11. France’s Pont Gustave-Flaubert
situated in the French Normandy city of Rouen, Seine Maritime
Founded in 2007
Expense: *$162.44 million
Normandy’s Pont Gustave-Flaubert is named for the Rouen-born novelist Gustave Flambert, who lived in the nineteenth century. The Rouen City Council held a competition in 2006 to choose the name. The Rouen residents were engaged by the city council and given the opportunity to vote on a list of names. René-Robert Cavelier, a Rouen-born fur merchant and explorer from the seventeenth century, and the renowned novelist were the last two.
Pont Gustave-Flaubert, France; Pinterest; Greg Tasnadi
Starting in 2004, the building process took four years to complete. September 25, 2008, was its opening day. The Pont Gustave-Flaubert was constructed by Quille, a division of Bouygues, in collaboration with Eiffage, the same firm that constructed the Eiffel Tower.
The Gustave-Flaubert spans 2,200 feet and opens to a height of 180 feet, clearing 23 feet when closed. There are over 50,000 automobiles on the road every day. Thirty times a year, the lift part opens to let cruise ships from firms like Royal Caribbean, Ponant, and others pass, as well as the Rouen Armada.