Scheduled until December 2023, the project will finally be completed in June 2024. A new phase of helicopter work will take place in the coming days. These works, essential for this very popular site to remain open to the public, aim to preserve these paths from landslides and rockfalls. In recent years, this type of incident has indeed occurred more and more frequently.
Progress of work in the sector
The planning of the work took into account the significant interest of the population in these heavily used trails. Thus, the staging included a summer opening in 2023, so that the public and local residents can enjoy this site.
There first stage of construction was dedicated to clearing of intervention areas. It took place in February 2023 and required the closure of the Falaises trail for seven days, during the week only.
There second stage of constructionstill in progress, consists of civil engineering work. It began on April 17, 2023.
Underground Trail
The work has been completed since the end of June 2023. This trail was therefore able to be opened to the public on July 1, 2023.. It was then planned to be closed from September to December 2023, but this was not necessary, as all the planned work could be carried out before the summer. Passers-by were thus able to benefit from the reopening of this very practical connection between rue de Saint-Jean and rue de Sous-Terre 4 months in advance.
Metal nets were put in place to replace the old temporary wooden cover. The retaining wall was also consolidated.
This trail will nevertheless be closed occasionally in 2024, in connection with an intervention near the Ravin trail.
Cliff Trail
Work was stopped during the summer (July 1 to September 10, 2023) so that the population can enjoy the surroundings of the Rhône during the summer. They then resumed on September 11, 2023. The difficulties of the terrain and the weather conditions (intense precipitation) did not allow the work to be completed in December 2023.
Work will therefore continue in the first half of 2024 on the Falaises trail. This trail will remain closed until June 2024.
To guarantee the safety of workers and the passage of machinery on a construction site track of sufficient width, the work methodology had to be reviewed. The use of smaller machines was favored. This resizing no longer allows the work to be carried out at the initially planned pace and causes the duration of the project to be extended.
Helicoptering of trees
Following the adaptation of working methods in coordination with OCAN and OAC, to ensure the safety of access as well as site personnel, a clearing of around ten trees in the forest zone is to be carried out. Twenty-four other trees are also affected for health reasons. These are dry specimens, or have died away due to recent weather conditions (summer drought) or even trees overhanging the slopes. This operation is carried out in order to secure the paths during the work and for future walkers.
The trunks will be evacuated by helicopter, due to the difficult conditions of access to certain sectors of the cliffs as well as to guarantee the preservation of the forest environment and the safety of the workers.
The helicopter work will take place on January 9 and 10, 2024 (with January 11 as a reserve day), between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. and between 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., in the event of favorable weather conditions.
Otherwise, they will be postponed to the next possible dates.
The City of Geneva thanks local residents, as well as walkers, for their patience during the work and will do its utmost to ensure that it is completed as quickly as possible.
The public is asked to respect the ban on entering the construction site area, due to the risk of accident present at all times.
We acknowledge Source link for the information.
