Nantes: a closed bridge after the triggering of a malfunction alarm

The General Audibert Bridge crosses the Loire near the University Hospital of Nantes. It is also called Madeleine Bridge. An alarm that detects a possible failure was triggered very early this Saturday morning around 3:30. The services of Nantes Métropole announced the closure of the bridge at 6:30.

It is closed this weekend as a precaution and Monday the time that specialists check

Pascal Bolo, 1st deputy mayor of Nantes and vice-president of Nantes Métropole, confirmed us that traffic will be prohibited in the south-north direction (from the Ile de Nantes to the city center) during the whole weekend and at least until Monday. This bridge of General Audibert is also called bridge of the Madeleine. It crosses the Loire at the arm of the Madeleine and connects the boulevard Gaston Doumergue to go to the place Aimé Delrue.

This bridge was closed about ten years ago because the south side abutment had a tendency to move a little bit.

► On video, Pascal Bolo, 1st Deputy Mayor of Nantes and Vice President of Nantes Métropole reviews the application of the precautionary principle applied to the oldest crossing bridge of the Loire in the city center of Nantes. He recalls that the sensors were installed about ten years ago when failures were identified on the south side abutment. The abutment of a bridge is the part on the shore intended to support the weight of an apron.

Technical expertise will be carried out on Monday. Tram traffic will not be disturbed because he borrows a parallel bridge. Cars and bicycles will be able to circulate on the same bridge in a north-south direction.

► On video, the images of Emmanuel Faure, our reporter on site Saturday morning.