The Pont Charles de Gaulle

(Photo:ASCO-TP)

After construction work in the South-East of Paris (Bercy Sports Centre, the Ministry of Finance, the Parc de Bercy, the French National Library, etc.) and urban development in the district, in 1986 the Paris authorities decided to double the city’s most used bridge, the Pont d’Auterlitz, and provide better connection between the Bercy and left bank districts of Paris, and also the Gare de Lyon and Gare d’Austerlitz.

The bridge is perfectly integrated within its environment, respecting the site of the river and the aesthetics of the Austerlitz viaduct, which is 150 metres away. It consists of a rolled steel deck shaped like an aircraft wing, and is supported by assemblies of steel tubes which open out like the petals of a flower. Two piers divide the bridge into three spans of 68, 84 and 55 metres. Construction began in 1993 and was finished in the summer of 1996.

The piers of the Pont Charles de Gaulle

(Photo:ASCO-TP)

Designers: the architects Louis ARRETCHE and Roman KARASINSKI.

Total length: 207.75 m.

Effective width: 31.60m : Carriageway 18m . Two 5m footpaths. Two 1.80m separators.

Constructional features: Continuous metal beam bridge with three spans of 68m, 84m and 55m. The deck was installed using incremental launching and is made up of two lateral box girders which are connected by a load-bearing sheet. The upper slab is made of concrete with transverse prestressing. The surface consists of sheets that are curved to form the shape of an aircraft wing. The concrete piers, which were cast inside a cofferdam, are topped by flower-shaped assemblies of 15 steel bars which form a truncated cone. Fifteen flat jacks ensure that the outside of the crown fits the intrados.

Exceptional structures near the bridge:

The large metal structures of the Gare de Lyon and the Gare d’Austerlitz.
Development of the new Paris- Rive - Gauche district which involves covering the railway lines leading to the Gare d’Austerlitz (avenue de France).