The Pont de Normandie, still standing tall!

01/23/2015 | News

The Pont de Normandie, still standing tall!

  • Pont de Normandie_Bouygues Construction
  • Pont de Normandie_Bouygues Construction
  • Pont de Normandie_Bouygues Construction
  • Pont de Normandie_Bouygues Construction
  • Pont de Normandie_Bouygues Construction
It’s exactly 20 years since what was then the world’s largest cable-stayed bridge was inaugurated in Normandy, in north-western France. It had a total length of 2,141 metres and a span of 856 metres, crossing the River Seine at a height of over 50 metres. This technological feat owed much to Bouygues Construction.

The construction of the bridge on a vast stretch of alluvial ground offering no natural anchorage points and subject to strong winds capable of reaching speeds of 180 kph was a genuine challenge. Associating several of France’s construction industry majors, the construction project lasted a total of seven years and involved roughly 1,000 people.

When the bridge was opened in 1995, the 856-metre central span raised the world record for such a span by 80%. For Bouygues, this flagship project provided the opportunity to patent a construction method developed in-house, which proved itself capable of pushing a 700-metre deck up a stepped 6% incline.

Today, the celebrated Pont de Normandie still keeps the road traffic flowing between the two banks of the River Seine without interfering with river traffic heading towards the thriving port of Rouen.  And it still impresses foreign tourists visiting Normandy.

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Press contacts

Mathieu Carré

+33 (0)1 30 60 66 39

m.carre@bouygues-construction.com

Jessica Swiderski

+33 (0)1 30 60 25 37

j.swiderski@bouygues-construction.com