Major fire closes Rouen bridge over the Seine.

[vette]

Following an accident, the bridge that you would take over the Seine in Rouen has been closed. Diversions are in place.

This is the bridge that you take if you pass the railway sidings after leaving the A28 heading for the road to Calais, etc.

Here are a couple of links with pictures and more info; http://www.bienpublic.com/actualite/2012/10/30/une-catastrophe-evitee-de-peu

http://haute-normandie.france3.fr/2012/10/29/incendie-sur-le-pont-mathilde-de-rouen-des-consequences-sur-la-circulation-des-dizaines-de-kilometres-132239.html 

[BIG MAC]

We got stuck there for over an hour a couple of weeks ago as the bridge was closed....nightmare as nearly missed ferry. Still we diverted by the funfair and the beautiful cathedral..

[Théière]

Thanks Big Mac, helpful to know that as may be over again soon.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Pont+Mathilde,+Rouen,+France&hl=en&ll=49.433082,1.105199&spn=0.014541,0.035877&sll=51.528642,-0.101599&sspn=0.445119,1.148071&oq=pont+mat&t=h&hq=Pont+Mathilde,&hnear=Rouen,+Seine-Maritime,+Upper+Normandy,+France&z=15

The most popular bridge

[BIG MAC]

I see we are in similar necks of the woods so sent a mail a while back.

[woolybanana]

Out of interest, is this problem fixed yet?

[Théière]

Definitely not yet, reports suggested up to 18months to repair the bridge

 

[BIG MAC]

Southbound you can hop off just before and go over a different bridge... Mrs Mac reckons slightly quicker - Northbound its a cut through the town I think but its no big thing as they are organised now..

[thehepples]

Feb 2014.  Still not fixed or open.  We had forgotten about this from our trip last October and had to do the same detour again going southbound from Calais towards the A28.  Fortunately our next two trips are both overnighters via St Malo.  Detour Signposting in Rouen is sketchy at best.  Best avoid it if you can

[EuroTrash]

I don't think it's about to change any time soon, AFAIK they haven't even got the funding in place yet let alone a new bridge.

Depending where you're heading, it's often better to give Rouen a miss altogether and use Pont de Normandie.

[PaulT]

Came through Rouen on Sunday and no problems - go along the A28 as though you are going to go over the bridge, you then come to where you would have gone straight over the bridge but are made to turn off the road. You then come to a junction and follow the signs for Evereux and it take you down the east side of the river and eventually on to the A154.

As for funding, surely the insurance company covering the lorry should be paying.

[EuroTrash]

Well apparently it is scheduled to open this August - the bridge has its own website!

http://www.pontmathilde.com/

IIRC, the problem was that insurance policies have ceilings as to how much they pay out for each type of claim and the cost of repairs was way above the ceiling.

[Théière]

Hmm, that would be under insuring, not allowed usually. All these things must be assessed for a total loss situation.  Still It doesn't really bother me as the alternatives I have got used to now are just as good if not better.