Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Normandy Bridge is a hauban bridge designed by engineer Michel Virlogeux, connecting Le Havre (Sandouville) and Honfleur, crossing the Seine estuary. Its construction, entrusted to a group of companies including Bouygues and Campenon-Bernard, mobilized major actors such as Freyssinet for the haubans and Eiffel for metal studies. Inaugurated in 1994, it broke the world record for main range with 856 metres, exceeding the previous holder, Shanghai Bridge (1993), by 250 metres. However, this record was exceeded in 1998 by the Tatara Bridge in Japan.

The structure, 2,141 meters long, combines concrete and metal, with two inverted Y pylons of 214.77 meters high. The apron, 23.60 metres wide, supports four car lanes, narrow bike strips and minimum pedestrian crossings. The 184 bays, protected by polyethylene sheaths, ensure the stability of the structure, while the 50-metre draught allows the passage of ships over 100,000 tonnes. The total cost, including studies and related works, amounted to EUR 419 million.

The bridge, initially managed by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Le Havre (dissolved in 2016), remains toll-free for motor vehicles. The departments of Calvados and Eure partially subsidized the residents' subscriptions between 2000 and 2010. Today, his concession runs until 2027. A symbol of French engineering, he has inspired works such as the Millau viaduct, which has since surpassed its record length.

The national archives retain the design records as documents 19990304/199 to 206, demonstrating its technical importance. The bridge is also part of routes such as the Vélomaritime, although its crossing by bicycle is considered dangerous due to the absence of physical separation with the car traffic.

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