As we reported in June, restrictions on HGV traffic crossing the viaduct will be lifted in November at the earliest.
According to local press reports, the 46-year-old bridge is suffering wear and tear issues from the cumulative effect of temperature variations and the weight of traffic crossing it.
Jean-Philippe Vennin, secretary general of the prefecture of Calvados, said last week that although the bridge was “sustainable and solid,” 85,000 vehicles, including 4,000 heavy goods vehicles, use the crossing every day – are putting it to the test. The local authority has therefore decided to ban HGV traffic and start repair work.
In the meantime, HGV traffic is being diverted to the southern ring road going towards Cherbourg, or via Colombelles onto the the Bénouville bridge for those traveling towards Ouistreham and its ferry.
The Calix viaduct will only reopen to HGV traffic once the work has been completed and tests have been carried out.
However, despite the ban being in place, it has been broken at least fifty times already. In order to stop further violations, the police have been ordered to conduct regular controls and fine any drivers who flouted the ban.
Photo: Ikmo-ned, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
