlantic coasts, the exceptional convoy will go up the Loire from Saint-Nazaire to the Cheviré bridge, before reaching its final destination.
“In Nantes, we are not used to seeing convoys on the Loire of such size”underlines Sophie Louis. With the stays, the structure measures 25 meters high. “It will arrive at the level of the buildings on the quay of the pit. It’s going to be spectacular! The frame is 150 meters long, which is the width of the madeleine’s arm.she adds about this “convoy which will be eagerly awaited”.
Residents will be invited to witness the arrival of the piece. “The date of the installation of the apron will be known and communicated to the public a few days before the start of the operation”indicates the metropolis of Nantes. This delicate maneuver will be carried out at falling high tide. A security perimeter will be set up during these operations and navigation will be temporarily suspended to free up space. The next step will be the installation of the concrete slab, then the waterproofing work, and the development of the public spaces. The late arrival of the frame should not disrupt the schedule. The transformed bridge will open at the end of 2027.