Somme Canal Bridge: Egis and Bouygues Travaux Publics Collaborate on the Key Structure of the Seine-Nord Europe Canal

A consortium led by Bouygues Travaux Publics, a subsidiary of Bouygues Construction, has won a contract from Société du Canal Seine-Nord Europe to design and build the Somme Canal Aqueduct, an iconic structure on the future Seine-Nord Europe Canal, which will link Europe’s major river basins.

The construction partners in the Canalieau consortium are Bouygues Travaux Publics, the consortium leader, Bouygues Travaux Publics Régions France and Razel-Bec. Responsibility for the design will be shared between Egis, SBE, ISL Ingénierie, Lavigne Chéron Architectes and Signes Paysages. The consortium will also draw on the expertise of Michel Virlogeux.

Spanning the Somme valley, the Somme Canal Aqueduct will ensure the continuity of the canal and its navigability, while preserving the natural characteristics of the site. In addition to its function as a crossing point for boats, the structure will also be open to the public.

This contract covers the construction of 3.1 kilometre section of canal of alignment, including 1.330 kilometres of aqueduct, two approach basins and stretches of standard canal section as the design and implementation of the associated environmental and landscape measures.

An essential link in the Seine-Nord Europe Canal

The Somme Canal Aqueduct will be a key element of the Seine-Nord Europe Canal. It will be 1,300 metres long and 45 metres wide and will stand about 30 metres above the Somme valley. It will support the development of inland waterway freight transport, contributing to reducing CO₂ emissions and to promoting more sustainable logistics.

Open to the public

Some aspects of the project have been developed to allow visitors to explore the site and discover the Somme valley, including:

pedestrian and cycle paths (about 4.5 metres wide), which will join up with existing
routes,
observation points over the valley,
access geared to all visitors.

The Somme Canal Aqueduct will become a new destination for walkers and those wishing to explore the area, alongside its function as a waterway transport link.

Paying special attention for the environment

The project has been designed to include measures to protect and enrich local biodiversity. Within the scope of the contract, features of the project include:

The creation of more than 7.5 hectares of woodland and vegetation,
Restoration or creation of approximately 15 hectares of meadows and wetlands with the selection of local species suited to the site,
Measures to protect wildlife during the works,
Transplantation and plant recolonisation operations.

These developments are intended to ensure the successful integration of the structure in
the Somme Valley.

An imposing structure and an exceptional natural site

[Excerpt from the architectural brief by Lavigne Chéron Architects]

“The Somme Canal Aqueduct will run between water and sky, stretching across the valley – a link more than a kilometre long. It will evoke a ribbon blending into the landscape with humility and discretion. At a height of thirty metres, the structure will become a kind of suspended balcony.

More than a mere structure, it will be a place of life and reflection, where human ingenuity will recede to offer a serene invitation to contemplation.

The use of concrete, deliberately chosen in preference to metal, is a choice that is both aesthetic and practical: in the tradition of classic stone structures, concrete has been preferred for its exceptional load-bearing capacity. It will be cast on site, which will boostthe local economy and generate employment.”