The Saint-Nazaire Bridge (french: Le pont de Saint-Nazaire) is a
cable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge has one or more ''towers'' (or ''pylons''), from which cables support the bridge deck. A distinctive feature are the cables or stays, which run directly from the tower to the deck, normally forming a fan-like pattern o ...
spanning the river
Loire
The Loire (, also ; ; oc, Léger, ; la, Liger) is the longest river in France and the 171st longest in the world. With a length of , it drains , more than a fifth of France's land, while its average discharge is only half that of the Rhône ...
and linking
Saint-Nazaire
Saint-Nazaire (; ; Gallo: ''Saint-Nazère/Saint-Nazaer'') is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France, in traditional Brittany.
The town has a major harbour on the right bank of the Loire estuary, near the Atlantic Ocean ...
on the north bank and
Saint-Brevin-les-Pins
Saint-Brevin-les-Pins (; also ; br, Sant-Brewenn) is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France.
It is known as the site of the serpent d'océan, a giant sea serpent sculpture by artist Huang Yong Ping.
Population
History
...
on the south bank, in the
department
Department may refer to:
* Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility
Government and military
*Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...
of
Loire-Atlantique
Loire-Atlantique (; br, Liger-Atlantel; before 1957: ''Loire-Inférieure'', br, Liger-Izelañ, link=no) is a department in Pays de la Loire on the west coast of France, named after the river Loire and the Atlantic Ocean. It had a population o ...
,
Pays de la Loire
Pays de la Loire (; ; br, Broioù al Liger) is one of the 18 regions of France, in the west of the mainland. It was created in the 1950s to serve as a zone of influence for its capital, Nantes, one of a handful of "balancing metropolises" ().
...
,
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
. The
bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or rail) without blocking the way underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, which is usually somethi ...
is crossed by the "''Route bleue''" (RD213).
The cable-stayed metallic structure measures 720 m and, including the access
viaducts
A viaduct is a specific type of bridge that consists of a series of arches, piers or columns supporting a long elevated railway or road. Typically a viaduct connects two points of roughly equal elevation, allowing direct overpass across a wide va ...
, represents a total length of 3 356 m.
History
The bridge was commissioned on October 18, 1975, after three years of construction. Including its 404 m central span, the 720 m metal structure held, at its construction, the world record length for a cable-stayed metallic bridge.
In 1992, the Loire-Atlantique general council took over the Saint-Nazaire SAEM, the contractor for the creation and operation of the bridge. Access to the bridge became toll-free on October 1, 1994.
The building was returned to the department's general council road heritage organization, which has been responsible for its management and maintenance since August 1, 1995. It has improved trading between the north and the south shores of the
estuary
An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries form a transition zone between river environments and maritime environment ...
considerably.
In 1975, the bridge was the longest one ever built in France. Moreover, it held the world record for the longest cable-stayed bridge for eight years.
Construction and specifications
The bridge consists of two access viaducts made out of
prestressed concrete
Prestressed concrete is a form of concrete used in construction. It is substantially "prestressed" ( compressed) during production, in a manner that strengthens it against tensile forces which will exist when in service. Post-tensioned concreted i ...
: the northern viaduct is 1 115 m long, and the southern one is 1521 m long. The main structure is composed of a 720 m long cable-stayed metallic frame. It is crossed by the department road RD 2132.
The construction of the bridge was entrusted to a consortium of companies:
* Metallic construction: Compagnie Française d’Entreprises Métalliques (CFEM) ;
* Concrete structures: Société Générale d’Entreprises (SGE) (the foundations were subcontracted to Morillon-Corvol, Courbot and Dodin).
Traffic rules and regulations
The speed limit is 70 km/h. Certain or even all vehicles may restricted during strong winds (starting at 80 km/h for cyclists).
The general council has implemented a lane management system for the bridge. The reversible lanes allow, during the day or special events, for a second lane to be dedicated to the busier way. The system has folding barriers, with illuminated red studs that are embedded in the asphalt, and road sign frames that allow for illuminated road signs (green arrow/orange or red cross) to indicate the way that is assigned to each of the three lanes.
Unique in France, the system went live on August 25, 2010 and is regarded as "experimental". In fact, it is a requirement from the state since the
traffic code
Traffic codes are laws that generally include provisions relating to the establishment of authority and enforcement procedures, statement of the Traffic#Rules of the road, rules of the road, and other safety provisions. Administrative regulations ...
mandates white markings on the ground. The
Loire-Atlantique
Loire-Atlantique (; br, Liger-Atlantel; before 1957: ''Loire-Inférieure'', br, Liger-Izelañ, link=no) is a department in Pays de la Loire on the west coast of France, named after the river Loire and the Atlantic Ocean. It had a population o ...
general council has, therefore, received a one-year permit that has renewed every year since then.
However, the illuminated beacons have become too fragile because of the LEDs.
Also, the increased traffic during the summer causes numerous
traffic jams
Traffic congestion is a condition in transport that is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. Traffic congestion on urban road networks has increased substantially since the 1950s. When traffic de ...
despite the system.
To offer an alternative way of crossing the river for pedestrians and cyclists during the summer (May to September), in June 2010 the general council considered a river shuttle service between Saint-Nazaire and Mindin. Because of its prohibitive cost, the idea was abandoned in December 2011.
The only regular
coach
Coach may refer to:
Guidance/instruction
* Coach (sport), a director of athletes' training and activities
* Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process
** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers
Transportation
* Co ...
lines using the bridge and providing intercity connections between
Saint-Nazaire
Saint-Nazaire (; ; Gallo: ''Saint-Nazère/Saint-Nazaer'') is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France, in traditional Brittany.
The town has a major harbour on the right bank of the Loire estuary, near the Atlantic Ocean ...
and the
Pays de Retz
The Pays de Retz (; br, Bro-Raez, link=no; ) is a historical subregion of France that currently forms part of the Loire-Atlantique department, but which previously formed part of the Duchy of Brittany.
The area lies between the southern shore of ...
region are those of the Lila network (routes 15, 16 and 17). Route 17 vehicles are fitted with eight bicycle-only spaces.
See also
*
List of bridges in France
This list of bridges in France lists bridges of particular historical, scenic, architectural or engineering interest. Road and railway bridges, viaducts, aqueducts and footbridges are included.
Historical and architectural interest bridges
{{row ...
External links
structurae website
Saint-Nazaire
Cable-stayed bridges in France
Bridges completed in 1974
Buildings and structures in Loire-Atlantique
Transport in Pays de la Loire
Former toll bridges in France