One bridge too many
Work on the ITER Itinerary, which began in February 2008, is now coming to an end. Last September in Jouques, the construction of a brand new bridge over the EDF canal was completed. That left the old bridge, of course, which had to be dismantled. The operation required the coordinated action of two heavy cranes. The five concrete beams of the 40-year-old bridge—each 66 metres long and weighing 150 tonnes—were reinforced and stabilized, and then one-by-one delicately detached from their support, lifted, and placed on a trailer. The operation started Friday 20 November and was over by the following Monday.
Work is ongoing in Lambesc, where a bridge is being reconstructed, and in Berre Harbour at the other end of the ITER Itinerary, where an unloading platform will be delivered in the early months of 2010. All Itinerary works will be complete early 2010. The first test convoys are scheduled to travel along the ITER Itinerary in 2011.