France, 2010-2012
The widening of the Pont National was an opportunity to embellish and reinforce this structure built in 1852 and 1853 by the engineers Couche et Petit. 188.5 metres long and 34 metres wide, the Pont National is an essential artery of mobility for the capital's 12th and 13th districts. It comprises, downstream, a masonry structure carrying the Petite Ceinture (Little Belt Railway) and, upstream, a reinforced concrete structure carrying the Boulevard des Maréchaux ring road. The operation consisted of modifying the profiles across the upstream part to allow the installation of the tramway platform, reinforcing the existing structures to support these new loads with the construction of a new reinforced concrete slab to replace the upstream side deck, and widening the structure with a footbridge for pedestrian and cyclist traffic. All this in a dense urban environment with no interruption to Parisian traffic.