The Pont Simone Veil, inaugurated in June 2024, is the sixth Garonne crossing in Bordeaux, in the extension of Boulevard Jean-Jacques Bosc. This modern bridge, designed by OMA (Rem Koolhaas, Chris van Duijn, Gilles Guyot, assisted by Michel Desvigne Paysages), responds to a pressing need to relieve existing infrastructure and support Bordeaux's demographic and economic expansion.
An Innovative Design?
The Pont Simone Veil is an impressive structure, 549 meters long and 44 meters wide. It stands out with its large deck, carried by a 9-span steel box girder structure. This design reserves an 18-meter-wide space for pedestrians and 3 meters for a two-way cycle path, while hosting two lanes for car traffic and two lanes dedicated to public transport in a separate right-of-way. The wooded parks on each bank and 1,200 trees planted alongside add greenery to this urban structure.
A Pressing Need for a New Crossing
Bordeaux, with its five existing bridges (one reserved for rail traffic), suffered from a crossing shortage. The Pont Simone Veil addresses this by easing saturation on existing bridges and improving traffic flow, especially toward southern towns like Floirac. Demographic growth (+10% over 10 years across the Métropole) and Bordeaux's economic development called for infrastructure able to support urban expansion.
The idea of a new bridge over the Garonne dates to the 2000s, with discussions and feasibility studies launched in 2007. After several design stages and public consultations, work started in 2017. However, the project stalled in 2018 due to technical and financial disputes, then restarted in 2020 with a new contract awarded to Bouygues Travaux Publics Régions France. The site, which ran four years late, finally reached completion in 2024, despite the challenges.
A Public Space for All
The Pont Simone Veil isn't just a way to cross the Garonne; it's designed as a real public space. Architect Rem Koolhaas defended an "anti-spectacular" stance, stressing function and accessibility (true, in the end, we do get the feeling of a highway spanning the Garonne, don't we?). For info, the vast 44-meter-wide deck offers big spaces for soft mobility, allowing public events like parties, markets and fairs, turning the bridge into a place of life and meeting (for now we haven't seen that yet but it's coming!).
The Pont Simone Veil is much more than transport infrastructure. It's a symbol of progress and cohesion for Bordeaux, meeting growing needs for mobility and urban expansion. Its innovative, functional design paired with strong social ambition makes it a centerpiece of Bordeaux Euratlantique's development. Whether for pedestrians, cyclists, drivers or public transport users, this bridge offers a unique experience essential to Bordeaux's urban dynamic.
