Pont Anne-de-Bretagne
Anne de Bretagne Bridge Pont Anne-de-Bretagne | |
|---|---|
The Anne de Bretagne bridge seen from the Parc des Chantiers | |
| Coordinates | 47°12′30″N 1°33′57″W / 47.208296°N 1.565933°W |
| Carries | Motor vehicles, tram, cyclists, and pedestrians |
| Crosses | Loire (Madeleine branch) |
| Locale | Nantes, France |
| Official name | Pont Anne-de-Bretagne |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | Prestressed concrete (current) / Steel (new deck) |
| Total length | 160 metres (520 ft) |
| Width | 18.5 metres (61 ft) (current) / 53 metres (174 ft) (2027) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1975 |
| Location | |
Interactive map of Anne de Bretagne Bridge | |
The Anne de Bretagne Bridge (Pont Anne-de-Bretagne) is a bridge spanning the bras de la Madeleine, a branch of the Loire river in Nantes, France. It connects the city center to the Île de Nantes.
Location
As the westernmost urban bridge in Nantes, it links the Quai de la Fosse on the right bank to the Boulevard Léon-Bureau. It stands on the site formerly occupied by the Nantes transporter bridge.
The bridge provides access to major cultural sites on the island, including the Machines of the Isle of Nantes, the Parc des Chantiers, and the Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery located on the right bank.
Renovation and expansion (2024–2027)
A major transformation project began in March 2024 to accommodate two new tramway lines (Lines 6 and 7).[1] By 2027, the bridge's width will be tripled, reaching 53 metres (174 ft), making it one of the widest bridges in Europe.[2]
The project emphasizes environmental sustainability by reusing the existing concrete piers, saving approximately 4,800 tons of concrete and reducing the carbon footprint by 6,000 tons of CO2 equivalent.[2]
The new monumental steel structure, weighing 3,100 tons and measuring 150 metres (490 ft) in length, was manufactured in Italy by Cimolai at their Monfalcone plant. Due to its exceptional dimensions, it was transported to Nantes by sea. The journey, which began in October 2025, faced significant delays due to severe winter storms in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic (including storms Alessio, Barbara, and Nils). To ensure a safe crossing of the Bay of Biscay, the barge was loaded onto the specialized semi-submersible heavy-lift ship Trustee (IMO 8902955) in Cádiz.[3]
After a final technical stop in Lorient due to high winds, the structure finally arrived in Nantes on 7 March 2026. The final towage up the Loire estuary from Saint-Nazaire was performed by Boluda tugboats (Menez-Hom and Menez-Bre). The arrival was celebrated by crowds of residents as the barge performed a spectacular turnaround maneuver near Trentemoult before reaching the construction site.[4]
Construction timeline
- 11 March 2024: Official start of construction.
- October 2025: Departure of the steel deck from Italy.
- Winter 2025–2026: Two-month delay due to Atlantic storms.
- 7 March 2026: Historical arrival of the deck in Nantes.
- Spring 2026: Beginning of the lifting operations to place the deck on its final supports.
- Late 2027: Expected completion and commissioning of the new bridge and tramway lines.
References
- ^ "5 annonces fortes pour les transports publics nantais" [Five major announcements for Nantes public transport]. Nantes Métropole (in French). 7 June 2019. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ a b "Pont Anne-de-Bretagne, un nouveau lieu de vie et de passage" [Pont Anne de Bretagne, a new living space and thoroughfare]. Nantes Métropole (in French). 7 March 2026. Archived from the original on 22 April 2025. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ Salle, Frédéric (3 February 2026). "Voici l'impressionnant navire qui va acheminer à Nantes le tablier du pont Anne-de-Bretagne" [Here is the impressive ship that will transport the deck of the Anne-de-Bretagne bridge to Nantes]. Ouest-France.fr (in French). Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ "L'arrivée du tablier du pont Anne-de-Bretagne" [Arrival of the deck of the Anne-de-Bretagne bridge]. France TV (in French). Retrieved 8 March 2026.
External links
- Anne de Bretagne Bridge at Structurae