Saint-Nazaire closes Bois Joalland road due to dam fissure

The City of Saint-Nazaire has prohibited all vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic on the road passing over the Bois Joalland dam following the rapid appearance of a structural fissure.

The crack, which runs for more than 50 meters between the roadway and the pedestrian promenade, expanded from 5 mm to 3 cm in just a few days. Additionally, the roadside shoulder near the pond has subsided by approximately 8 cm.

This development follows an emergency draining of the pond that began in September after initial inspections identified weaknesses in the dam. Municipal services have implemented emergency detours, and the city expects to provide a more detailed schedule for repair works by the end of November. The duration of the closure remains unknown.