25 Oct Inauguration of the Grand-Pont in La Chaux-de-Fonds

We are proud to announce the 𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐮 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝-𝐏𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐚̀ 𝐋𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐱-𝐝𝐞-𝐅𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬! 🎉

Made up of 5 spans, this 145-metre bridge has a total of 900 tonnes of steel, 18 main caisson elements and 27 decking elements assembled and welded on site. Its rough main structure contrasts with the delicate stainless steel and glass railings.

It is made of Corten steel, a material whose chemical composition is slightly modified, allowing the formation of a corrosion layer called patina. Unlike ‘standard’ steel, this patina is stable and does not change over time, so it is not necessary to apply any anti-corrosion treatment to protect the structure.

Production began in June 2023 and required 19,000 hours of work ⏳ more than half of which was spent on welding. A real team effort! 🤝

The replacement of the previous bridge increased its overall width from 17.5m to 20m. This additional space is dedicated to soft mobility, with cycle paths 🚴 and a pedestrian walkway separated from the traffic by planted boxes.

F. Bernasconi & Cie SA, GGMP-GVH Ingénieurs civils EPF/SIA – Bauingenieure ETH/SIA, Monod-Piguet+Associés Ingénieurs Conseils SA, Plarel SA, Etat de Neuchâtel

📸 Pedro Gutiérrez Fernandez