High above us arches the Viaduc des Deux-Amants. What if I told you this bridge had more to do with urban planning than romance? The Viaduc des Deux-Amants translates to the “Viaduct of the Two Lovers”. It is a concrete marvel. It’s not named for a tragic love story, but for the street it spans.
Let’s dive into its real story. The Viaduc des Deux-Amants is part of Lyon’s M6 motorway. This motorway stretches toward Mâcon. The bridge facilitates the flow of traffic in and out of the city.
The bridge’s construction was ambitious. It was part of a larger plan. This plan came from the Groupement d’urbanisme de la région Lyonnaise. The plan addressed Lyon’s growing traffic needs. It aimed to link the A6 and A7 highways. The goal was to relieve congestion on the N6 road. Besides this viaduct the plan included the Tunnel de Fourvière.
Construction began in 1969. The builders used the cantilever method. This involved constructing the bridge in segments. It opened to traffic on December 8, 1971.
The Viaduc des Deux-Amants has some interesting features. It is a box girder bridge. This design provides strength and stability. The bridge deck is about 26 meters above the ground. It spans a railway line, local roads, and some buildings. The total length of the bridge is almost 548 meters. Its main spans are 80 meters long. It has eight spans in total. Underneath the road surface, there is a hollow box. This box varies in height.
Now, for the not-so-obvious. Over 101,000 vehicles cross it every day. This heavy traffic often leads to congestion. The bridge has 2×2 lanes. These lanes struggle to handle the volume. Think of it as Lyon’s version of a highway bottleneck.
The construction of the Viaduc des Deux-Amants was a collaborative effort. The city of Lyon funded 25 percent. The Rhône department contributed 25 percent. The French state provided the remaining 50 percent. M. Prunier was the engineer. He worked under the direction of M. Roques.
So, next time you cross the Viaduc des Deux-Amants, remember its true story. It is a tale of urban planning. The viaduct is a testament to Lyon’s growth. It’s a bridge to progress. Not just a bridge for lovers.