Rampe de la Passerelle Saucy

The ramp/landing of the Saucy pedestrian/ cyclists bridge

'The footbridge is something for the residents of Outremeuse, the bridge that you cross without a hat for a short crossing. (Georges Simenon)

The Regency Bridge, also called the Saucy Bridge, is an important connection between Outremeuse and the center. It is the natural route to 'the city' for the residents of the island and the preferred route to the Outremeuse district for residents of the center or visitors to the city.

The first footbridge was opened in 1880 after many technical problems, such as repeated flooding, deformation of the longitudinal beams, consolidation and replacement of the handrail with a lighter handrail. It is a construction with a grid structure consisting of two spans, each 52 meters long and 5.80 meters wide. The apron is protected by metal railings. The bridge was accessible on either side of the Maas via two parallel stone steps along the river.

After an international ideas competition in 1996: 'How can you best design the access to the right bank of the Meuse at the foot of the Passerelle?' The city selects the project by Liège architects Etienne Maudoux and Etienne Wathieu and engineer Yves Weinand.

They devide the metal structure in two parts: 'A hanging and cantilevered promenade' consisting of an African wooden railing with a stainless steel lattice railing that draws a wide zigzag and lands gently on the Van Beneden quay. Parallel to the Meuse, a series of bluestone steps leading to the Quai de Gaulle. The project is completed with a 20 meter high mast, which is illuminated by a beam of light at night and is equipped with stays similar to the mast of a sailing boat.