Located in the 15th arrondissment of Paris and formerly called "Viaduct of Passy", the Bir-Hakeim bridge is a double deck arch bridge built between 1903 and 1905 by the French architects Louis Biette and Jean-Camille Formige, in association with the contractors Dayde and Pille. Supported by metal columns, the upper level is for metropolitan railway (line 6), the lower level for motorized traffic and pedestrians with a central walkway. The total lenght of the bridge is 257 meters with a width of 25 meters.
The Bir Hakeim bridge is one of the most decorated bridge of Paris. Eight monumental sculptures designed by Gustave Michel are placed on the arches of the bridge. These statues represent blacksmiths fixing the emblem of the French Republic and Nauts docking the emblem of Paris. Many representations of shells and flowers are also visible on thes arches. An arc of triumph approximately located at the 2/3 of the bridge, displays low-reliefs of allegories designed by Antoine Injalbert refering in two groups to Electricy and Trade (upstream side), and Science and Commerce (downstream side).
The actual name of the bridge was given in 1949, as a tribute to General Koenig's June 1942 victory in Libya against German troops (Battle of Bir Hakeim, World War II).
79 were added with the framework of the 'Bridges of Paris' project, under the reference #002-000022.
