This is a key element in the file for the future Tasdon bridge in La Rochelle. Declared dilapidated and dangerous, the current building which spans the railway tracks of the SNCF station is closed since November 10. Only pedestrians and cyclists can use it. It is now established that the bridge inaugurated in 1912 will be destroyed before the construction of a new structure. The question remains who will finance the work? The more people there are, the better. It is in this spirit that the mayor Jean-François Fountaine and the president of the Departmental Council Sylvie Marcilly had an appointment on Wednesday April 24 at the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion.
Objective: request substantial state aid from Christophe Béchu . “I was pleasantly surprised by the Minister’s knowledge of the file. I think that the prefect of Charente-Maritime had sent him a certain number of elements”, enthuses the mayor of La Rochelle, ” After some time of discussion, he suggested to me that the state be the main financier. I didn’t expect something so favorable. This will facilitate exchanges.” . For her part, Sylvie Marcilly left the ministerial meeting satisfied but cautious. ” From now on, I await action . That said, j I know Christophe Béchu well, he is a man of his word.”
Financing agreement closed before summer
The president of the department says she is ready to participate in the common pot. “I am not against contributing to the financing of the work, but I refute being the owner of the bridge.” In the general interest, municipality and department wish pause the legal battle around the identity of the owner of the Tasdon bridge, even if the balance is as fragile as the old rusty bridge. Either way, the bill will be high “between 20 and 30 million euros”and the construction time will be long “between five and seven years old”. So now is not the time to waste time and money. The idea is to complete a financing agreement before the summerif possible with a contribution from the region, “we’re going to ask them for a little extra effort”adds Jean-François Fountaine.
The amount of work will also depend on the technology chosen with the consent of the architect of Bâtiments de France. “Let’s imagine that we make a cable-stayed bridge, we can also make a completely flat bridge. There are plenty of possible technologies depending on needs. What type of bus can pass over it? How wide are cycle paths? All this will lead to a competition that we will launch this fall to choose the most beautiful project, while keeping in mind this dimension of cost. explains Jean-François Fountaine.**
“Repair costs less”
The mayor of La Rochelle who wishes to retain project management, was keen to involve the inhabitants of Tasdon in the project. And some have not definitively given up on the renovation option: “We think that the repair (of the current bridge) apart from the small technical problems that there may be, costs less… If we build a new bridge, so much the better, but I can assure you that breaking the bridge and building a new one is very complex and they were not aware of the constraints with the SNCF”, argues Daniel Chuillet, retired engineer and co-founder of the “Tous sur pont” collective. Request for slot blocking from the SNCF, preliminary studies, public market, it will take three to five years of procedures before the launch of the work which should last two years. The new Tasdon bridge is hoped for by 2030.
Residents will still be able to express themselves during the next citizen consultation organized on May 15 (6:30 p.m.) at the Tasdon municipal hall.
