First pier foundation for the Bacalan-Bastide Bridge

1 July 2010 - Events - France

On 17 June, in Bordeaux (south-west France), work on the vertical lift bridge that will link the Bacalan (left bank) and Bastide (right bank) neighbourhoods moved into a new phase with the lowering into position of the two bases and the first pier foundation, on which the two right-bank towers will be constructed. It took eight hours to tow each element, and in particular the huge pier foundation (length: 44 m; width: 18 m; height: 15.50 m; 5,750 t) (photo), from the dry dock located at Bassens, 4 km downstream from the worksite on the Garonne. Worth €125m exclusive of tax, the project is being implemented on a design-build basis by GTM Sud-Ouest TP GC, leader of the consortium, GTM Sud (VINCI Construction France subsidiaries) and Dodin Campenon Bernard (VINCI Construction), with Cimolai for the steel framework and EGIS/JMI in association with Michel Virlogeux, architecture and engineering structures, and Hardesty & Hanover on the design side. SDI, a subsidiary of DEME (CFE/VINCI Construction) undertook the preparatory works on the riverbed. Santerne Aquitaine Nord, Citéos Bordeaux and Actemium Bordeaux (three Energy business line business units) have just been awarded the contract, worth €1.65m, for the high- and low-voltage power supply and the video surveillance, automation, supervision and lighting of the bridge.