Levant bridge
Historic site and monument Engineering structure Bridge
Presentation
The Martigues lifting bridge was built in 1929, it replaces the swing bridge connecting the Ile district to that of Jonquières. Although it is not rotating, it opens in two to allow boats coming from the Mediterranean Sea to pass.
The 40 meter wide canal, accessible to larger vessels, requires a specific crossing to re-establish the main traffic axis which crosses the city. This structure, which was impossible to establish at a great height, had to be able to be moved aside to allow ships to pass. It therefore had to be mobile.
Designed for two lanes of traffic, this bridge was decided in 1919 and completed in 1929. We are talking here about the ancestor of the lifting bridge, the swing bridge. It turned horizontally and parked itself along and above the quay.
It was for reasons of increased traffic but also because it had been partially damaged by the Germans that the 1929 swing bridge became an obstacle to traffic. In 1958, it was decided to divert traffic from the traditional axis towards the outside of the city and to build a new bridge.
The lift bridge is designed to support an uninterrupted succession of 35-ton vehicles. It was put into service in 1962. It is a bridge which opens in the middle, in two parts (two flights of 28m50 each), by an electrical operation controlled by a bridge operator, installed nearby, in the district of the Island.
The new traffic route bypasses the Island and runs along the Jonquières shore to directly join the Marseille road. Access to the bridge, very elevated compared to the platforms, is via two high profile ramps. The light hump deck is located on top of 2 thin box girders, which makes the bridge very thin.
Lift bridge opening hours:
- All year round: 9:05 a.m. / 2:05 p.m. / 7:05 p.m.
- Additional hours from June 15 to September 15: 6:05 a.m. / 10:55 a.m. / 9:00 p.m.
Designed for two lanes of traffic, this bridge was decided in 1919 and completed in 1929. We are talking here about the ancestor of the lifting bridge, the swing bridge. It turned horizontally and parked itself along and above the quay.
It was for reasons of increased traffic but also because it had been partially damaged by the Germans that the 1929 swing bridge became an obstacle to traffic. In 1958, it was decided to divert traffic from the traditional axis towards the outside of the city and to build a new bridge.
The lift bridge is designed to support an uninterrupted succession of 35-ton vehicles. It was put into service in 1962. It is a bridge which opens in the middle, in two parts (two flights of 28m50 each), by an electrical operation controlled by a bridge operator, installed nearby, in the district of the Island.
The new traffic route bypasses the Island and runs along the Jonquières shore to directly join the Marseille road. Access to the bridge, very elevated compared to the platforms, is via two high profile ramps. The light hump deck is located on top of 2 thin box girders, which makes the bridge very thin.
Lift bridge opening hours:
- All year round: 9:05 a.m. / 2:05 p.m. / 7:05 p.m.
- Additional hours from June 15 to September 15: 6:05 a.m. / 10:55 a.m. / 9:00 p.m.
Labels
- categories :
General information
- Parking :
- Parking nearby
- Environments :
- In centre of town
- Town location
- Services :
- Pets welcome
Accessibility
- Accessible to disabled visitors :
- Reception staff sensitized to the reception of people with disabilities
Contact
Levant bridge
Quai Kléber
13500
Martigues
Phone : +33 4 42 40 60 60
Tarifs
Free access.
FICHE_INFO_SIMPLE_LIBELLE_DESTINATION
Pont Levant
Quai Kléber
13500
Martigues
GPS coordinates
Latitude : 43.404527
Longitude : 5.056822