REPORTAGE
In the aftermath of the disaster that killed 43 people in Genoa on August 14, 2018, the Echinghen viaduct, on the A16 motorway in the Boulogne-sur-Mer region, was pinned as one of the two bridges in France. classified in an official report as "requiring urgent renovation". This report published by the government even referred to a "severely altered structure". In fact, the damage had been identified as early as 2017 and included corrosion of concrete and cables, probably caused by sea winds.
© Lionel GOUGELOT / Europe 1
A major project was undertaken to ensure the durability of the structure and its security. The case is also the subject of litigation between Sanef, concessionaire of the bridge, and Bouygues Group, builder of the book. Design defect or lack of maintenance? Justice will have to decide. Meanwhile, motorists and residents living at the foot of the highway viaduct do not seem to panic even if they remain attentive to the work.
"The risk factor is there"
For almost two years now, only one lane has been used on the 1,300 meters of viaduct roadway. The speed is limited due to the current refurbishment, but that does not change the habits of motorists, like Dominique. "There is not even a bump on the road, it's straightforward, I'm not afraid," he told Europe 1.
© Lionel GOUGELOT / Europe 1
Alex, who lives 70 meters below the viaduct, admits however that last year's classification of the bridge as a structure to renovate urgently made him think. "We know that psychologically it works everyone, when we see what happened in Italy ... The risk factor is there, we can not say that there will never be an accident," he says .
Opposite, Laurence is reassured by the renovations undertaken by the motorway company. "It's under construction all year long, there are always guys up there working, they come once a year with a drone to do full control," she says. "The viaduct is being followed, I have no more worries than that, otherwise I'll be gone."
The works must be completed in 2020, at a cost of at least 625,000 euros.