Pont de l'Harteloire, Concrete bridge in Brest, France.
Pont de l'Harteloire is a deck-truss road bridge over the Penfeld in Brest, carrying the route nationale 12 above the arsenal. Its steel truss deck rests on four concrete piers, with a main span of 97 metres; the total length is given as 581 metres, or 634 metres in French sources. It has two traffic lanes and sidewalks on both sides.
Construction began in 1948 in the years following World War II, replacing an earlier transporter bridge that was destroyed during the conflict. The project was part of Brest's post-war reconstruction effort to reconnect the city.
The bridge and the neighbourhood share their name with François-René de Betz, comte de la Harteloire. The crossing was designed to carry the route nationale 12, major pipelines between the two banks and the city's trolleybuses, so it has always been more than a road bridge.
The bridge is easily passable with dedicated pedestrian paths on both sides, making crossing safe and convenient for walkers. Traffic flow can become heavy during peak hours, so planning your crossing for quieter times may provide a more relaxed experience.
The bridge was designed so that a 10,000-tonne cruiser could pass beneath it at any tide, with 40 metres of clearance above the highest tides. A proposal to hang a new transporter bridge under the deck was dropped for technical and aesthetic reasons. The steel frame needs maintenance at least every 20 years to prevent corrosion.
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