It is a bridge that tourists are particularly fond of, the Pont des Arts is a classified historical monument in Paris. But Parisians also appreciate it and are worried to see its condition deteriorate year after year. The residents blame the City of Paris and Anne Hidalgo, and are shocked by the lack of means invested. Indeed, they notice holes and boards that move, which can be dangerous for passers-by. The Pont des Arts has become one of the symbols of #SaccageParis.
Listed as a Unesco heritage site, the Pont des Arts has not undergone a renovation, which could have happened when the famous love padlocks - now banned - left the bridge. Wooden planks were nailed to the ground, but this patching up was not enough, and Parisians had asked the City Hall of the 6th arrondissement to undertake more extensive work.
Renovation work on the Pont des Arts finally began on Tuesday after years of criticism of the city hall for its dilapidated state. Scheduled for 2022, they began with the removal of part of the wooden deck, revealing the river below, under the steel structure.
The replacement of 1600 m2 of wood, at a cost of 1.8 million euros, is to be carried out in two phases until the beginning of September 2023. The bridge will be renovated on both sides of its length to remain accessible. An exotic African wood, badi or bilinga, was chosen for its great resistance, according to Ambroise Dufayet, head of the Seine and engineering structures section at the Road Directorate. This slightly lighter wood, which is beginning to develop a patina, will be brought by barge in four stages from Bonneuil-sur-Marne (Val-de-Marne), where the old oak cladding dating from 2005 will be returned.
Also known as the Passerelle des Arts, the bridge links the Institut de France and the Louvre Museum. Built between 1801 and 1804, reserved for pedestrians, it has been restored several times after a bombing and shipping accidents, and rebuilt between 1982 and 1984. In 2014, part of the bridge's fence had collapsed under the weight of a million "love locks" that had ended up weighing tens of tons. The city council had replaced the fences with glass panels before preventing their reinstallation.
The socialist mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has been the target of strong criticism, particularly from the SaccageParis movement, on the state of disrepair of the bridge and the delay in starting work. In the team of the mayor of Paris, they mention the many construction sites that had to be carried out recently in the capital, such as the footbridges of the Canal Saint-Martin. The deputies for urban planning, Emmanuel Grégoire (PS), and for roads, David Belliard (EELV), also recall the recent doubling of the road maintenance budget.
This long-awaited renovation will give new life to this emblematic bridge, and Parisians and tourists alike will be able to appreciate it again in all its splendor as of the end of the year.
Location
Pont des Arts
Pont des Arts
75006 Paris 6
