The idea of building a bridge from the Caroline to the Industrial School is not a new one. As far back as 1829, various projects were presented. But they were never followed up. Then, in 1901, M. Charles Bessières, a Lausanne citizen and banker, bequeathed the sum of CHF 500,000 for a very specific purpose and on the express condition that the Cité-École Industrielle Bridge be built before its upstream twin, the École de Médecine-Cathédrale Bridge.
