Pont de la Coulouvrenière, Arch road and tram bridge in Geneva, Switzerland
The Pont de la Coulouvrenière is a 150-metre road and tram bridge over the Rhône in Geneva. It has two 40-metre concrete segmental arches over the river arms, a central pier with a small round arch for the pedestrian link between the Île and the Salle Théodore Turrettini, and a basket-handle arch over the quay road. The concrete is faced with Saint-Imier stone.
The current stone-covered concrete structure replaced an earlier metal bridge in 1896 due to insufficient capacity for tram traffic. This replacement marked an important step in modernizing Geneva's river crossings.
The name refers to the couleuvrine firing range, named after a small cannon, that once stood nearby; it also gave its name to the Coulouvrenière hydraulic plant, today's Bâtiment des Forces motrices, just below the bridge. The bridge links the Cornavin station area with the Cité old town.
The bridge is easily accessible for both pedestrians and vehicles, with sidewalks on both sides that allow safe walking. The tram tracks are separated in their own lanes, making crossing clear and straightforward.
The bridge experienced a significant shift in traffic patterns, with daily vehicle crossings declining from around 63,000 in 1990 to approximately 37,500 in 2006. This change reveals how urban mobility has evolved in Geneva over recent decades.
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