Pont Chaban-Delmas: Bordeaux's Iconic Lift Bridge

Where is the Pont Chaban-Delmas?

The Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas crosses the Garonne at the northern edge of central Bordeaux, extending from the Rue Lucien Faure on the left bank to the Quai de Brazza on the right bank. It sits just downstream of the Port de la Lune, at the level of the Quai de Bacalan, and forms a trio of city-centre crossings with the Pont de Pierre and the Pont Saint-Jean. The Cite du Vin and the Bassins a Flot marina are steps from the left-bank approach.

The bridge is a vertical-lift structure. In its lowered position, the central deck sits 13 metres above the water, the same height as the Pont de Pierre. When raised, it reaches 55 metres, matching the Pont d'Aquitaine and allowing river cruise ships to pass through to the Port de la Lune. The bridge measures 575 metres in total length and between 32 and 45 metres in width, with dedicated cycle and pedestrian paths separated from the central traffic lanes and running outside the lift towers.

The history of the Pont Chaban-Delmas

Construction began at the very end of 2009, with work proceeding simultaneously on both banks. The bridge was opened symbolically to pedestrians in January 2013, then inaugurated and opened to all traffic in March of the same year. The ceremony took place in the presence of Mayor Alain Juppe and President Francois Hollande, and was marked by concerts, fireworks and the passage of the Belem, the last three-masted tall ship in the French fleet.

Before the bridge was built, only the Pont de Pierre and the Pont Saint-Jean linked the two halves of the city centre, leaving the northern districts without a comparable crossing. The project was known throughout its construction as the Pont Bacalan-Bastide, and many Bordelais still call it the Pont Ba-Ba. Its purpose was to give residents of the Bastide and Lormont easier access to the left bank, and it now carries more than 25,000 vehicles and 1,500 cyclists per day, reducing traffic on the Pont de Pierre by roughly 30 per cent.

The Pont Chaban-Delmas today

After dark, LED lighting picks out the bridge's contemporary lines, and the colour of the towers shifts subtly with the tide, turning blue at high water and green at low. During the winter holiday season, the integrated lights sparkle along its length. The central deck is raised around a hundred times a year to allow ships to pass, with electronic signs around the city warning drivers several days in advance. The control room for the manoeuvres is located on the right bank, and the passage of vessels longer than 150 metres takes place at high tide.

The Pont Chaban-Delmas has transformed the connection between left and right bank, and the neighbourhoods at either end are among Bordeaux's fastest-evolving property markets. Contemporary apartments in the Bassins a Flot and family houses on the Bastide are both within minutes of the crossing. A full selection is available among the properties for sale in Bordeaux.

The consultants at BARNES Bordeaux can advise on the best opportunities on both banks, from the initial property valuation to the final signature. The team is available via the contact page.

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