Aire du Viaduc de Millau - Millau (France)
Aire du Viaduc de Millau 25/06/2014 15h03
When you built a viaduct with the world's highest bridge deck then you need to facilitate visitors with a parking, rest area, coffee, visitors center and viewpoint. Here it is at the North side of the canyon. Well indicated so nobody can miss it.
View from one year ago (2013): Aire du Viaduc de Millau (2013)
Viaduc de Millau
The Viaduc de Millau is a cable-stayed bridge that spans the valley of the River Tarn near Millau in the Midi-Pyrénées.
Designed by the French structural engineer Michel Virlogeux and British architect Norman Foster, it is the tallest bridge in the world with one mast's summit at 343.0 metres above the base of the structure. It is the 12th highest bridge deck in the world, being 270 metres between the road deck and the ground below. Millau Viaduct is part of the A75-A71 autoroute axis from Paris to Montpellier. Construction cost was approximately €400 million. It was formally inaugurated on 14 December 2004, and opened to traffic on 16 December. The bridge has been consistently ranked as one of the great engineering achievements of all time. The bridge received the 2006 International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering Outstanding Structure Award.
Problems with traffic on the route from Paris to Spain along the stretch passing through the Tarn valley near the town of Millau, during the summer when the roads became jammed with holiday traffic, required construction of a bridge to span the valley. The first plans were discussed in 1987 by CETE, and by October 1991, the decision was made to build a high crossing of the Tarn River by a structure of around 2,500 m (8,200 ft). During 1993–1994 the government consulted with seven architects and eight structural engineers. During 1995–1996, a second definition study was made by five associated architect groups and structural engineers. In January 1995, the government issued a declaration of public interest to solicit design approaches for a competition.
FACTS AND FIGURES:
Total length: 2,460 meters
Height: 343 meters (max pylon above ground)
Width: 32 meters
Longest span: 343 meters
Number of spans: 204 m, 6x343 m, 204 m
Clearance below: 270 m
Construction begin: 16/10/2001
Opened: 16/12/2004 09h00 (inauguration 14/12/2004)
Construction Cost: 394,000,000 €
Coördinates: 44°04′46″N 03°01′20″E
[ Source and much more information: Wikipedia - Viaduc de Millau (français) ]
Aire du Viaduc de Millau - Millau (France)
Aire du Viaduc de Millau 25/06/2014 15h03
When you built a viaduct with the world's highest bridge deck then you need to facilitate visitors with a parking, rest area, coffee, visitors center and viewpoint. Here it is at the North side of the canyon. Well indicated so nobody can miss it.
View from one year ago (2013): Aire du Viaduc de Millau (2013)
Viaduc de Millau
The Viaduc de Millau is a cable-stayed bridge that spans the valley of the River Tarn near Millau in the Midi-Pyrénées.
Designed by the French structural engineer Michel Virlogeux and British architect Norman Foster, it is the tallest bridge in the world with one mast's summit at 343.0 metres above the base of the structure. It is the 12th highest bridge deck in the world, being 270 metres between the road deck and the ground below. Millau Viaduct is part of the A75-A71 autoroute axis from Paris to Montpellier. Construction cost was approximately €400 million. It was formally inaugurated on 14 December 2004, and opened to traffic on 16 December. The bridge has been consistently ranked as one of the great engineering achievements of all time. The bridge received the 2006 International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering Outstanding Structure Award.
Problems with traffic on the route from Paris to Spain along the stretch passing through the Tarn valley near the town of Millau, during the summer when the roads became jammed with holiday traffic, required construction of a bridge to span the valley. The first plans were discussed in 1987 by CETE, and by October 1991, the decision was made to build a high crossing of the Tarn River by a structure of around 2,500 m (8,200 ft). During 1993–1994 the government consulted with seven architects and eight structural engineers. During 1995–1996, a second definition study was made by five associated architect groups and structural engineers. In January 1995, the government issued a declaration of public interest to solicit design approaches for a competition.
FACTS AND FIGURES:
Total length: 2,460 meters
Height: 343 meters (max pylon above ground)
Width: 32 meters
Longest span: 343 meters
Number of spans: 204 m, 6x343 m, 204 m
Clearance below: 270 m
Construction begin: 16/10/2001
Opened: 16/12/2004 09h00 (inauguration 14/12/2004)
Construction Cost: 394,000,000 €
Coördinates: 44°04′46″N 03°01′20″E
[ Source and much more information: Wikipedia - Viaduc de Millau (français) ]