It's not the Bir-Hakeim bridge, restored a few years ago, that's threatening to collapse, but the pedestrian footbridge under the aerial metro line 6, which passes over the Avenue du Président-Kennedy, in the 16th arrondissement. Since Sunday August 11, 2024, it has been closed to the public, after bolts in the structure failed. A highly dangerous situation that arose after Marathon pour Tous spectators gathered there in large numbers to support the runners.
According to Le Figaro, the footbridgewas "pitching dangerously" that evening, and had to be evacuated in an emergency by the police. It had been damaged since 2021, weakened by an accident. The busy footbridge was a source of concern for local residents, who reported that they had raised the issue many times with the City of Paris. Since then, it has been supported only by scaffolding, and was due to be rebuilt after the Olympic Games, although local residents were calling for the work to be carried out beforehand.
It will only reopen after reinforcement work, which, according to the daily, is scheduled to take place between autumn and spring 2025. If the stairs are still accessible, this won't help cyclists, tourists with their suitcases and parents with their strollers, in the meantime...
Location
Bir-Hakeim bridge
Pont de Bir-Hakeim
75015 Paris 15
