Loire River Bridge Closure: Traffic Diversion in Thouaré-sur-Loire

Loire River Flooding Prompts Bridge Closure, Traffic Diversions

One of the two bridges at Thouaré-sur-Loire, the Haut-Village bridge on the Saint-Julien-de-Concelles side, has been closed to traffic since 6:00 PM on Tuesday, February 17th. The closure is a precautionary measure due to rising water levels in the Loire River, which authorities fear could compromise the structure’s integrity. Complete passage across the river at this location is now impossible.

The Departmental Council stated that the very significant rise in the Loire, predicted by Vigicrue starting this evening, could weaken the bridge. A reopening is not anticipated before next week.

The bridge on the Thouaré side remains open to traffic, providing access to the island where homes and an equestrian center are located.

Diversion via Reopened Mauves Bridges

As an alternative, the Mauves bridges, located seven kilometers upstream, have been reopened to traffic. These bridges were initially scheduled to remain closed all week, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, due to work on the drinking water network.

Signage indicating the diversion route is being installed. However, vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes are still prohibited from using the Mauves bridges.

The Loire River is currently under orange alert for flooding, according to information released on February 17, 2026. The situation is being closely monitored, and residents are advised to check with local town halls for the latest updates before traveling.

Recent reports indicate that flooding is also affecting areas along the Loire in Bonny-sur-Loire/Beaulieu-sur-Loire and the Tours metropolitan area, in addition to previously reported flooding in Ancenis. Authorities generally advise against traveling along the Loire River and its tributaries until water levels subside.

The Grand Pont bridge at Thouaré Sur Loire, a 394-meter-long steel through-truss bridge dating back to 1882, remains open, but the overall situation highlights the vulnerability of infrastructure during periods of heavy rainfall and river flooding.

Cyclists and pedestrians are also advised to exercise caution when using the bridges at Thouaré, as experimental measures are being tested to encourage cyclists to stay in the middle of their lane and motorists to avoid overtaking them. These measures aim to improve safety for all road users.