Train traffic is suspended between Caen and Cherbourg throughout the All Saints' Day weekend to allow the installation of a rail bridge in Bretteville-sur-Odon (Calvados). A huge piece of concrete weighing 1,700 tonnes was positioned during the night from Thursday to Friday. The work continues. It's a race against the odds.
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The harsh light from the construction site floodlights pierces a thick fog. A few neighbors camp behind fences to watch this engineering spectacle. “We have several construction sites every day and every night in Normandy. But we don’t have one like this every ten years”explains Vincent Palix, the Normandy territorial director of SNCF Réseaux.
The railway line has been cut: the rails have been removed and the catenaries dismantled. “We removed 7,000 m3 to deconstruct the embankment,” specifies Vincent Palix in front of a gaping hole.
It is not common for a railway track to be pierced like this. The project, financed by Caen-la-Mer, should make it possible to open a new boulevard which will make life easier for the inhabitants of Bretteville-sur-Odon. “We’ve been waiting for 25 yearsrejoices the mayor, Patrick Lecaplain. This will make it easy to reach the Koenig district and its 1,500 jobs and the Grande Plaine business area.”. The bill amounts to more than 9 million euros.
“We have known for three years that this project will take place this weekend, explains the regional director of SNCF Réseau. This long weekend allows us to carry out the work without penalizing everyday users.”. 70 people work 3/8 shifts, day and night. A time trial is underway.
The most delicate operation was carried out during the night from Thursday to Friday. The concrete structure of the bridge has reached its final location. “This structure was built several months ago near the railway line. It weighs 1700 tonnes”explains Vincent Palix.
This enormous carcass was hoisted onto a platform mounted on wheels, “a centipede.” The convoy traveled 60 meters at a speed of 0.5 km/h under the watchful eyes of Cyril Herbulot, the pilot of the operation for SNCF Réseaux.
“It’s a meticulous operation, he said. The height must be carefully adjusted so that the structure is positioned in line with the road and the railway line.” The teams will then add soil to build embankments. The rails and catenaries will have to be refitted. The first train is due to leave Caen station on Monday morning at 5:50 a.m. Time is running out.
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