Cran bridge, Swing bridge in Saint-Dolay, France

The Cran Bridge is a swing bridge over the Vilaine River that consists of two sections: a fixed concrete portion and a movable metal span in the middle. The stationary section measures roughly 125 meters while the rotating part is approximately 23 meters long.

A ferry operated at this location until 1962, before the bridge was constructed in 1964. The new crossing replaced this traditional transportation method and modernized the connection between the two banks.

The bridge takes its name from the hamlet of Cran in Saint-Dolay, on the south bank, while the north end lies near Théhillac and 2 km southwest of Rieux. The D 114 road crosses it, and the old state maps mark the spot as the "passage de Cran", the ferry crossing it replaced.

The rotating span requires advance coordination if you are navigating a boat with a mast height exceeding 5.8 meters (19 feet). For pedestrians and drivers, the passage is straightforward and provides a direct route.

The bridge's movable span exists because a Vilaine navigation rule requires a 27-metre air draft at every crossing. Boats taller than 5.80 metres must wait for the 23-metre metal span to swing open. The fixed reinforced-concrete span measures 125 metres.