a magic design !!!

OK, I just read that the masts were added later! It surprises me that it could be built without them?

It was built with temporary bents between piers, so the span was reduced by two during the deck launching. Then they had the masts, cable stays and removed the temporary bents. :)

:eek2: that bridge is fabulous

FABULOUS

Absolutly wrong: there is a motorway from Barcelona to Paris via Clermont Ferrand and Orleans.
If you want to go even faster (and to pay less), you should leave A71 motorway at Gannat, use normally road to Moulins and Nevers where you will find A77 motorway to Paris.
http://map006.viamichelin.com/mapsgene/dm/BF37VwWOrd9uZmAX2fUI=YRsI32o5bY3_Jc9c-m=SpErzB9SsNaoksg9FA3WAgkMJcxmq2ZkvsUvVmQ=pRArbs46e1=UsTOv_hdCLL9wh=M7oC355ljObcH5mm5QJm0DzUOkUkXYxAyT-gtEsWbRskQgiYesNlvVzH_2iG-LSt4Qmk3x=PhMerJUjt=QV6kFvE7aMtk=FpdWgXtyKvhdEw5ae17fckz66izODIb3M_KN7VUEXxifmmCsyDa4NWWaJNqZzmKsuIKgU9zZ_r-S7Xg7Z6kXZ3cGXP2Pd9kCy6wVqPNytQfjYgsl=9_yRDW2W_r9RMtpYTcRPnxbArXxY0CO_i5r0EDQn96rU5KaWMeCEdtLo=I96BQ0Jqk-wokipQIriJjn0qlariYUtjjxUbpOj3tv71kC1OupQC_122lq7mXS91QUTL_P09Z3QDjJ_t-KhqQiQgZrmsZ3MkHqlBUk9XWOrlp9CGqW7lCbKdfDfX0NaYWjlmSsKzeTmWjlIk1HeWB_kn75rEZIk73h1qy-qs5oG1Nza=jO7VyAR=469Bsql3vF88
True, I did it!!
From Barcelona to Paris is faster and cheaper via Clermont-Ferrand taking Le Meridien motorway, which is free, not toll!
If you cross new Viaduc de Millau, you must pay a toll, but you can take the national road to avoid the toll bridge.
:wink2:

May be the structural part of the bridge is complete, like it looked magnanimus on the website,
they are still left with the safety walls and may be some finishes...

I say it looks just great

It is the most incredibly bridge-viaduct i ever seen in my hole live! Its really amazing.

Is a dream come true.

I have no words to explain it.

Later to this you haven´t to take the plane, to feel that you are flying. The only thing you have to do is drive your car trough the clouds. (and pay 4,6 €...)

Great job of the France.

I've seen it myself, taken a bunch of pictures, made a SSC banner with it (not yet shown) and made a couple of videos. It's even worse for real, watch out for the wind when you cross it.

Here are 4 pics I took of the bridge this summer:

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/1927/millau26rs.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/134/millau11aq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/1226/millau47qd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/1783/millau37un.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

the fourth shot pic is nicely presenting the bridge tallness. Good job!

144,232views lol
I think we have a record here no?!?;)

The highest in the euroscraper skybar (DLM) is only around 7,500 views

http://fr.biz.yahoo.com/16122005/202/le-viaduc-de-millau-a-un-an-et-quatre-millions.html

:cheers:

4 milion cars crossed it, 20% more than expected :eek2:

With 20% less cars in France.

Tu doîs m'excuser, amice, pur ça ;)

i love that bridge its so very nice

Hi

I first used this route to the South in 1991. It was then a few stretches of autoroute, but very few bridges. In summer, every village was crossed behind a line of traffic and the climb back to the plateau was at small car + caravan speed. Eventually, the route was almost complete : except for this bridge.

So, I've watched the building of the Millau Bridge from the beginning. It has become a tourist draw for the town of Millau and the area.

I have several photos on my website. I like this one :

http://www.the-languedoc-page.com/images/millau2.jpg

More (http://www.the-languedoc-page.com/photos/languedoc-photo-index.htm)
Webcam (http://www.the-languedoc-page.com/languedoc/languedoc-weather-cams.htm)

The final connection to the A9 Autoroute East near Montpellier is not quite finished, but the A75 provides a fast route to the A9 West and then to Barcelona. The Massif Central section has stunning scenery, is relatively quiet, and free (an important consideration in France !).

Technology has moved on a little in the 2000 years since this bridge was built :

http://www.the-languedoc-page.com/images/languedoc04.jpg

This was the bridge carrying the Via Domitia (the A9 of its day ?) over the river Vidourle.


Peter

cool project!

Hi folks,
Here is a series of pics I took in late July 2006 on my way to the south of France.

A drive rest area can be found north of the bridge.

http://static.flickr.com/42/215395512_f95f818021_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/66/215396293_6aa695d6b7_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/62/215396471_c49ab14ced_o.jpg

From there you have a *** view.
To the left you can see the town of Millau:

http://static.flickr.com/89/215395627_cf2dd57ab5_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/66/215395720_da89861be1_o.jpg

and to the right you can see the viaduc:

http://static.flickr.com/59/215396027_018b5dc9f0_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/94/215394233_be015af907_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/78/215393484_ae4797c04c_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/67/215394419_acc73f4964_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/58/215393531_2323031356_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/68/215394144_cfe1501689_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/74/215393963_1907aaa824_o.jpg
Toll: €6.80 for a 2.5 km drive.

Nice pics Cyril !!
That's a wonderful and impressive bridge "love it"

Wonderful pics! I love this bridge so much! :master:

yes me too

Millau Viaduct, France (under construction)

Designed by : Sir Norman Foster & Partners
http://www.fosterandpartners.com/internetsite/images/project_media/0778/0778_01.jpg

Bridges are often considered to belong to the engineer's realm rather than the architect's. But the architecture of infrastructure has a powerful impact on the environment. The Millau Viaduct, designed in collaboration with engineers, illustrates how the architect can play an integral role in bridge design.

http://www.meridienne.com/viaduc/images/viwe1.jpg

Located in southern France, the bridge will connect the motorway from Paris to Barcelona at the point where it is interrupted by the River Tarn, which runs through a wide gorge between two plateaux. A reading of the topography suggested two possible approaches: to cross the river, the geological generator of the landscape; or there was the challenge of spanning the 2.5 kilometres from one plateau to the other in the most economical manner.

http://caiffa.free.fr/images/viaduc0s.jpg

The structural solution follows from the latter philosophical standpoint. The bridge has the optimum span between cable-stayed columns. It is delicate, transparent, and uses the minimum
material, which makes it less costly to construct. Each of its sections spans 350 metres and its columns range in height from 75 metres to 345 metres - higher than the Eiffel Tower - with the masts rising a further 90 metres above the road deck. To accommodate the expansion and contraction of the concrete deck, each column splits into two thinner, more flexible columns below the roadway, forming an A-frame above deck level. This structure creates a dramatic silhouette - and crucially it makes the minimum intervention in the landscape.

Millau Viaduct Website (http://www.viaducdemillau.com/index.php?newlang=eng)

> other website (http://www.viaducdemillaueiffage.com)

Appointment Date: 1993

Construction Date: 2002

Completion Date: 2005

Statistics: Length: 2.5 km

Height: 280 m

Client: Department of Transport and Public Works of France

Consultants:
Chapelet-Defol-Mousseigne
Ove Arup and Partners

http://www.millau-clic.com/albums/album04/c0_020919_2.sized.jpg

http://www.millau-clic.com/albums/album04/cm_c8_021113_4.sized.jpg

http://www.millau-clic.com/albums/album04/p2_020930_3.sized.jpg

http://www.millau-clic.com/albums/album04/p2_021106_5.sized.jpg

http://www.millau-clic.com/albums/album04/p7_021202_2.sized.jpg

http://www.millau-clic.com/albums/album04/vg_021004.sized.jpg

Amazing! I'd be frightened to have our car cross that bridge :runaway:

2.5 km from right to left or from bottem to up ?????????????

Very surreal!!!

both!! haha, looks very impressive and elegant anyway... those cars driving on it are like on a magic carpet

what is the cost of passing valley with this bridge? 10 Euro ? more ?

and time saving? one hour? less?

my favourite brigde on the world.

Cost is about 5 euros and you can save from 1 hour to...many hours during Summer time when all Northern Europe is heading to Southern Europe!

yeah.. Have seen Duscovery extemal engenereeing about Mialu...
Small city with narrow streets and milions of cars:)

Saw this on Top Gear, amazing what engineers can do with newer and newer technology. Anyone think it'll be one of the top ten bridges in the first quarter of the century?

It's definitely worth a visit if you're in France (or Britain); the scale of it is breathtaking. The bridge owners are setting up a very large visitors complex next to the bridge which will help make it one of the most visited bridges in the world soon. At the moment it is a 5 euro bargain.

A video I made of the Millau Viaduct.

5Ab_XNmkgic

It's dam tall :O

I really like this. I do not think it spoils the landscape at all. It is an excellant piece of engineering.

WOW! this is FABULOUS example of PRESTIGIOUS ENGINEERING! WONDERFUL BRDIGE! i like it alot!!!
:okay:

OMG - when you see the bridge from underneath it looks even more impressive!

Lol this thread was created 4 years ago. It has been viewed 182,672 times so far..and counting! :okay:

it's too tall on a clear day, not aesthetically pleasing, nothing compared to the likes of the GGB or the Sydney Harbor Bridge, but when there's some valley fog below, it's damn breathtaking. That and the GGB in fog are two of the most beautiful things.

You know... on a clear day, the structure looks like so light... I love it!

There was a pedestrian race today over the viaduct. 10,400 people, including professionals, ran from Millau's city centre to the Viaduct, crossed it, and went the way back. The event is a complete success and could happen again.

Cadillac also took footages over the viaduct for its next line, eventually you'll see a Cadillac commercial add featuring it in the future.

guys this project is just amazing,this bridge looks fantastic.....tallest bridge of the world...in EUROPE!!!!yeeee

Three personal vids

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po99UJilEXo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97NEMmdH2SQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29brKoV4y5w

Some pics

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/9871/viaduc3.th.jpg (http://img69.imageshack.us/my.php?image=viaduc3.jpg)

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/5007/viaduc6.th.jpg (http://img69.imageshack.us/my.php?image=viaduc6.jpg)

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/2747/viaduc7.th.jpg (http://img69.imageshack.us/my.php?image=viaduc7.jpg)

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/6034/vidauc.th.jpg (http://img69.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vidauc.jpg)

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/7680/viaduc4.th.jpg (http://img69.imageshack.us/my.php?image=viaduc4.jpg)

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/9828/viaduc2.th.jpg (http://img69.imageshack.us/my.php?image=viaduc2.jpg)

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/103/viaduc1ly6.th.jpg (http://img69.imageshack.us/my.php?image=viaduc1ly6.jpg)

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/1959/viaducfm7.th.jpg (http://img69.imageshack.us/my.php?image=viaducfm7.jpg)

More pics

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/8638/millauetviaducyl4.th.jpg (http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=millauetviaducyl4.jpg)

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/9771/millau1hn1.th.jpg (http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=millau1hn1.jpg)

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/4861/millauey7.th.jpg (http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=millauey7.jpg)

Does anyone have a satellite photo on what the road or highway look like before the viaduct was constructed? (or maybe show how the viaduct cut it in half:) )

I love the Millau Bridge! It makes Florida's (USA) Sunshine Skyway look like nothing when it comes to height.

Wow, impressive bridge!

GzvhBLUyvJ8

Good video, not mine though (obviously)

I remember seeing that Top Gear episode :D beautiful shots!

The best Extreme Engineering period I've ever seen is this one with Millau Bridge. Maybe this year I'll finally see it. Can't wait!

The best Extreme Engineering period I've ever seen is this one with Millau Bridge. Maybe this year I'll finally see it. Can't wait!

Tell when you stop by Millau, we could share a beer maybe.

this bridge is breathtaking

Despite being the world's tallest bridge, Millau is now officially off the list of the world's 10 highest bridges.

I would also like to use this moment to announce that China just opened the world's 2 highest bridges in November and December. China now has fully one half of the world's 100 highest bridges. Italy ranks second as the country in the world with the most number of high bridges.

In the U.S., the Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado will also soon be off the top 10 list of highest bridges. You can see all of the World's 500 Highest Bridges at my new website below. Nearly all of these bridges exceed 100 meters in height from deck to water.

Again you will see how amazing it is that China has more high bridges than every country in Europe combined plus North and South America and the rest of Asia. And there is more to come!

Thanks,

Eric Sakowski

www.highestbridges.com

Despite being the world's tallest bridge, Millau is now officially off the list of the world's 10 highest bridges.

You just contradicted yourself.

^^ He didn't. "Tallest" is measured from the base of the pillar to its tip. "Highest" is measured from the bottom of the valley to the bridge deck.

Yeah, and highest doesn't mean much apart it's built on a higher place. World's tallest FTW

Photos from my way to Spain.
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/31271292.jpg
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/31270313.jpg
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/31270300.jpg
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/31270303.jpg
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_REzrgVxUfOY/StDKQHVJGcI/AAAAAAAAMxI/kerAAtzMlkc/DSCF9478.JPG

What a great bridge!

Are here detailed pictures of the expansion joints in the structure? For such a long bridge this must be an interesting aspect.

2010 New BMW 5 Series Commercial
cOaQ9_O6NCI
LINK (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOaQ9_O6NCI)

It would be interesting to know if they really closed the bridge for traffic to film this commercial. :?

They do for special event, for a Cadillac commercial they did it they said in Millau. Every year or so there's also an event where bikers cross the bridge and give the money to charity and they close the bridge to allow all the bikers to pass.

^^wow, such a beautiful yet breathtaking bridge.

The car isn´t bad either...:D