This spring a footbridge will open to link the South Terminal of Paris-Orly Airport to the Coeur d’Orly business district currently under development. Boasting what its designers call a “futuristic appearance”, it is said to have a number of features unusual for a footbridge, including an 800 metric ton metal frame and 200 metric tons of glazing. It will be 270m long, 7.5m wide and 5.5m high, with moving walkways and elevators at either end to make it accessible to those with limited mobility.
The footbridge will cross over access roads and a tramline. It will also provide a connection with the airport’s future multimodal station that the Grand Paris metro lines 14 and 18 are due to serve by 2024. The project is part of a huge redevelopment and modernization program at the airport, which also includes the construction of an 80,000m² building connecting the south and west terminals, while the Coeur d’Orly business district set to include office blocks and hotels.
Written by Chris Anderson