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Brief overview 

Brittany Ferries plans to run a train daily between Bayonne and Cherbourg-en-Cotentin in both directions, thus moving 20,000 heavy goods vehicle trailers through the port. Currently 50,000 trailers move through the port annually.  

By connecting Spain to England and Ireland through a combination of road, rail and maritime transport, the port and the ferry operator not only ensure their financial future, but also bring a concrete solution to the pressing question of energy transition: 1 tonne of CO2 per trailer. By developing this type of traffic, Ports of Normandy aims to establish the Port of Cherbourg’s position in cross-Channel trade.  

To give substance to the project, Ports of Normandy intends to develop in the ferry terminal, that is to say as close as possible to the ferry loading ramps, a rail-road transport platform which can process ®Lohr-type wagons. Works to build the terminal should get underway this year and be completed by 2024.  

Given that the project is a major investment, a public consultation was organised between 20 June to 15 July 2022 so that the project could be presented to local residents, the inhabitants of Cherbourg, to the stakeholders of the port and all those who will be impacted by the project. 

Brief overview

This bridge is an essential link between the east and west halves of Greater Caen. It is used every day by 18,000 vehicles, 7% of which are heavy goods vehicles.  However, it no longer has the technical capacity to accommodate the traffic that is currently using it. It is showing signs of fatigue and vehicles over 7.5 tonnes have now been banned from using it. Breakdowns are constantly reoccurring, causing major traffic disruption. It is therefore no longer reasonable to maintain a bridge that suffers from random interruptions of service which disrupt both road and canal traffic.  

The bridge will therefore be replaced with a new one. This new structure will be the main link between the new residential and commercial development La Presqu’Ile Hérouvillaise and the historic town. It aims to accommodate all the various users (pedestrians, cyclists, drivers) in complete safety while ensuring the proper management of ships using the canal.  

In terms of maritime use, the new bridge is going to be similar to the existing one. In other words, it will be a swing bridge operated by Ports of Normandy’s remote control system for all such structures. It will provide a navigation channel that is 40 metres wide and can accommodate all types of vessel likely to pass through the locks at Ouistreham. The clearance gauge under the bridge will be between 4.10 m and 5.50 m so that leisure craft for activities such as rowing, or future river shuttles can pass under without the bridge needing to be opened.

Brief overview 

Registered as a historic monument in 2020, Colbert Bridge will be undergoing a complete restoration. Its structure, comprising a mixture of the original puddled steel and post-war steel, is in very poor condition and is going to be restored. We are also going to renovate its road surface and enlarge the pavements to give access to people with restricted mobility.  

Civil engineering works are also planned: repairs to the paving of the bridge’s turning circle, restoration of the stairs, the travel stops and the top-section of the quay... as well as the restoration of the operator’s cabin and the renovation of the power station façade. Lastly, the operation includes installing lighting to illuminate the bridge at night.  

Learn more about these historic works on the dedicated website!