In 2016, some parts of the Ravine des Colimaçons railway viaduct, built between 1878 and 1881, were identified and its position determined during field walking surveys. Discovered on a Réunion railway exploratory mission, these remains are among the oldest railway works still visible today.

Saint-Leu – The Colimaçons gully railway viaduct: a history

The Cie du Chemin de fer et du Port de la Réunion (C.P.R.) built a viaduct at Km 90 + 411 metres in Saint-Leu between 1879 and 1881 to cross the Colimaçons gully. The bridge was built from cut basalt rubble stone with hydraulic lime from Teil in the Ardeche and lime from the island, produced by calcinating coral; it is 108.25 metres long with five arches each with an opening of 18 metres; it is 4 metres wide and from 7.64 to 11.6 metres high.

This former bridge sheds light on the island’s railway age. Nothing remains of the old railway line in this sector.

Field walking surveys

The Colimaçons gully begins to the north of Le Petit Bénare and runs along sloped ground for 15.2 km before entering the ocean. The gully is crossed by several bridges, including the longest cut basalt stone masonry rail bridge still in existence. Located on the northern outskirts of Saint-Leu not far from the aquafarm, a sea turtle observatory, it remains in a good state of repair.

Associated media

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