FAQ 
General Presentation
The Jules Verne (Nantes) bridge project
It may suggest more questions to us - Please contact us lestransbordes@hotmail.fr
A- The metropolitan area of Nantes – 600,000 – is situated 30 miles upstream the river Loire,
on the French Atlantic seaboard.
Former capital of the wealthy Duchy of
Brittany, its fortune is owed to shipbuilders, ship-owners and traders.
Like other estuary ports, difficulties of access, cost of dredging, etc.. caused a relocation of maritime operations further downstream, notably since 1960. Kilometres of useless quays are now the remnants of this heritage.
Position.
Port of Nantes in the XIXth century.
B- The major symbol : a transporter bridge.
In 1903, the French Engineer Arnodin built what was to be the symbol
of this harbour and maritime values. Shaken during the war, badly
maintained, and competed by growing automobile traffic, it was
demolished in 1958. It was the start of the “port-in-town” decline.
Industrial activities followed, shipyards moved and new modern quays
were relocated downstream. Now the number 4 port in France.
Nantes
remained a dynamic and growing town, but ill-at-ease with its future.There is a nostalgia of the past image of a port connected to the trade
and to the sea, which the "dignitaries" in power seem to understand
badly. A major symbol of this dream is the former transporter bridg.
Painting by Brenet in the fifties.
C- Heritage beauties and wasteland.
Fortunately, on one bank, vestiges of the maritime wealth remain nearly untouched, notably the architecture of the Quai de la
Fosse and the Ile Feydeau. On the other bank, the shipyards and other
industries of the Ile de Nantes, have disappeared as well as a huge
marshalling yard. A unique industrial wasteland in the centre of a city ! A paradise for architects and planners !.
The Metropolitan Area – Nantes Métropole – have entrusted a city-planning cabinet, Chemetoff, and a Building Company SAMOA, to take care of it. Their responsibility is considerable. Public equipments (Law court, School of Architecture) or more playful (Hall of Machines, the Elephant, the Banana warehouse eating places were setup a few years ago.
Since
2008, the association " Les Transbordés " suggests adding to it a new
Transporter bridge but more modern and able to ensure more missions that the former.
The quai de la Fosse in Nantes to-day, a lone sailboat
The industrial wasteland land of Ile de Nantes
D- A unique Vernian theme loop, together with an attractive human, and architectural unity.
On the right bank, a" Jules Verne " (born in Nantes, 1828) museum already dominates the Quai de la
Fosse and its unique XVIII th century ensemble of buildings. This asks
only to be highlighted in another environment than the present
saturated street and empty quays, with the exception of an escort ship
that became a museum.
On
the opposite bank , parts of the former shipyards are being transformed
into playful and cultural spaces with a Hall of Machines, of which a
giant mechanical Elephant, rehabilitated slipways remaining useless,
restaurants, a nightclub, works of art …but still no space for boats.
The visiting cruise ships are sent to a former industrial quay has no view on the city’s beautiful buildings of the Quai de la Fosse.
If
we imagine the rehabilitation of both banks being linked by a new
transporter bridge. This would complete a real” Vernian loop” of an exceptional quality
The project of a “Vernian loop”
E- Return to a maritime world.
Obviously, the past will not return. No container- or cargo-ship will show again, but the maritime domain is not bound to this. Shipbuilding of smaller units, such as superyachts, could be considered, cruise-ships be welcome on calls, sailing events organized and pleasure boats moor in a marina . Industries needing a wharf or a slipway can also be interested Creativity can do miracles as it was observed in a number of cases.
F . A realistic budget for the bridge – Profitability shows.
A few transporter bridges remain in use and prove not only useful, but viable: Bilbao, Spain(UNESCO World heritage) Middlesborough, UK, Duluth USA …However, they have not been built with tourism benefits in mind
How much will this one cost? We know rebuilding the bridge we had before would mean some 20 m $. However,
even if the silhouette will not change much, more technical options
will be considered because of new elements we want to add such as :
elevators, a bigger gondola…
A
covered horizontal beam in the shape of a long plane cabin should be as
little sensitive to vibrations and winds as possible, a restaurant and
other air-conditioned spaces created, systems of energy, etc.
Technologies are those of aeronautics, sailboats, shipbuilding.
The figure of 70 M $ is
now evoked. However, even in that case, the first propositions of
annual incomes, in a realistic context, suggest some 10 million $, what
allows to cover depreciation and operation costs. Tourism, including
catering, would account for over the half of this amount.
G - High Tech
The "construction" will necessarily be the outcome of a will to privilege techniques where Nantes and all Brittany
are already sharp. This involves domains such as the new technologies
in materials, such as high performance concrete, special metals,
composite materials and carbon fibres etc. maybe more typical of naval
and aeronautical construction already familiar in Nantes and the
neighbourhood where that kind of industries and research is available.
(Airbus, Atlantic shipyards, Techno’Campus etc..).
The white beam
H - A symbol for Nantes in the XXIth century.
According
to what is said higher, the transporter bridge will not be a mere
beautiful object. it is going to be a symbol, as well as an emblem of all the know-how Nantes and its region can propose to the world.
We think not only it will tend
to polarize communication, but also, help the city to gain a European
and international image , as are it already the case for the Millaud viaduct, the TGV hi-speed-train or Airbus in France. It is to be a model in town planning action for an attractive, river and maritime city we want to emphasize . A model which may be inspired by Stockholm, Hamburg Amsterdam or Sydney..
During
fifty years, at a time when world tourism and communications industry
did not exist, this symbol served successfully for identifying Nantes and the estuary of the Loire.
It is still anchored in the heart of our fellowmen and will resuscitate.
The rebirth of a whole spirit is the stake.