SADE renews drinking water supply pipes.
Last November, François GROSDIDIER, Mayor of Metz, confirmed his wish to ‘restore a strong identity to Rue Serpenoise, an absolute emblem of the city’. By 2024, and in order to revitalise the city centre, the existing long street of red paving stone will be transformed with new paving and the installation of a unique urban structure named ‘La Sepertine’, composed of benches, arches, fountains for ‘drinking and refreshment’, misters and plants. At nightfall, passers-by will discover a play of lights revealing the Graoully
Did you know?
The Graoully is a mythical dragon-like beast, which lived in the arena of Metz’s amphitheatre, and is said to have destroyed the city before being driven out by Saint Clément de Metz, the city’s first bishop, in the 3rd century.
The street is thus currently undergoing major works. These city-centre redevelopment works present an opportunity for the local water authorities to renew their networks, which are 70 years old on average, in coordination with the city’s Road Department.
Following a CANASCAN survey of its pipes, Veolia renovated 2 carrier pipes (250mm- and 300mm-diameter cast-iron) and 1 distribution pipe (80mm-diameter cast-iron), located in an underground drainage tunnel.
From mid-January to end June 2023, the Metz regional Division was called on to execute:
- Excavation works and waterproofing tests to the carrier pipe
- The replacement of the cast-iron distribution pipe by a HDPE pipe
- Around 60 branch connections to supply the houses and businesses on the street
To minimise disruptions for local residents, SADE, commissioned by Eau de Metz, the Messine Region Water Authority (SERM) and the Mosellane des Eaux (Veolia) concessionaires, is using the close-fit lining technique in Rue Serpentine and Rue Ladoucette.
To ensure ongoing access for residents, retailers and deliverers, the Mayor has promised that the pedestrian street will remain open for the duration of works. This is an added constraint for worksite teams, who must ensure ongoing pedestrian flows, adapt their temporary signage and create visible detours to guarantee the safety of both the worksite and passers-by for 5 months.
‘We inspect all the networks here at the same time. Telephone, internet and gas networks are protected, in order to avoid more digging at a later date.’
Rachel BURGY, President of SERM
