The timing was important. This Wednesday, November 2, thehe steel frame of the new Cotelle bridge in Olivet was installed on its two piers, on both sides of the Loiret. A crucial step, a year and a half after the start of work in March 2021
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In the air, a large green and red structure, in reality the framework and its counterweights. “To be able to launch this, we pull with winches and we slide the 320-tonne structure on Teflon plates”, detailed Christopher Robert, responsible for engineering structures in the metropolis of Orléans. The operation must last a maximum of two days and is very precise: “a deviation of one centimeter at the start, and the deviation can be enormous 50 meters further” explains Christophe Robert.
A new bridge needed
Local elected officials and residents gathered for the event. “This bridge was expected for decades, affirms Michel Leclercqdeputy mayor in charge of works in Olivet. The old work became excessively dangerous, at the limit of being able to be used. “ Faced with climate change, the five pillars installed in the Loiret would also pose a problem: “We are going to have episodes in the Cévennes, with the risk of flooding. This could cause the risk of ice jams, with too much grass, branches, which could accelerate the risk of flooding”
The new bridge has no right of way in the river, also allowing fishermen, kayakers and rowers to navigate without worries on the Loiret.
A 7 million euro project
The project will cost the Métropole d’Orléans a total of 7 million euros: five million for the bridge in itself and two additional million to develop the road system on each bank. A bridge that will give pride of place to soft modes of transport, with protected cycle paths.
The work is still far from complete. The last resistance tests on the bridge will take place in mid-March, the opening to traffic will take place in stride if all goes well. Prior to this reconstruction project, 8,000 vehicles borrowed each day the Cotelle bridge.