The Mayor of Toulouse has opened a cable-stayed active travel bridge connecting the city with the Île du Ramier.
The new bridge has a distinctive mast. Credit: Grimshaw
The distinctive 160m Robert Poujade bridge has a 65m inverted V-shaped steel mast. This lightweight design is intended to avoid interrupting the view of the city centre and the Pyrenees mountains. On the city side, the bridge gives access to the promenade and cycle path on the banks of the river Garonne. On the island side, the path descends into the park by a ramp and concrete staircase, designed to reduce the flooding risk.
The slender design of the bridge blends with the landscape. Credit: Grimshaw
The design-build consortium responsible for the bridge consisted of Eiffage Génie Civil (lead contractor), Ingérop, Grimshaw, ppa architectures, and ATP Atelier. Also involved were local contractors including Quartiers Lumières, Citélum, Créasol, LVTec, Entrepose, and Médiaco. The team was selected in a design competition in early 2022 (link opens in new tab).
The bridge is named after Robert Poujade, the first French Minister of Ecology, who was in that office between 1971 and 1974.
The crossing links the city centre with a new park. Credit: Eiffage and Marc Mondange / Wide Angle Photography