Jubilé Bridge
The SNCB has begun the complete renovation of the Jubilé Bridge. The heritage features of this listed bridge on the Tour & Taxis site will be respected, while aiming to improve safety and comfort for pedestrians and cyclists. Once renovated by the SNCB, the bridge will be permanently transferred to Brussels Mobility, who will be responsible for its management and maintenance.
The renovation project involves maintaining and renovating the bridge and its structure, in a spirit of adaptation to contemporary uses and heritage conservation. Visually important elements that have disappeared over time will be reintegrated in a contemporary manner.
The main deck of the 80 m long bridge will be replaced. The solution consists of removing all the prefabricated concrete elements and replacing them with a new structural deck consisting of a metal slab.
As far as mobility is concerned, separate traffic flow for each mode (car, pedestrian, bicycle) will improve and enhance the safety and comfort of all bridge users. Two-way car traffic will be re-established on the central section. On either side of the roadway, a separate 2.10 m one-way cycle lane is planned, and a wide wooden pavement will be laid for pedestrian traffic.
As they are not original, the railings currently in place will be removed along with the entire upper deck. They will be replaced by models based on the characteristic features of the original guardrails (height, structure, latticework, etc.). They will consist of uprights and a handrail at the required height in order to open up the view towards the park. The safety fillingÌ will be madeÌ using stainless steel wire mesh trellis. Taller uprights (+/-2.5m), distributed identically to the main masts of the period, will return the space to its original fictitious boundaries and recall the original structure.
The entire structure will also regain its original, characteristic green colour, identical to the green of the recently restored Gare Maritime.
The historic light fittings, which contributed to the monumentality and majesty of the bridge, have now all disappeared: the project plans to reintroduce them by reinterpreting the structures and globes in a contemporary way, while retaining the geometries of the past. Their position and number will be identical to the original situation. These luminaires will provide part of the night-time lighting, which will be enhanced by lighting around the benches and railings to optimise visibility for all users.
After renovation, the SNCB will transfer the Jubilé Bridge to Brussels Mobility, who will become its new owner and maintainer.
