It had been closed urgently. The pedestrian bridge located in the extension of the Bir-Hakeim bridge, in Paris, which connects the 16th to the 15th arrondissement, has been closed to the public since the night of Saturday August 10. It had been closed “as a precaution” after a report made during the Marathon pour tous.
Questioned by Véronique Bucaille (Changer Paris), this Friday evening, on the progress of the file during the Paris Council, the City announced that the infrastructure would soon be replaced. “A contract was notified in September for the replacement project which should probably begin at the end of October or beginning of November,” announced David Belliard, the deputy mayor (EELV) in charge of the transformation of public space and the roads.
A project which should extend until March. Last January, during a public meeting, the elected official announced the launch of work after the Olympics for a budget of 500,000 euros. “The construction site could not take place during the Olympic period,” he recalled this Friday.
Long studies on a rare work
During the construction site, traffic constraints will be “minimized” with nighttime closures of Avenue Kennedy (16th century) and the installation of the future structure. Moreover, the new gateway will arrive in one piece after having been produced and assembled in the factory. The continuity of the crossing should be ensured during the construction period.
VideoFootbridge of the Bir-Hakeim bridge closed: “It was swaying like on a boat”, says a witness
“I understand the legitimate concerns and it has been a subject of major concern for us for three years and its weakening in 2021. The studies of the vulnerability of the structure and those preparing a repair take a very long time on this type of fairly rare structure. They involve numerous experts, from the City of Paris and the State,” explained the elected environmentalist. While recalling that the first expertises recommended repair. Before new findings in 2023 recommend replacement.
The City will take advantage of this operation to work on the metal accesses and adjacent walls of the structure. Work voted on during the participatory budget.
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