Students in BUT visit the construction site of the future Brignoud Bridge

Tour Educational Innovation
30, June 2026
On June 9, students from BUT IUT1’s BUT and Sustainable Construction (GCCD) BUT took part in a tour of the construction site for the future Brignoud Bridge, organized by the French Civil Engineering Association (AFGC) Center-East chapter. This visit gave them the opportunity to explore a major construction site in the Isère region and to speak directly with several professionals involved in the project’s design and construction.

An ambitious technical and architectural project

Driven by the Isère Department, the project calls for the reconstruction of the Brignoud Bridge following the arson attack that severely damaged the existing structure in 2022.
The future bridge, designed by the teams at setec als in partnership with theAEI Agency, will take the form of a 120-meter-span bowstring* bridge. This structure is a concrete example of the technical, structural, and environmental challenges facing civil engineering professionals today.
The students were thus able to observe the various phases of the construction project currently underway—including the assembly of the steel framework—and gain a better understanding of the challenges involved in building a structure of this scale.

IUT1_GCCD Visit to the Brignoud Bridge

IUT1_GCCD Visit to the Brignoud Bridge
An immersive experience that brings you up close to the realities on the ground

Throughout the morning, several presentations traced the history of the project, from the aftermath of the fire to the design choices and construction methods that were ultimately selected.
The students also had the opportunity to talk with professionals representing various stakeholders in the project: the project owner, engineering firms, architectural firms, and construction companies.
Three video interviews conducted for this occasion will soon be added to this visual retrospective, featuring insights from industry professionals on the technical challenges of the project, the evolution of civil engineering professions, and the skills expected of future graduates.

IUT1_GCCD Visit to the Brignoud Bridge

IUT1_GCCD Visit to the Brignoud Bridge
An educational approach rooted in the professional world

Through this type of site visit, the GCCD Department IUT1 continues to pursue its goal: to offer an educational program directly aligned with real-world conditions and the expectations of industry stakeholders.
These professional placements allow students to apply their theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges encountered in actual projects, while discovering the diversity of careers related to civil engineering and sustainable construction.
* A type of bridge featuring a deck that also serves as a tie rod, along with lateral beams (arched above the deck) that are embedded into one another at the ends. Within each span, the deck is supported by suspension cables that are often vertical.
Published on 10 June 2026
Updated on 30 June 2026