Bridges of Lyon, France: Pont Kitchener-Marchand across the Saone River

September 2016 (45° 45' 5.00" N    4° 49' 21.00" E) Pont Kitchener-Marchand

I was just commenting on how few continuous bridges are in Lyon when I came upon the Pont Kitchener-Marchand. It's a three span 380 ft long rigid frame structure on caissons with keys that prevent the piers rounded bottoms from moving longitudinally. A metal sculpture depicting the spirits of the Rhone and Saone Rivers is mounted above the piers. This reinforced concrete bridge is covered with what looks like bathroom tiles.

The current bridge replaced a suspension bridge (The Pont Napoleon from 1847) that was damaged during WWII (see photo above) and rebuilt after the war. An even earlier timber bridge (The Pont Midi) was destroyed by riots in 1832, it was rebuilt, but it was destroyed by a flood in 1840. Kitchener and Marchand were British and French military officers during WWI.

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Bridges of Lyon France: Viaduc de l'A6 across the Saone River

September 2016 (45.7512, 4.8220) Viaduc de l'A6

The Viaduc de l'A6 consists of two parallel prestressed box girder bridges (between the Viaduc l'Quarantaine and the Pont Kitchener Marchand) that extends beyond both sides of the river before disappearing into tunnels (see Google earth photo from the previous week's blog). The river crossings are supported on wide, downward tapering piers.

There is surprisingly little written about this haunched girder bridge (built in 1971). Structurae reports that the river spans are 30.9m - 60.0m - 30.9m and that it was built by SGE Societe Generale de entreprises and renovated by Campenon Bernard with prestressing by Fressinet. Perhaps one shouldn't expect to learn much about a bridge with such a prosaic name.

In the photo above, we can see that there is a discontinuity between the soffits and the substructures. Bridges in Lyon always seem to have the superstructure separate from the substructure (except for the arch bridges). I wonder if the soffit openings (in the photo above) are from the renovation? The bridge has attractive haunched girders and flared pier walls, however, the approach spans are decidedly less attractive (photo below courtesy of Daniel F Valot).

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Bridges of Lyon France; Viaduc la Quarantaine across the Saone River

September 2016 (45.7506, 4.8211) Viaduc la Quarantaine

Continuing upstream along the Saone we soon arrive at the Viaduc la Quarantaine (also called the Pont Ferroviaire Kitchener). It's a rigid steel railroad structure consisting of one full arch span across the channel and half arches for the side spans. The main span is supported on big steel rocker bearings with smaller bearings supporting the half spans at the abutment seats (see photo below).

If I'm translating the French on the Lyon Bridge Blog correctly it seems the city felt the previous bridge was an eyesore and ordered this replacement structure, which was completed in 1932. Although most bridges had Art Deco details in the 1930s, this bridge seems to have been influenced by 'Orientalism' with curlicues supporting the deck overhang and with a pointed arch.

This bridge carries the French National Railway (SNCF) trains to and from the previously studied Mulatiere Railway Bridge and the Perrache Viaduct. I count at least four sets of tracks on the deck although it's hard to tell because there are so many switches on the bridge. At this location the Saone is a narrower river with shorter river crossings (maybe 450 ft). 

The Viaduc Quarantine has seven arch ribs. It was built by Allary Freres and Fives-Lille according to the Structurae Website. I couldn't find much on Allary Freres but Fives-Lille (renamed Fives-Lille Cail) has over 20 bridges they constructed listed on the Structure Website. 

The Viaduc Quarantaine is in good shape and its an attractive bridge. I'm not sure why it's called 'Quarantaine,' which means quarantine in English. Maybe this area was quarantined at some point?

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