XCarb® in iconic bridge solution
10 March 2026
ArcelorMittal is partnering with long-standing customer, construction firm, GAGNE, designer, Setec, and the Department of Isère, in the French Alps, to build an iconic new bridge over the Isère river at Brignoud, north of Grenoble.
A 3D visualisation showing the future bridge alongside the pedestrian and cyclist footbridge. © CD38 Agence AEI Setec
The previous bridge was irreparably damaged by fire in early 2022. The Department of Isère quickly initiated a reconstruction programme for this important crossing, with a target date for completion before the end of 2026. Specifications included responding to the needs of all users, including road, pedestrian and cyclists, and providing for future levels and types of usage, through incorporating a greater width and number of lanes. The crossing typically handles around 27,000 vehicles a day, is important for local businesses and provides access to busy ski resorts.
The selected solution put forward by the Departement of Isère after the studies conducted by SETEC/AEI proposed a new road bridge to the north of the previous one, extending to 120 metres in length, enabling direct access to the RD10 and RD10A roundabout, providing a safer road layout and minimising the environmental impact on the riverbank of the Isère and the neighbouring agricultural land.
The new bridge has an exciting ‘Bow String’ design to reflect the architecture of its predecessor. It will be 23 metres wide, facilitating four lanes of traffic. In addition, the solution goes further by incorporating a second bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. It will be constructed on the foundation piles of the existing bridge. This will provide greater safety and easier use for people and cyclists crossing the river in peak hours.
The construction of the new bridge and its connections to the RD10 is being carried out by a consortium comprising Campenon Bernard Centre-Est, GAGNE, Terélian, Midali, Eurovia and Ménard, with GAGNE in charge of the bridge’s steel structure works. ArcelorMittal worked closely with customer, GAGNE, to respond to the tender. It is supplying 150 tonnes of XCarb® recycled and renewably produced heavy plates. The steel is being primarily used in the bridge suspenders. XCarb® steel is part of ArcelorMittal’s growing low-carbon product offering, delivering significant carbon reductions to its customer base across industry segments.
Commenting on the project, Teddy Talabart, Project Director – Civil Engineering Structures of GAGNE added: “The use of XCarb® steel enabled us to meet the project owner’s requirement to reduce the carbon footprint of this project. Fully compliant with Fascicule 66 and NF Steel marking standards, this steel allows for workshop fabrication and on-site assembly using our established welding processes.”
A second tender is under way for the 100 tonnes of steel required for the footbridge, and is to be awarded in 2026 for completion in 2027. This second bridge will be 105 metres in length and five metres wide.
Frederic Marechal, Account Manager, ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products, added: “The bridge solution for this project is an exciting one, and the Bow String design and specifications are a perfect fit for our steel plate offering. It’s a great chance to demonstrate the benefits of XCarb® and we’re delighted to be working again with GAGNE.”
The inclusion of XCarb® heavy plates is enabling a lower carbon impact for the Department of Isère, and the overall steel structure and composition responds to the brief to allow high-capacity traffic flow, whilst minimising the impact on the local environment and river flow. XCarb® has a low carbon footprint of 914kg CO2e per tonne of steel, achieved through its electric arc furnace (EAF) production route, using minimum 95% high-quality scrap and 100% renewable electricity.
“In accordance with the requirements of the Departement of Isère and in line with the “Engineers and Citizens” approach championed by the setec group, we drafted specifications encouraging contractors to optimise their greenhouse gas emissions for the most emissive phases of the construction site. The use of XCarb® steel enabled significant gains with no technical impact on the project, Cyrille Protière, Project Manager at setec als.
Construction work commenced in April 2025. The road bridge is due for completion and opening to traffic at the end of 2026, and the footbridge for completion by the end of 2027.
