Not a week goes by without the eyes of locals or journalists turning towards the tramway. Last week, a tram was seen operating for the first time, the week before that, there was celebration over the trees planted along the 8 kilometers of rail, and some time ago, historical remnants were discovered due to the constructions. This week, the first of April, six months before the service launch, a procession of officials from CANCA and journalists, led by Senator Mayor Jacques Peyrat, visited the Michel Bridge to assess the progress of the work.
And progress has been made! The rails have been laid. Concrete has been poured almost everywhere. One can easily imagine how it will look in a few months with the addition of the three palm trees from Jacques Veilles, which will serve as art pieces at the terminus of the first line. The old Michel Bridge used to span the railway and had only two lanes for cars and buses. Now, at 44 meters wide, it will accommodate the tram, cars, buses, and pedestrians. The works lasted 18 months and cost €9,800,000.
From Michel Bridge, one can easily envisage the tram’s back and forth movements from Saint-Roch and Avenue Semard. Looking on the other side, one can spot, in the distance, the Pasteur Hospital; thus, a question arises: why not extend the tram to the hospital to spare families visiting convalescents from having to take the bus, especially since an extension is planned?
Senator Mayor Jacques Peyrat then improvised a walk along the rails. This walk was enriched with comments about the environment, particularly about the large space occupied by the SNCF with many tracks. They are empty, covered in grass, and suggest a possible better use. He asked his photographer to take a photo as a piece of evidence. Continuing his small tour of the neighborhood, he recalled that the Galeries Lafayette warehouses had been acquired by the city and that a gymnasium would be built in its place. He paused for a moment in front of a vacant lot. He inquired with the local officials. He was surprised that a space remained thus in the heart of Saint-Roch and suggested the idea of reclaiming it to build housing. The casual stroll would continue. The simple visit of Michel Bridge transformed into an encounter of the mayor with his residents and a discussion on possible improvements to be made in this neighborhood.
