Millau Viaduct

The Millau Viaduct is a large bridge in Millau, France in the Département of Aveyron. It was designed by the French structural engineer Michel Virlogeux and British architect Sir Norman Foster. As of September 2020 it is the tallest bridge in the world, at 336.4 metres (1,104 ft) tall.

Viaduc de Millau  (French)
Characteristics
Design	Multiple-span cable-stayed viaduct motorway bridge
Design life	120 years
History
Construction start	16 October 2001 (2001-10-16)
Location

Before the bridge was built, people had to use the national route N9 near the town of Millau. This meant that there was a lot of traffic in July and August. The bridge now crosses the Tarn valley above its lowest point, linking the Causse du Larzac to the Causse Rouge, and is inside the Grands Causses regional natural park.

The bridge forms the last link of the A75 autoroute, (la Méridienne) from Clermont-Ferrand to Béziers. The A75, with the A10 and A71, provides a continuous quick route south from Paris to Clermont-Ferrand, Béziers and Spain. Many tourists going to southern France and Spain use this route because it is direct and has no tolls for the 340 km between Clermont-Ferrand and Béziers, except on the bridge.

The Millau Viaduct and the Town of Millau on the right.

Millau Viaduct Media

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  The four proposed routes for the new A75 autoroute around Millau

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  Satellite image of the proposed route before construction of the bridge

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  The Millau Viaduct and the town of Creissels

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  A pylon under construction

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  View of the rest area with the 'Ferme de Brocuéjouls'