Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Bourret suspension bridge, located in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in Occitanie, was designed by Commander Albert Gisclard and built between 1912 and 1914 by Ferdinand Arnodin's company. It initially permitted the crossing of the Garonne by a railway (Tramways de Tarn-et-Garonne) and a roadway. Its technical originality lies in a system of triangulated farms rigidifying the apron, an innovation unique to Gisclard.

Following the closure of the railway line, the bridge was transformed into a road bridge on the old RN128 before being closed to traffic. It was classified as historical monuments on 30 September 1994. The structure, 173 metres long, consists of three bay spans (69.67 m, 65.01 m and 52.93 m), with two piles anchored in the Garonne. Structural disorders, which had arisen since 1938, required work in 1943.

This bridge replaces two previous structures: a first bridge built between 1838 and 1842, destroyed by the floods of 1843 and 1875, and a second, rebuilt after 1875 and demolished in 1910. The load tests of the current bridge were carried out in 1924. Today, it is closed to the public and belongs to the department of Tarn-et-Garonne.

The bridge illustrates the bold engineering of the early twentieth century, combining rail and road functionality. Its classification in 1994 underlines its heritage importance, both for its architecture and for its role in the history of local transport. The work of Ferdinand Arnodin and Albert Gisclard, pioneers of rigid suspension bridges, is particularly highlighted.

The available sources, including Wikipedia and the Merimée database, confirm its address in Bourret (4 Route d的Auch) and its Insee code (82023). The bridge is referred to as the suspended bridge in official documents, with geographical accuracy deemed satisfactory (level 8/10).

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