France's Tancarville Bridge, completed in 1959 with a 608-meter central span, holds the title of the country's longest suspension bridge. It was officially opened on July 14, 1959, by Robert Buron, the minister of public works, and René Coty, following its opening to traffic on July 2. The project had a long history, beginning with the finalization of its preliminary design on November 27, 1935. A law passed on December 11, 1940, under the Vichy government, signed by Philippe Pétain, officially authorized the construction. The bridge was built from November 16, 1955, to July 2, 1959, finishing fifteen days ahead of schedule. The construction faced significant challenges, including extreme cold, which required innovative techniques such as preheating water and using plasticizers and sodium chloride to accelerate concrete setting. The bridge's construction cost nine billion francs and featured two towering pylons, each reaching 123 meters in height. The left bank pylon had a foundation depth of 28 meters to accommodate the marshy ground. To fund the project, a toll was introduced, currently set at 2.60 euros per vehicle. The Tancarville Bridge's success led to increased traffic, prompting the construction of the Normandy Bridge in 1995. The Normandy Bridge has an even longer central span of 856 meters and became the world's largest cable-stayed bridge. The Tancarville Bridge remains in use today, handling an average of 18,000 vehicles per day, including 25% heavy goods vehicles. Both bridges are managed by the same concession and operate in tandem, especially during severe weather. During the passage of storm Goretti in January 2026, both bridges were closed for precautionary reasons before reopening to light vehicles. This demonstrates their complementary role in ensuring continued traffic flow and safety under challenging conditions.