Inaugurated in 1995, the Pont de Normandie aimed to open up the Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy) region and is of undeniable economic importance. At the time of its construction (1988), Canada held the record for the largest cable-stayed bridge (Alex Fraser Bridge) with a span of 1,525 ft (465 m). With its two pylons 669 ft (204 m) high (almost the height of the Tour Montparnasse in Paris) and weighing 20,000 tons, the Pont de Normandie broke the record with 2,808 ft (856 m) in span and 7,024 ft (2,141 m) in total length.