[1] The bridge was designed by Michel Virlogeux, the general studies having been led by Bernard Raspaud from Bouygues.

[2] Construction by Bouygues, Campenon Bernard, Dumez, Monberg & Thorsen, Quillery, Sogea and Spie Batignolles[2] began in 1988 and lasted seven years.

Its record for length for a cable-stayed bridge was lost in 2004 to the 2883 meters of the Rio-Antirrio.

[3][4] The cable-stayed design was chosen because it was both cheaper and more resistant to high winds than a suspension bridge.

Shortly after opening, the longest cables exhibited excessive vibrations, so several damping systems were quickly retrofitted.