The incident on Saturday, October 31st, where a young girl fell into the Tarn river, has caused concern. Millau's Mayor, Christophe Saint-Pierre, expressed relief that the child is well and praised the rescuer's bravery. He reiterated the regulatory framework governing the Saoutadou footbridge.
The Saoutadou footbridge, designed to be submersible, underwent an authorization process under the Environmental Code, including a public inquiry and a favorable opinion from the CODERST on April 2nd, 2021. The prefect of Aveyron authorized its construction by decree on April 14th, 2021. The structure is 97 meters long and 4 meters wide.
The City of Millau and the Millau Grands Causses Community of Communes state that the footbridge complies with current safety regulations, including the absence of permanent guardrails, which is due to hydraulic constraints aimed at minimizing flood impact.
The prefectural decree mandates specific safety measures: signage at entrances warning of flood risk, a closure system for rising waters, immediate removal of temporary guardrails after events, and specific signage for canoeing activities.
The authorities remind that no public space can entirely eliminate accident risk. The proximity to the Tarn river requires particular attention, especially when children use the bridge. Accident prevention relies on shared responsibility, combining rigorous management of public facilities, transparent information, and collective vigilance.
