The idea for the Pont-Canal de l'Orb first appeared to Vauban in 1684 with the aim of spanning the Orb. At that time, passengers and goods were forced to use an impractical ferry to go from one bank to the other. However, Vauban's idea was abandoned. It was at the beginning of the 19th century, marked by numerous and major floods, that the decision was taken to build a canal bridge to take the Canal du Midi over the Orb. The current route of the canal bridge was proposed by one of the engineers of the Canal du Midi, Urbain Maguès, in 1854, and the structure was inaugurated in 1857.