here is why the War memorial will not be dismantled but moved
The François Verdier station of the future 3rd metro line will be built just below the Toulouse War Memorial. Classified as a historical monument, it will therefore be moved during the works.
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It is now official. The Monument to the glory of veterans will change places in Toulouse. 35 meters below it is the future line 3 metro platform in the making. As a precaution, the monument will therefore be moved a few meters from the first quarter of 2023 until the end of the work planned for 2028.
In the meantime, a temporary place of commemoration will be set up in conjunction with veterans’ associations.
In a press release Tisséo specifies this Tuesday, October 4, 2022:
“The connection with line B of the metro requires the construction of a deep station (…). Its construction requires particular attention during construction on the following points of interest:
• the Monument to the Glory of the Combatants of Haute-Garonne;
• the alignment of the plane trees in the François Verdier alleys;
• line B works: station, tunnel;
• the Carnot car park;
• the old buildings with high heritage value on both sides of the aisles.”
Initially, the future François Verdier metro station was to remain in its current location. A scenario in which 50 plane trees should have been cut down. Residents opposed this felling of trees in the François Verdier alleys.
Lhe 3rd line of the metro will be 27 km long, connecting from Colomiers to Labège. The first preparatory work started in August 2022.
To move the Monument to the Glory of Combatants, the engineers favor a technique without dismantling, with the exception of the steps. This should limit any damage.
But before being moved, the monument will be reinforced with a steel and wood exoskeleton. This structure should remain in place throughout the storage period to ensure the maintenance and distribution of the weight of the building..
Inspections of the monument will be carried out on a regular basis.
• Stage 1: Lifting of the monument (using a system of jacks)
• Step 2: Movement on a platform with many wheels
• Step 3: Storage on a reinforced concrete slab
Throughout these different stages, crack meters and inclinometers will be installed on the monument in order to identify any deformation.
The Monument to the Glory of Combatants, located on the Allées Forain François Verdier, was built between 1923 and 1928 by Léon Jaussely in memory of the heroism of the soldiers of the Great War.
It is one of the remarkable buildings of the city of Toulouse and has been protected as a historical monument since 2018.