In Toulouse, unprecedented move of an imposing monument to build a metro

“We are going to make him rotate 90° so that he can pass in the alley of plane trees” in front of which he is currently, explained Friday, a few meters from the monument already raised more than 1,50 m from the ground, Ludovic Gomez, from Bouygues BTP, who is leading the operation.

The memorial, classified as a historical monument and just over 15 meters high, will be moved on August 31 thanks to a gigantic metal "exoskeleton" and a rolling platform, in order to allow the expansion of a metro station.

The underground construction of the François-Verdier metro station, which will combine the existing line B and the future line C, could have caused the collapse of the monument.

Tisséo, the public transport company for the Toulouse conurbation, has therefore decided to move it during the works. Other solutions considered - dismantling the building or consolidation - were rejected because of "too great risks".

This is a first in France for a historic monument of such size, according to Mr. Gomez.

Tisséo clarified that it will be returned "to the exact location" by 2027.

Initially, another place, in the middle of the adjoining aisles, had been considered. But the issue of preserving the century-old plane trees there has led the transport operator to review its plans.

The third metro line in the Toulouse conurbation, 27 km long, should be put into service in 2028.

It will notably serve the Airbus factories and the west of the conurbation. At the other end, it will reach Labège, in the south-east, a very busy commercial center where many companies are located.