Over the Loire, corrosion had taken its toll on the 400-metre long Grand Pont de Thouaré, built in the 19th century. To restore the structure and ensure its future, Bouygues Travaux Publics gave it a total upgrade. The original brick vaulted carriageway has been replaced by an Ultra High-Performance Fibre reinforced concrete slab resting on new metal bridge components. This material made it possible to design a slab only 9 centimetres thick, resulting in a saving of 1,500 tonnes compared to the use of traditional concrete. As the steel structure had been affected by corrosion in several places, it was reinforced by the replacement of certain structural components. Anti-corrosion protection was applied after complete stripping of the framework. New railings and walkways were also installed. The more contemporary blue finishing coat brings the structure right up date for the 21st century.