Le Mont-Saint-Michel Causeway, Building, France, Architect, Image, Architecture

Le Mont-Saint-Michel, France : New Causeway

French Causeway : Bridge & footbridge – design by Dietmar Feichtinger Architectes

8 + 7 Oct 2012

Le Mont-Saint-Michel Causeway

Design: Dietmar Feichtinger Architectes

Le Mont-Saint-Michel becomes an island – Have a look on the work in progress

Location: north west France

CAUSEWAY AND PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, UNOBTRUSIVE WORKS IN THE BAY

“Mont St-Michel derives all its strength from the landscape in which it stands erect, as the only point of intensity in the infinite flatness of the sands, neither truly an island nor really a peninsula. The one imperative of the project was not to disturb the spirit of the place in connection with this ambiguous status and the lack of landmarks or scale. Visitors must continue to be lost in contemplation. Their walk is a place for sensations, for becoming immersed in the immensity of it all. The approach is as much a trip as a stop; it has to take a little time to get to this ‘somewhere else’ lost in the distance on the marine horizon.

Le Mont-Saint-Michel bridge & footbridge proposal:

images : Dietmar Feichtinger Architectes

TWO SEQUENCES FOLLOWING ON, ONE AND THE SAME CONSTRUCTION

This interpretation of the site led us to opt for total horizontality and to go for as delicate a design as possible. The access structure comprising two sequences one after the other – the causeway and the jetty – draws across the landscape a completely flat line, which on crossing the Couesnon, is carried on in an extremely simple thin blade borne by a set of posts in close succession. The rhythm introduced by the piers starting from the bed of the Couesnon is actively involved in the idea of insularity; they express the intermittent presence of the sea at their foot. At high tide, the structure’s outline is reflected in the water. The structure’s horizontality is emphasized through the repetitiveness of the graceful piers.

From the mainland to the Mont, the structure’s overall geometry forms a continuous, flowing movement. The bridge slowly pulls out eastwards and then sweeps around in the other direct from the start of the jetty, opening up vistas across the bay and Tombelaine Rock. The Mont comes gradually into view, in a sequence-length shot taking in the whole bay. The outline is held by the outer curve, with no breaks due to the variations in breadth. Very gradual adjustments lend fluidity to the line of the bridge over the sands.

The structure is minimal in its expression, but ambitious in its design and performance. It is a piece of high performance engineering that unostentatiously handles the forces on it.”

Dietmar Feichtinger, Architect for the access structure

By 2014, the shuttles will be going to the Mont-Saint-Michel on a new causeway (length 1,085 metres) followed by a bridge (760 metres over water) before landing on an earth plateform at the bottom of the mount (120 metres).

It’s only a few hours per year, during very high tides, that the Monument will be completed surrounded by the water. Starting in 2011, these works are planned to be completed by 2014.

At the moment one hundred of 142 piles are already set in the bay. The prefabrication of one part of the deck in concrete is on the way. 100 pieces from 257 are produced. The ‘putting on’ bridge starts in mid-November and will last for 4 months.

photos : Dietmar Feichtinger Architectes

Le Mont redevient une île

Un regard sur l’avancement des travaux

La JETEE

Fondations
Une centaine de pieux sur 142 sont réalisés La base de la culée sud est réalisée, la base de la culée nord sera démarrera la semaine prochaine.
Tablier
La charpente métallique des 4 tronçons a été posée, les soudures et la pose de la partie du tronçon 5 sont en cours. Mi-novembre, la pose de charpente continuera depuis l’extrémité nord de l’ouvrage.

La préfabrication des dalles béton pour les voies est en cours (100 dalles de fabriqué sur 257), en cours de séchage. La pose des dalles sur la charpente commence mi-novembre sur 4 mois environ.

Digue-route
Le préchargement de la route est en cours. Il permet d’accélérer les tassements du terrain sous l’ouvrage. Déchargement prévu selon résultats des vérifications géométriques, au plus tard dans 6 mois.

Fin des travaux prévue pour la première moitié 2014

#067 PONT-PASSERELLE DU MONT SAINT MICHEL

Le Mont-Saint-Michel Bridge – Building Information

Project: Pont-Passerelle menant au Mont-Saint-Michel / Bridge and footbridge to Mont-Saint-Michel
Address: Manche (50) – Normandie 50116 LE MONT SAINT-MICHEL
client: Syndicat mixte pour le rétablissement du caractère maritime du Mont-Saint-Michel 2, rue Prieuré F-50170 Ardevon
Client address : Baie du Mont Saint Michel
Architect: Dietmar Feichtinger Architectes
Competition: Rupert Siller, Christian Schmölz, Ulrike Plos, Gabriel Augier, Barbara Feichtinger-Felber, Michael Felder, Wolfgang Juen, Paul-Eric Schirr-Bonnans, Frank Hinterleithner, Frederic Benji Texte: Armelle Lavalou
Project team leader: Dietmar Feichtinger, José-Luis Fuentes
Project Team: Christian Wittmeir, Guy Deshayes, Mathias Neveling
Construction site: José-Luis Fuentes, Mathias Neveling
Engineering firm: SBP Stuttgart
Measurements:
Longueur total 1 813 m
Pont-passerelle pour piétons et navettes
Digue 889 m
Jetée 924 m

Time Schedule:
Selection of the participants For the competition: 28 Jun 2001
Competition: 31 Jan 2002 ; Jury 1 Mar 2002
Start of planning: 2003
Start of construction: 2011

Le Mont-Saint-Michel Causeway images / information from Dietmar Feichtinger Architectes

Dietmar Feichtinger Architectes

Location:Le Mont-Saint-Michel, France