Work to install the new Gourjade park footbridge has begun. The new building is a boon for walkers but especially for golfers, whose course was disrupted.
In February 2021, the Agout flood, caused by bad weather, led to the collapse of the Gourjade park footbridge. The town hall, which had already started a renovation project for the building, then announced that it would be replaced by the end of 2021.
And the work has now started since the beginning of the week! Alexandre Pujol, delegate municipal councilor and chairman of the golf board is satisfied with the new building to come: “The new footbridge will be built eight meters upstream from the existing one. There we started the preparatory phase, namely the cleaning and earthworks of the abutments. The old one was made of three pieces, here we are going to do it differently, it will only be made in one piece of 35 meters, all in aluminium.
A project designed to prevent bad weather
Designed by the technical teams of the municipality of Castres, the new passage has been considered to best adapt to future floods of the Agout: “The old footbridge had two supports in the river, which hindered the flow of water by blocking debris such as logs. This will not have any, and will also be braced, which will increase the flow rate under the footbridge by 30%. In addition, the railings will be removable. This will make it possible to protect against bad weather or water releases from the Raviège dam. The idea is to build something that will last over time. »
In total, the project will cost €395,620. A non-negligible sum which will be disbursed by the municipality, but which will be used by all users of the Parc de Gourjade: “It is true that the most impacted are the golfers, who have to make a 25-minute detour on foot to complete the course. of nine holes in full. But this walkway is also used by walkers, joggers, bicycles… it’s not just for golf! As for the old footbridge, it will be dismantled and removed once the work on the new one is completed.
Barring incidents or other unforeseeable hazards, the site should be completed by the end of the year, as planned. But until then, golfers will have to be patient, and will even see hole n° 4 closed for a few weeks.
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