Pont Gallieni

How many bridges whisper tales of transformation like Pont Gallieni? This bridge, right here before us, has seen more changes than a chameleon in a rainbow. Pont Gallieni connects the 2nd and 7th arrondissements of Lyon, spanning the Rhône River between Cours de Verdun and Avenue Berthelot. Its namesake, Joseph Simon Gallieni, a distinguished French general and marshal, certainly wouldn’t recognize the bridge’s earliest form. Imagine, back in 1830, a vision emerged for an east-west axis. This vision included a bridge over the Saône and two over the Rhône. By 1847, the dream became reality. Two bridges, both named Pont Seguin, were completed. One of these, our Pont Gallieni, stood proudly alongside the Île Bêchevelin. This early version was a suspension bridge, with a central span of 60 meters flanked by two side spans. Over time, it bore various names: Pont Napoleon, Pont Seguin, Pont du Rhône, and finally Pont du Midi. The Île Bêchevelin itself was filled in around 1871. The original structure, however, proved fragile. By 1889, it was demolished and rebuilt by 1891, this time with three metallic arches. Like its contemporary bridges, Morand and Lafayette, this new Pont du Midi reflected the era’s engineering trends. It was a wider, 20-meter-wide structure, stretching over 209 meters. Officially inaugurated in 1891, it was renamed Pont Gallieni in 1916. The 20th century brought further upheaval. Damaged by bombings in 1944, Pont Gallieni underwent another transformation. The final metamorphosis occurred in 1962. The old bridge was demolished to make way for a wider, steel structure we see today. This modern Pont Gallieni, at 28.5 meters wide and 204.8 meters long, was inaugurated in 1965. A testament to its adaptability, Pont Gallieni continues to evolve. Since 2001, car lanes have been reduced to accommodate Lyon’s tramway lines T1 and T2. So, as you stand here, gazing at Pont Gallieni, remember it’s not just a bridge. It’s a timeline etched in steel and concrete, a story of Lyon’s ever-changing landscape.