Motorists who take the cantonal road leaving Court towards Sorvilier will inevitably have noticed the ballet of mechanical excavators busy turning over earth and stones below the road, in the river. Located near the Courtier football field, the construction site is large-scale. It is part of the development of the waters of the Birse.
Although the title may seem technical, the fact remains that the project will have an impact on the village and the quality of life of its citizens. “The primary objective is to protect against flooding,” underlines Bernard Leuenberger, municipal councilor in charge of the project.
Stop the floods
Court has in fact already experienced some unfortunate episodes of overflows from the Birse. Significant floods had been recorded, in 2008 and again in 2021 in particular. “The watercourses of the Tavannes Valley all arrive here, which can quickly lead to large volumes in the event of heavy precipitation,” notes Bernard Leuenberger. While the project has been under discussion for more than 20 years, the municipal official is delighted to see it move forward. Divided into several stages and sectors, the work began last year and should last until 2026. It will be carried out on the 2.5 km of river which crosses the town.
Less strong current
Behind the station, a portion of Birse has already received a good part of its makeover. Along a path, the walker now discovers a winding river. “The route of the river, which was straight, was modified in order to widen it and create meanders, explains Bernard Leuenberger. The idea is to reduce the speed and force of the water to avoid too much damage and excesses.”
Swiss
