The Mirepoix-sur-Tarn bridge, in Haute-Garonne, collapsed on November 18, 2019 under the weight of a truck, killing two people.

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FRED SCHEIBER / SIPA

  • On November 18, 2019, the suspension bridge at Mirepoix-sur-Tarn collapsed under the weight of a truck too heavy to use it.

  • Ten months later, the dismantling of the bridge will start from November.

  • The truck still lies at the bottom of the Tarn river, an extraction solution should be found soon, provide state services.

Ten months after the collapse of the suspension bridge at Mirepoix-sur-Tarn, the scars of the tragedy that left two dead are still visible on the banks of the Tarn.

But the visible debris should be gone soon.

This is in any case the announcement made at the beginning of the week by the president of the departmental council, manager of the bridge, to the new mayor of the town.

The aerial parts, pylons, cables or anchors, will be removed from November and for five months.

It will then be the turn of the apron which gave way under the weight of the truck of more than 50 tons, an extraordinary weight to run on this infrastructure.

I spoke today with Sonia Blanchard-Essner, new mayor of Mirepoix-sur-Tarn, the site of deconstruction and reconstruction of the bridge that collapsed on November 18, 2019. pic.twitter.com/ZFlSSxjqJI

- Georges Méric (@GeorgesMeric) September 15, 2020

The deconstruction work of this partially submerged concrete part could begin in April and last several months next year.

"The objective of the departmental council is that the debris of the bridge can be removed by the end of 2021", indicates the community.

For this, it will certainly be necessary to build a barge, the banks being difficult to access and undeveloped.

Not to mention that the current of the river at this point is quite hectic.

Data that could lead to changes in the schedule in view of the difficulties of the site.

They are also a brake for the extraction of the truck which still lies at the bottom with its cargo.

"Subject to confirmation, a solution should be found soon", indicates the state services in charge of its extraction.

Reconstruction studies

As for the reconstruction of the bridge in the same place, it has been under study since this summer to study the various technical solutions "given the importance of the breach to be crossed (150 m) and the environmental constraints linked to the watercourse" , explains the department which estimated at the beginning of the year at more than 20 million euros this site.

A consultation phase must take place after the consultation of the files, carried out until March 2021.

Operations carried out under the supervision of a judicial expert appointed by the Tribunal, the investigation still ongoing.

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