Pont Saint-Pierre in Toulouse: pleasant pedestrian area or giant open-air smoking room?
Pending the possible pedestrianization of the bridge, subject to consultation with Toulouse residents at the start of 2023, the question of its restoration and cleanliness arises. In early 2023, work is planned to make the bridge one-way.
The transformation of the Saint-Pierre bridge into an axis reserved for pedestrians and cyclists was one of the campaign promises of candidate Jean-Luc Moudenc in 2020. The mayor has not abandoned the idea. The experiment carried out this summer was a resounding success with walkers, tourists and holidaymakers, a little less perhaps with motorists deprived of one of the major passages between the two banks of the Garonne.
A consultation of Toulouse residents is scheduled for 1uh quarter of 2023 on the definitive prohibition, or not, of the bridge rebuilt from 1984 to 1987.
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Toulouse: the Saint-Pierre bridge is no longer reserved for pedestrians and cyclists
It is said that the mayor at the time, Dominique Baudis, greatly appreciated the Alexandre III bridge in Paris, which would have served as a model for the new Saint-Pierre bridge, in the Belle Epoque style with its candelabra crowned with 1900 lanterns. on a decision in the course of 2024, after a new provisional experiment in the summer of 2023, similar to that of last summer.
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The Pont Saint-Pierre remains reserved for pedestrians until September 18
Consultation and work in early 2023
From the beginning of next year, work will be carried out on the bridge in order to make it one-way, from the left bank to the right bank with a cycle lane in the opposite direction. Pending the possible final pedestrianization, with a strip or cycle path, and a preserved passage for emergency vehicles, there is the problem of the restoration of the work of art, whose famous lampposts, in particular, are very degraded. Tagged, rusty, they have even been “transformed” into real ashtrays by removing a metal part at the height of a man (or a woman) which smokers doubtless consider very practical but unattractive.
Candelabras to restore and fight for cleanliness
“Their restoration is planned, it is indicated at the Capitol, but it must be done in accordance with the requirement of the architect of the Buildings of France which requires the replacement with identical”.
In terms of cleanliness, the town hall recalls its many actions to raise awareness among Toulouse residents and users of the Pink City: 3,101 reports drawn up in 2021 for throwing cigarette butts in Toulouse, installation in 2021 of 2,674 extinguisher baskets (baskets equipped with mini ashtrays) on the territory of the municipality or distribution of some two thousand pocket ashtrays during the last Rio Loco 2022.
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Toulouse: the extension of the pedestrianization of the Saint-Pierre bridge is “formidable”
Still, there is still a lot of prevention and awareness work if we want Toulouse to be not only more pedestrian and cycle-friendly but also cleaner.