Pont François-Mitterrand, Road bridge in Bègles, France
The François-Mitterrand Bridge is a prestressed concrete road bridge over the Garonne, carrying the N230 ring road and completing the Bordeaux bypass. Its deck has a continuous parapet with a green metal railing, and tapered piers with flared hammerhead tops stand in a row across the water. A sign above the deck reads "Porte 22" and "Sortie 22".
Construction started in 1992 and the structure opened to traffic in 1993 as Pont d'Arcins. It was renamed in 1997 to honor a former French president.
The bridge was first called pont d'Arcins, after the nearby Île d'Arcins in the Garonne. It was renamed François-Mitterrand in 1997, a year after the death of the president who had inaugurated it in 1993. A two-way cycle lane on the south side, used by local riders, was removed in 2018 despite opposition from the Vélo-Cité association.
The crossing is a major traffic route connecting the A63 and A10 motorways, so expect steady vehicle flow at most times. Early morning or evening hours outside rush periods tend to have lighter congestion.
The bridge opened on 7 December 1993 as Pont d'Arcins, named for the nearby Île d'Arcins, and was inaugurated by President François Mitterrand. It was renamed in his honour in 1997, the year after his death. A two-way cycle lane on the south side was removed in 2018 despite opposition from the Vélo-Cité association.
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