Picture this: Brussels in the 1860s. The city is expanding. A plan emerges to extend the Avenue du Trône towards the Bois de la Cambre. This was part of the Besme plan. The plan included traversing the Maelbeek valley. This is where the Pont Gray-Couronne comes in.
The Pont Gray-Couronne also known as Gray-Kroonbrug is not just a bridge. It’s a piece of Brussels’ urban evolution. Originally, the extended avenue was called “rue du Trône prolongée”. Later, it became Avenue de la Couronne around 1880-1885.
To avoid steep inclines, a bridge was needed. The Pont Gray-Couronne was built near the railway bridge. It crosses the Rue Gray in Ixelles. This location was chosen to ease the journey.
Look closely at the Pont Gray-Couronne. It’s an arch bridge made entirely of masonry. Its width is approximately 16 meters. The main span is a relatively narrow 11.3 meters. The Pont Gray-Couronne’s construction took place from 1871 to 1878. It officially opened in 1878. G.A. De Clercq from the Ministry of Public Works designed it. Engineer P.J. Richir led the construction efforts.
Notice the materials of the Pont Gray-Couronne. It features brick construction. There is a base of dimension stone. Dimension stone is also used for the railings. It is also used for the bands at the start of the arches. The vault sits between two imposing masonry walls. These walls support the deck. They also act as abutments for the arch.
You may observe a slight skew in the brick bands. This is because the bridge is slightly askew. This detail adds character to the Pont Gray-Couronne.
Victor Besme also played a crucial role. He recommended extending the Rue du Trône in 1861. He envisioned a viaduct nearly twenty meters high. This would span the Maelbeek valley. His motto was to “overturn mountains and throw them into valleys”. He also planned to clean up the Maelbeek valley. The stream had become an open sewer. His plan was to make it disappear into an aqueduct. This aqueduct would be built under the Rue Gray.
The Maelbeek was vaulted in 1873. The viaduct was completed in 1880. The plan to transform the Cygne district was ratified in 1894. The Pont Gray-Couronne stands eighteen meters high. This measurement excludes the balustrade.
As you stand here, consider the vision of Victor Besme. He aimed to modernize Brussels. The Pont Gray-Couronne is a testament to that vision. It is more than just bricks and stone. It represents progress and urban development.
So, the next time you cross the Pont Gray-Couronne, remember its history. Think of the engineers and workers who built it. Appreciate its role in shaping Brussels. It’s a bridge to the past and a pathway to the future.