Pont Anne-de-Bretagne

Anne de Bretagne Bridge

Pont Anne-de-Bretagne
The Anne de Bretagne bridge seen from the Parc des Chantiers
Coordinates47°12′30″N 1°33′57″W / 47.208296°N 1.565933°W / 47.208296; -1.565933
CarriesMotor vehicles, tram, cyclists, and pedestrians
CrossesLoire (Madeleine branch)
LocaleNantes, France
Official namePont Anne-de-Bretagne
Characteristics
MaterialPrestressed concrete (current) / Steel (new deck)
Total length160 metres (520 ft)
Width18.5 metres (61 ft) (current) / 53 metres (174 ft) (2027)
History
DesignerDietmar Feichtinger Architectes (renovation)
Opened1975
Location
Interactive map of Anne de Bretagne Bridge

The Anne de Bretagne Bridge (Pont Anne-de-Bretagne; Pont Anna Vreizh) is a bridge spanning the bras de la Madeleine, a branch of the Loire river in Nantes, France. Named in honour of Anne of Brittany, it connects the city centre to the Île de Nantes. The renovation work on the Anne de Bretagne Bridge began in 2024 in order to address ecological challenges. The complete opening of the new Anne de Bretagne Bridge, which will be the widest in Europe, is scheduled for the end of 2027.

Location

As the westernmost urban bridge in Nantes, it connects the Quai de la Fosse, on the right bank, to the Boulevard Léon-Bureau, on the island (in the Prairie au Duc district).[1] It stands on the site of the former Nantes transporter bridge, designed by the French architect Ferdinand Arnodin, built in 1903 and dismantled in 1958.[2]

The bridge provides access to major cultural sites on the island, including the Machines of the Isle of Nantes, the Parc des Chantiers, and the Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery located on the right bank.

History

The current bridge, completed in 1975, is a beam bridge supported by two main concrete piers. Historically, the site was the location of a famous transporter bridge that served as a symbol of the city's industrial heritage before its demolition.

Renovation and expansion (2024–2027)

A major transformation project began in March 2024 to accommodate two new tramway lines (Lines 6 and 7).[3] By 2027, the bridge's width will have tripled to reach 53 metres (174 ft),[4][5] making it the widest bridge in Europe.[6][7][8]

The project emphasises environmental sustainability by reusing the existing concrete piers, saving approximately 4,800 tons of concrete and reducing the carbon footprint by 6,000 tons of CO2 equivalent.[5]

The new monumental steel structure, weighing 3,100 tons and measuring 150 metres (490 ft) in length,[9] was manufactured in Italy by Cimolai (company) at their Monfalcone plant.[10] Due to its exceptional dimensions, it was transported to Nantes by sea. The journey, which began in October 2025, faced significant delays due to severe winter storms in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic (including storms Alessio, Barbara, and Nils).

To ensure a safe crossing of the Bay of Biscay, the barge was loaded onto the specialized semi-submersible heavy-lift ship Trustee (IMO 8902955) in Cádiz.[11] After a final technical stop in Lorient on 25 February 2026 to wait for favorable wind conditions,[12] the structure finally arrived in Nantes on 7 March 2026.

The final towage up the Loire estuary from Saint-Nazaire was performed by Boluda tugboats, including the Menez-Hom and Menez-Bre, as well as the harbour tugs Pornic, Mirage, and Ouragan. The arrival was celebrated by crowds of residents as the barge performed a spectacular turnaround maneuver near Trentemoult before reaching the construction site.[13][14]

The work was entrusted to GTM Ouest, a subsidiary of Vinci Construction.[10] The completion of the works is scheduled for the end of 2027.[10]

Construction timeline

  • 11 March 2024: Official start of construction.
  • October 2025: Departure of the steel deck from Italy.
  • Winter 2025–2026: Two-month delay due to Atlantic storms.
  • 25 February 2026: Stopover in Lorient harbor.
  • 7 March 2026: Historical arrival of the deck in Nantes.
  • Spring 2026: Beginning of the lifting operations to place the deck on its final supports using tidal hydraulics.
  • Late 2027: Expected completion and commissioning.

References

  1. ↑ Quentin, Olivier; Duplay, Eleonore (19 April 2024). "Le Pont Anne de Bretagne à Nantes ferme pour un an à partir du lundi 22 avril" [The Anne de Bretagne Bridge in Nantes will be closed for a year starting Monday 22 April]. France 3 Pays de la Loire (in French). Archived from the original on 8 May 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  2. ↑ Coué, Aurore (6 March 2018). "Nantes. Le pont transbordeur détruit depuis 60 ans" [Nantes. The transporter bridge destroyed 60 years ago]. Ouest-France (in French). Archived from the original on 8 May 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  3. ↑ "5 annonces fortes pour les transports publics nantais" [Five major announcements for Nantes public transport]. Nantes Métropole (in French). 7 June 2019. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  4. ↑ Bacquet, Brice (28 February 2025). "Vidéo. À quoi va ressembler le plus large pont d'Europe en construction à Nantes?" [Video. What will the widest bridge in Europe, currently under construction in Nantes, look like?]. Ouest-France (in French). Archived from the original on 8 May 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Pont Anne-de-Bretagne, un nouveau lieu de vie et de passage" [Pont Anne de Bretagne, a new living space and thoroughfare]. Nantes Métropole (in French). 7 March 2026. Archived from the original on 22 April 2025. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  6. ↑ Cherner, Simon (3 February 2026). "Nantes: le tablier du pont Anne-de-Bretagne va reprendre la mer avec un navire semi-submersible" [Nantes: The deck of the Anne-de-Bretagne bridge will return to sea with a semi-submersible vessel]. Le Figaro (in French). Archived from the original on 4 February 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026. ... fin 2027, à l'inauguration de ce qui sera le plus large pont d'Europe [... at the end of 2027, at the inauguration of what will be the widest bridge in Europe]
  7. ↑ Certain, Rémi (26 March 2026). "En Image. Le pont le plus large d'Europe change déjà le visage du quartier et rouvre en partie aux voitures" [In Images. Europe's widest bridge is already changing the face of the neighbourhood and is partially reopening to cars]. Ouest-France (in French). Archived from the original on 8 May 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  8. ↑ Vanzini, Pierre-Baptiste (6 March 2025). "Le pont le plus large d'Europe se construit à Nantes: 'Pour nous, ça doit devenir un lieu de vie'" [Europe's widest bridge is being built in Nantes: 'For us, it must become a place to live']. Le Parisien (in French). Archived from the original on 6 March 2025. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  9. ↑ Relat, Y.; Paga, T.; Dalaudier, N.; Radenac, R.; Leroy, D.; Jaglin, M.; Quentin, O.; Sabas, L. (9 March 2026). "'C'est un bijou de technologie': l'incroyable voyage d'un pont sur la Loire" ['It's a technological jewel': the incredible journey of a bridge over the Loire]. France Info (in French). Archived from the original on 8 May 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 Cherner, Simon (10 March 2026). "Nantes: après des mois de retard, le tablier du pont Anne-de-Bretagne est enfin arrivé à bon port" [Nantes: After months of delay, the deck of the Anne-de-Bretagne bridge has finally arrived safely]. Le Figaro (in French). Archived from the original on 8 May 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  11. ↑ Salle, Frédéric (3 February 2026). "Voici l'impressionnant navire qui va acheminer à Nantes le tablier du pont Anne-de-Bretagne" [Here is the impressive ship that will transport the deck of the Anne-de-Bretagne bridge to Nantes]. Ouest-France.fr (in French). Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  12. ↑ "Pont Anne-de-Bretagne à Nantes : le tablier reste en attente à Lorient". Presse Océan (in French). 2 March 2026. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  13. ↑ "L'arrivée du tablier du pont Anne-de-Bretagne" [Arrival of the deck of the Anne-de-Bretagne bridge]. France TV (in French). Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  14. ↑ "En Images. Le tablier du pont Anne-de-Bretagne remonte la Loire vers Nantes". Ouest-France (in French). 7 March 2026. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
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