27/02/2023
Bessac is restructuring the sewerage network beneath the famous Boulevard de la Croisette in Cannes
Bessac, the lead contractor of a consortium comprising subsidiaries of NGE and Razel-Bec, has been awarded the upgrading of the sewerage network under Boulevard de la Croisette in Cannes, by the Cannes Pays de Lérins (CACPL) municipal authorities.
This contract is part of a much larger programme of works which aims to remodel the underground networks before redeveloping and embellishing this prestigious boulevard and its promenade. A virtuous project for the environment, since it will improve the sewerage system of the entire eastern part of the Cannes basin.
The scope of works includes the laying by micro-tunnel boring machine of a 1600 mm diameter 2.3 km-long pipe in four sections of between 322 m and 720 m long. The final collector will operate by gravity, starting at a depth of 7 m and finishing at a depth of 15 m. To minimise the intervention time, two sets of equipment will be set up to lay two sections each. The shafts are being bored within secant pile enclosures.
The worksite has a number of constraints linked to its location: the Palais des Festivals convention centre, high-end hotels and luxury stores that line the boulevard mean that our work programmes have to work around the events for which Cannes is famous, including the MIPIM, MIPTV, MIDEM trade shows, the Ninja Warrior TV series and, of course, the prestigious film festival.
There are also plenty of geotechnical constraints, from hard and abrasive pink gneiss to sludgy clay, clayey sand, sandstone pelite and dolomitic limestone! We will also pass under three stormwater chanels, directly adjacent to an underground car park and the ferry terminal and beneath the famous Quai Saint Pierre.
Preparatory work began last October. The red carpet was rolled out for the Belle Otero during its christening, which took place in the presence of the Mayor of Cannes David Lisnard on February 10th. This first micro tunnel boring machine is due to turn the wheel for the first time early April. The second machine, named “Eleanore”, meanwhile, is set to begin digging early May. The micro-tunnelling works should be completed in October and the shaft equipment and site rehabilitation work should be finished by the end of January next year.
