More than 1,000 tons in motion. After months of preparation, meticulous organization and cold sweats, Toulouse has moved its war memorial on wheels during the work on line C of the metro. A technical feat unique in France. The building traveled 35 meters, without pitfalls and after having rotated 90 degrees. The one who had not moved one iota since 1928 will find his place at the crossroads of François-Verdier in five years.
From 10 o’clock in the morning, under a beautiful summer sun, the crowd pressed around the monument. Everyone wants a place of choice to observe the attraction of the day. Except maybe Jonathan… “I’m stupid, I thought the screens were for the World Cup”. Miss. For sport, it will be necessary to wait until September 8. The giant nevertheless stopped for a long time to admire the match which was played between the trees and the enormous building classified as a historic monument. And for good reason, among the three scenarios to avoid cutting down 50 plane trees on the alleys, to build the new metro station, that of moving such a building seemed the craziest… But there you go, no reinforcement, no dismantling, but moving. Rare in the world and unique in France.
Do not miss a crumb of this “technical feat”
The latter lasted more than three hours and during this time, the “spectators”, moved or happy, all went there with their comments: Thierry Rolland with the accent facing a technical exploit. Like Philippe who dropped, in all simplicity: “O idiot, he must not fucking fall”. The 39-year-old coach was reassured, the monument ended its journey in one piece under a cloud of phones turned towards him to immortalize the moment. A success thanks to a year of steps to consolidate and lift the building using an orange metal frame – pink would have been too much to ask for – and wheels.
Locals, tourists, retirees, families and groups of friends found facing three giant screens or gathered near the gates have not missed a beat of this “technical feat”, as Tisséo proudly calls it.
“I’ll be able to tell grandpa, he won’t believe me!” »
A show that the children were able to fully enjoy thanks to the comfortable shoulders of dad. They too have released pretty nuggets like little Paul, tender and hidden behind his cap: “I hope he will be better there. “The monument to the dead will be more in the shade, in fact, unlike the pretty family blocked in full sun…
On the other side of the boulevards, unlike the wise Paul, the impatient buddies, Thomas and Michel were thirsty: “wouldn’t we get a binouse to take away? Popcorn might have been more appropriate. And the more the building progressed, the more tongues loosened. Sometimes with a certain panache. A thought for the young Camille, a little frustrated who dropped a pretty bombshell on her best friend Laetitia: “He gets the monument lifted more than me. “The “uprising” at 1.60 m will still have lasted four days Camille…
Always with a bit of humour, the transport retiree Louis allowed himself this little comment that we hear every 14-July: “they are impressive our taxes. »
Meanwhile, deaf to sarcasm, the steel and wood exoskeleton continued to quietly move the building toward its concrete slab. An operation estimated at seven million euros. “That’s wow mum! exclaimed Naëlle. Speechless, the 6-year-old girl did not let go of her mother’s hand, Julia, all morning. A precious moment for the duo who made the trip from Colomiers on purpose to be in the front row.
As for Vincent, 13, he longed to be able to talk to Jean, his grandfather. “I’m impressed because frankly you only see this once in a lifetime. I’ll be able to tell grandpa, he won’t believe me! “, assured the schoolboy who filmed the event to show it to his grandfather stuck on his hospital bed.