The Anne-de-Bretagne Bridge in Nantes, France, is undergoing a transformation into a public space, with the foundation stone for the project laid last week.
SYSTRA, a group specialising in public transport and mobility solutions, is leading the project in collaboration with the Nantes Metropolis public space department, providing project management assistance since 2019 along with architectural firm Barriquand&Frydlender, Cerema, and Coudray.
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The project comprises feasibility study and programme phases with monitoring of construction along with project management, BIM implementation, and risk and schedule management.
The ‘garden-belvedere bridge’ over the Loire river, an essential connection between the Île-de-Nantes and the city centre, will be reinvented to accommodate two new tram lines, promote non-motorised transport, and provide access to the future University Hospital.
The project’s design incorporates a strong ecological dimension, aiming to integrate the structure seamlessly into the Nantes landscape and address climate challenges, particularly in terms of user comfort and heat island reduction.
The transformation includes the widening of the bridge, incorporating a new western side structure. The current bridge will be lowered comprising 52m to 60m width to accommodate the tram lines.
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By GlobalDataIt also involves the creation of new green spaces, both on the bridge and along the riverbanks, to enhance biodiversity and recreate ecological links with the surrounding environment.
SYSTRA’s guidance ensures the project’s sustainability, focusing on vegetation coverage, optimised design to reduce impacts, material reuse, and river supply logistics to minimise noise and carbon footprint.
The design/build consortium led by GTM Ouest, a subsidiary of VINC Construction, has made significant contributions to the project’s sustainability.
Their proposals are estimated to save 6,000mt of CO2 by reusing the existing bridge, avoiding the destruction of 4,250mt of concrete and 1,300mt of steel, and supplying the new deck by barge from Italy.
SYSTRA France CEO Eric de Balincourt said: “Faced with climate challenges and the imperative to reduce carbon emissions, SYSTRA supports cities and regions towards more sustainable mobility thanks to its expertise in sustainable design. The Anne-de-Bretagne Bridge is a concrete example of this: by integrating innovative and environmentally friendly solutions, it is shaping the city of tomorrow. The Nantes Metropolis, a pioneer in transport development and sustainable urban planning, is a region of innovation where SYSTRA is proud to contribute its expertise.”
SYSTRA claims to have been a longstanding partner to Nantes, aiding in the region’s mobility and urban planning transformations for over four decades.
The company’s involvement in the area is said to range from supporting France’s first modern tramway to current infrastructure and energy transition projects.
