Barely seven weeks after the collapse of the Chamborigaud bridge, on the D.906, road traffic was able to resume this Friday, May 3. Much to the relief of local residents. Because this major departmental road serves a large part of the Cévennes, from the north of Gard to the south of Lozère and Ardèche.
A temporary road built in the bed of the Luech river makes it possible to connect the two banks and restore road traffic between the Cévennes Gardoises and the north of the department. No more long diversions on small roads.
It is a ford that was built in the bed of the river with culverts of 3X3 meters, 30 meters upstream of the old bridge. Nine frames of 14 tonnes each were fitted out to cross the river.
This new temporary lane will, however, be closed in the event of significant rain events and is limited in tonnage and length of vehicles.
Chamborigaud (Gard) – less than 7 weeks after the collapse of the bridge on the D.906, traffic is restored thanks to a temporary lane – May 3, 2024.
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© FTV P.Pidoux
Residents and users are delighted to be able to cross the Luech again in a few seconds.
This gives a new character. The old bridge was beautiful but we will get used to this new decor. Above all, it will be more practical.
A user of the D.906.
A Cévennes cyclist says: “When we found out that the crossing was opening today, with a group of colleagues, we decided to come by bike to cross it first.”
Same enthusiasm for many pedestrians… The temporary bridge is stormed and photographers immortalize the event.
2:45 p.m., the barrier opens… finally! And the cars use the ford crossing.
“We’ve been waiting for this moment for a month. I work in Génolhac, every day it was going back and forth over the mountains. It was a long time!” admits an impatient motorist.
It’s a big emotion for us. It’s the end of isolation as during confinement due to Covid. Without the bridge, we had no one left in Hautes-Cévennes.
Guy Cheron, mayor of Génolhac.
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Barely seven weeks after the collapse of the Chamborigaud bridge, on the D.906, road traffic was able to resume this Friday, May 3. Much to the relief of local residents. Because this major departmental road serves a large part of the Cévennes, from the north of Gard to the south of Lozère and Ardèche.
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©FTV
On March 18, around 4 p.m., two of the five arches of the Chataigniers bridge in Chamborigaud collapsed, taking a truck and its driver with them. Since then, diversions have been put in place to cross the Le Luech river.
This temporary route will allow a near return to normal while waiting for a permanent bridge.
The demolition work on the damaged bridge has been carried out and a new structure will be built but it will not be put into service before the fall of 2025.
The Chamborigaud bridge collapsed on Monday March 18, 2024.
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© Gard firefighters
The RD.906 is part of the departmental link network and supports an average daily traffic of around 3,000 vehicles per day, including around 150 heavy goods vehicles. It is a connecting axis between the Alesian sector, the Cévennes and Lozère.
Studies for the new bridge have already begun. Construction work is expected to begin in July.
Sketch of the temporary bridge over Le Luech and the permanent bridge which will connect the two banks to restore traffic on the RD.906.
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© Gard Departmental Council.
The total duration of the work is estimated at 15 months, for final commissioning of the new bridge in the fall of 2025.
Cost of the operation, one million euros for the Gard Departmental Council.
