Bridges of La Roche-Bernard

About

The bridge of La Roche-Bernard is a suspension bridge crossing the Vilaine between the communes of Marzan and Nivillac in the Morbihan department. It is commonly attached to La Roche-Bernard, the canton's capital in the immediate vicinity. Its total length is 407 m.

First bridge: As early as 1827, the municipality of La Roche-Bernard requested the construction of a bridge to cross Vilaine. On 3 June 1834 a law was adopted determining the contribution of the State, 715,000 francs, in addition to that of the Morbihan department for a suspended bridge allowing the passage of sailing vessels up to 500 tons. Ten years later, the construction of a first suspended bridge began under the leadership of engineer Leblanc. Inaugurated by the Prefect of Morbihan on 26 December 1839, the bridge was 349 m long (including 193 m of range) for six metres wide at a total cost of 1,171,705 francs.

On October 26, 1852 a violent storm destroyed the deck of the bridge when it resonated with the wind. The oscillation movements of the apron resulted in the rupture of the carrier cables and the apron collapsed into the Vilaine. The old transport barge between the two shores then resumed...