PONT-CANAL
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A bridge-canal built to ensure the continuity between the two main cities of western Normandy, Caen and Cherbourg.
You can cross it in a few tens of seconds, at full speed, without realizing that the canal bridge is an exceptional structure, unique in France: inaugurated on June 6, 1994 during the celebration of the D-Day landings, its project was simple: to divert Carentan by a 2x2 lanes, in order to ensure a motorway continuity between the two main cities of western Normandy, Caen and Cherbourg. Here, there were two possibilities: one, longer, was to divert the town from the south and west, and the second, much more direct, from the east. The only snag: having to pass under the canal linking Carentan to the sea, in a marshy area! It is this last project which was nevertheless retained. 615 m long and 4.85 m high, it is defined by three zones. Two access zones in open trenches, and the 85 m long canal bridge itself located under the canal, allowing traffic on 4 lanes with a 4.85 m high gauge. In order to cope with the presence of an almost flush water table, it is planned to permanently drain the water from the water table, raise it by pumping it up and discharge it to the outside environment. This project represents more than 300,000 hours of work spread over 22 months in 2 and 3 shifts to meet the required deadlines. A feat that can be admired in two ways: by driving under the canal bridge (be careful not to slow down too much anyway) or by driving along the canal, higher up! Time saving: nearly 20 minutes compared to the old route.
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