Pont de la Jonelière, Railway bridge in Nantes, France.
Pont de la Jonelière is a rail bridge crossing the Erdre River in Nantes with a central concrete arch and masonry approach viaducts. The structure spans about 87 meters and serves the Nantes-Châteaubriant railway line.
An iron bridge built in 1875 was destroyed by German forces during 1944, after which it was rebuilt following designs by engineer Albert Caquot. The reconstruction was finished in 1948.
Albert Caquot contributed significantly to French engineering, designing over 300 bridges and receiving the Grand-croix of the Légion d'Honneur in 1951 for his achievements.
The bridge carries rail traffic and features separate pathways for pedestrians and cyclists following a 2011 renovation. Access is straightforward from nearby areas along the Erdre.
The rebuilding employed an innovative construction method where wooden frameworks were assembled on each bank and then lowered into place using winches before concrete casting. This technique solved the challenge of rebuilding over an active river.
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