The last phase of the delicate dismantling operation of the scaffolding of the spire of Notre-Dame de Paris, distorted by the heat of the fire, will begin on Monday, the public establishment responsible for restoring the cathedral announced on Sunday.
An operation that will last "throughout the summer"
"The spire of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral was under restoration during the fire of April 15, 2019. The scaffolding installed for this operation resisted the collapse of the spire but it was deformed by the heat of the "fire", reminds the public establishment in a press release. This scaffolding, consisting of 40,000 pieces, of 200 tonnes "half of which is more than 40 meters high", was first "consolidated and then surrounded by metal beams on three levels to stabilize and prevent any risk of collapse. "
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A second scaffolding was put in place and from Monday, "two alternating teams of five rope access technicians will descend as close as possible to the burnt out parts to cut, using saber saws, the metal tubes melted on top of each other" . They will be evacuated with an 80 meter crane. "This operation will take place throughout the summer," said the press release.
The cathedral forecourt reopened on May 31
Just after the fire, which had aroused worldwide emotion, President Emmanuel Macron wanted a reconstruction in five years of the Gothic gem. The site, however, has known some ups and downs. It had been delayed during the summer by measures against lead contamination. Then in the fall and winter, the bad weather blocked work, each time in particular when the winds were blowing at more than 40 km / h.
And in the spring, the coronavirus plunged the site into sleep. It gradually resumed in late April. The cathedral square was opened to him on May 31. Many unknowns also persist on the final shape of the spire, which collapsed during the fire: reconstruct identically that of Viollet-Le-Duc, or design a "contemporary architectural gesture", like the spoke of the President of the Republic.