Morand bridge

Morand Bridge spans the Rhone River for about 187 meters using two prestressed concrete boxes reinforced by steel cross-braces. The deck carries vehicle traffic on its surface while metro tracks run beneath it.

A wooden bridge occupied this location starting in 1774 but was destroyed and rebuilt multiple times over the following centuries. The current concrete version was completed in 1976 after the site was damaged during World War II.

The structure serves as a daily crossing for people moving between neighborhoods on either side of the river, where locals use it routinely without much thought to its engineering.

The metro station sits directly beneath the road surface and connects via stairs from the bridge deck, making it easy to access the underground transit system. Pedestrians can cross the bridge comfortably, and it also functions as a key point for bus routes.

The northern piers feature large shear keys that support tall light fixtures, creating a distinctive design element at the bridge extremities that many visitors overlook. This structural detail gives the crossing a memorable silhouette when viewed from certain angles along the riverbank.

Location: Lyon

GPS coordinates: 45.76870,4.83939

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:05