The construction of the highest bridge on the planet began on December 14, 2001, and exactly three years later it was opened. Of course, this is not a coincidence - the Eiffage company, which was engaged in the development and construction of the structure, specifically timed Grand opening by the start date of the project.
The main merits in the design of the new French attraction belong to engineer Michel Virlojo and architect Norman Foster. One of them also became famous for his work on the project of the famous Normandy cable-stayed bridge, and the second participated in the construction of Hong Kong Airport and the reconstruction of the Berlin Reichstag. It is believed that before starting the construction of the unique Millau Viaduct, scientists have been researching for about 10 years.
Norman Foster is a famous British architect
The first cars raced along the new highway two days after its opening. It was decided to pay for the ride. Under an agreement with the French government, Eiffage can collect fees for 75 years, reimbursing its construction costs.
How to get to the Viaduct Millau bridge
The exact address: Viaduc de Millau, 12400 Millau, France.
How to get from Paris:
To get to one of the observation decks, when driving along the A75 highway, turn at any of the exits No. 44-47.
Millau Viaduct Bridge on the map
What to see
The Millau Viaduct is a 4-lane road route laid on a steel structure. On the one hand, it is supported by supports installed in the ground, and on the other, by cables attached to high pylons. Due to this last fact, the structure is called suspended or cable-stayed.
The total length of the route is almost 2.5 kilometers, and the width reaches 32 meters. The road is laid with a slight slope of 3%, directed from south to north. Along the way, all travelers have a stunning view of the Tarn River valley, for which this place is very fond of photographers. For better view the bridge structure was built not straight, but slightly curved - in the form of an arc with a radius of about 20 meters. In a word, tourists have two reasons to visit Millau at once: firstly, to reduce travel time, and secondly, to admire the panorama of southern France and take spectacular shots.
In total, there are 7 observation platforms along the bridge, which you can go to for free. The most interesting are located near the following villages:
- Crissel (Creissels);
- Saint-Georges-de-Luzençon (Saint-Georges-de-Luzençon);
- Peyre;
Several interesting places in terms of overview can be found in the city of Millau - for example, beautiful photos are obtained from the Lérouge bridge, as well as from the terrace of the ancient tower of Befroy de Millau, built back in the 17th century. True, the tower is a museum object and is open only in the warm season.
Interesting: some supports of the bridge structure overtake and are comparable in height to the famous New York skyscraper Empire State Building.
Ticket price
The fare for the Viaduct Millau depends on the season. The toll collection point is located near the village of Saint-Germain.
Toll cost:
- ~481 rub. ) up to 10.4 € ( ~723 rub. );
- ~718 RUB ) up to 15.6 € ( ~1 084 rub. );
- For motorcycles - from 4.25 € ( ~295 rub. ) up to 5.1 € ( ~354 rub. );
Built in the city of Millau information Center with a museum and a specially organized area where 40-minute excursions are held. Part of the exposition can be visited on your own, while the other part is only with a guide and a group, tours go several times a day.
Schedule:
- From 09:30 to 18:30 or 19:30, depending on the season;
Excursion cost:
- Adult ticket - 4.5 € ( ~313 rub. );
- Child ticket - 2.5 € ( ~174 rub. );
- The Millau Viaduct received a 3-star category from the famous Michelin Guide series in 2018. This is a very high rating - about the same as three Michelin stars for a restaurant.
- For roadbed new track A75 a special asphalt concrete was developed.
- Once every 2 years, mass races take place on the bridge, for which the track is closed for several hours.
- The Eiffage company that built the unique bridge structure issued a 120-year warranty on it. Although there are still critics in France who say that it is still not reliable enough.
- Numerous sensors monitor the stability of the structure and the condition of all its supports. In total, up to 100 measurements per second are carried out, the results of which are processed by the control center in the administrative building at the payment point.
Panorama of the Millau Viaduct Bridge
Thanks to the launch of the Millau Viaduct bridge, it was possible to remove the traffic load from the route number 9, where traffic jams often formed in the summer season. But, as it turned out, the benefits of the new highway much more - it has become a bright technical highlight of France. At the same time, for those who decide to visit the information center and learn about the history of the miracle bridge, there will be other bonuses: for example, 7 km from the city of Millau there is a small but very picturesque village of Peyre, where the houses are literally built into the rock. Here you can taste local wines and admire the scenery.
Business card
Address
Viaduc de Millau, 12400 Millau, France
Official website of the Millau Viaduct Bridge
Price
Viaduct fare:
For passenger cars with a height of less than 2 meters - from 6.92 € ( ~481 rub. ) up to 10.4 € ( ~723 rub. );
For cars 2-3 meters high - from 10.33 € ( ~718 RUB ) up to 15.6 € ( ~1 084 rub. );
For motorcycles - from 4.25 € ( ~295 rub. ) up to 5.1 € ( ~354 rub. );
The cost of the tour in the museum:
Adult ticket - 4.5 € ( ~313 rub. );
Child ticket - 2.5 € ( ~174 rub. )
Working hours
09:30 to 18:30 or 19:30, depending on the season
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The Millau Viaduct is the highest bridge on the planet, the roadway here is at a height of 270 meters above the ground. The height of the bridge piers is 244.96 m, and the length of the largest mast is 343 m. The structure is based on 36,000 tons of steel. Thus, the most beautiful bridge broke three records at once and deserved an award. International Association road and bridge construction.
Millau Viaduct is located in the south of France (near the city of Millau) and runs over the Tarn river valley. The elevated crossing is part of the A 75 and leads from Paris to the Mediterranean, providing the shortest and fastest route to the city of Béziers.
The journey on the shortened route is paid and ranges from 4.6 to 33 euros, depending on the type of transport and the time of year. A trip by passenger car costs from 9.1 to 7.3 euros.
The total length of the Millau Bridge is 2460 m, and the width is 32 m - four lanes. The viaduct is made in the form of a semicircle with a radius of 20 km. The structure is supported by seven concrete pillars, the highest of which is higher than the famous eiffel tower almost 20 meters. Cars are protected from the wind by a special durable screen. It is allowed to move on the bridge crossing at a speed not exceeding 90 km per hour.
Talk about the need to build a shortcut in the Millau area began in 1987. Already at that time the roads leading to the sea were busy. In 1996, the final decision was made to build a cable-stayed bridge with several spans, and in 2001 architects Norman Foster and Michel Virlajo began to turn their project into reality.
Three years later, in December 2004, the viaduct was commissioned. In total, about 400 million euros were spent on the construction.
Despite the rapid construction, the Millau Bridge meets the strictest safety requirements. Each support was developed separately, taking into account not only the load, but also the installation site in a complex landscape.
For the pavement, a special roadbed was used - a specially developed composition of asphalt concrete that is resistant to deformation and does not require frequent repairs, which is difficult to carry out in a viaduct.
Engineers have set a minimum lifespan for the Millau Viaduct - 120 years. The facility is under constant monitoring and undergoes scheduled maintenance. Sensors have been installed to monitor the condition of the viaduct. Engineers monitor the sensor signals continuously.
The appearance of the bridge is admirable - stylish and modern, hovering over the beautiful Tarn Valley. It is already considered one of the wonders of the world. A photo of the viaduct adorns souvenirs, and tourists specially come here to appreciate the scale of the structure with their own eyes and admire the beautiful landscapes that open from the highest bridge in the world.
There is an amazing miracle of engineering and design in France - the famous Millau viaduct (in the French original Viaduc de Millau). This is the highest road bridge, at least in Europe, and as a maximum in the world (it all depends on some technical aspects of determining a specific height). It is built on a cable-stayed system - that is, the bridge actually hangs in the air, but is supported by a special structure of rigid supports and flexible steel cables.
Where is Millau Bridge
The viaduct can be seen 4 kilometers southwest of the city of Millau (hence the name of the bridge itself) in southern France in the Occitania region. It is laid over the valley of the Tarn River and is part of the final section of the A75 highway connecting Paris with the city of Béziers on the Mediterranean coast.
Geographic coordinates 44.078179, 3.022670
general description
The Millau Viaduct is a fantastic sight. This bridge looks very light and airy. Its length is 2460 meters. It has 2 lanes in both directions. The total width is 32 meters, which is the equivalent of 17 adult males with outstretched arms, as shown in the figure below.
The bridge is striking in its size. As much as 343 meters in height, which is 19 meters higher than the famous Eiffel Tower. It is worth noting that this is an absolute indicator of the height of the largest support along with the pylon.
A small technical digression: The support is what goes BEFORE the bridge from below, and the pylon - the upper part is already ABOVE the bridge.
The maximum height of the roadway is 270 meters above the valley, and its thickness is 4.2 meters.
The viaduct was erected using cable-stayed technology and rests on 7 pillars with a height of 77 to 245 meters. Each of the supports is installed in 4 wells 15 meters deep and 5 meters in diameter.
The height of all pylons is the same - 87 meters. Each has 11 pairs of heavy-duty steel ropes (commonly referred to as shrouds) capable of withstanding a load of 900 to 1,200 tons each (depending on the length, the shorter the rope, the more load it will withstand). There are 154 guys here in total. Such a margin of safety is fully justified, since the weight of the steel frame of the road is 36,000 tons (and this is 4 times the weight of the same Eiffel Tower).
The Millau Bridge is not straight, but has a slight bend in the horizontal plane with a radius of about 20 km, as well as a slope of 3.025% from south to north.
Don't miss the steepest street in the world. Its slope is such that it is extremely dangerous to lose balance there.
The bridge has 8 spans. The last ones are 204 meters long, and the remaining 6 are 342 meters long.
During the construction, 85,000 cubic meters of concrete were used with a total weight of 206,000 tons, while the total weight of the bridge is about 290,000 tons.
Estimated daily traffic flow up to 25,000 vehicles.
The developer gives a guarantee of 120 years for the viaduct.
Cost of work and concession agreement
The total cost of the project is 400 million euros. To raise funds, the French government decided on a concession agreement.
Eiffage won the tender and financed the construction in exchange for the right to collect tolls for 75 years, until 2080 (this is the concession principle). But, if the concession starts to generate high revenues, the French government may take over the management of the bridge sooner.
History of the Millau Viaduct
The construction of the A75 highway and the viaduct became necessary due to the increase in traffic along the highway No9. Usually in the summer there were big traffic jams on it, because this path was chosen by most travelers seeking to neighboring Spain.
Before the Millau Bridge was put into operation, all cars passed through the city of the same name and periodically created a transport collapse there. And this is the discontent of local residents, and increased pollution environment. In addition, large traffic jams practically nullified all the advantages of the A75 highway.
Initially, 4 options for the final section of the A75 highway were considered, but in the end they settled on the construction of a bridge in the area of the city of Millau.
The development and implementation of the project was entrusted to engineer Michel Virlojo (France) and architect Noman Foster (England).
Sequence of events
- In 1987, the initial sketches are being developed
- In the autumn of 1991, a decision was made on the specific site for the construction of the bridge.
- In July 1996, the cable-stayed technology for its construction was approved.
- The concession was finally approved in October 2001
- The solemn laying of the so-called "first stone" took place on December 14, 2001
- In January 2002, the construction of the foundation for the supports began, and in September of the same year, the bridge deck was already being installed.
- The construction of the supports was completed in November 2003.
- The roads from the southern and northern sides came close to each other on May 28, 2004, and the roadway was immediately announced to join, although in fact it took several more days
- The pylons were completed in the middle of summer 2004
- Testing of the bridge under a load of 920 tons began in November 2004
- The grand opening took place on December 14, 2004 with the participation of Jacques Chirac (at that time the country's president). But the bridge was opened for traffic only after 2 days. It is noteworthy that the bridge was opened ahead of time(it was planned to open on January 10, 2005)
Technical features of the Millau Bridge
Such a stunning building has many interesting technical solutions and features.
Guys
Special attention should be paid to steel ropes - shrouds. The metal cable has triple rust protection.
- electroplating
- protective wax coating
- additional polyethylene extruded coating
On the outer surface of the ropes, special combs in the form of a spiral pass along the entire length. This is done to prevent rapid runoff of water over them. Without this technology, strong vibrations of the cables may occur, especially in rain with strong winds.
Viaduct Millau - bridge above the clouds road surface
The steel frame of the roadway is topped with a special type of asphalt concrete. It took 2 whole years of research to find the optimal coating formula based on mineral resin.
The material turned out to be soft enough to adapt to metal deformations without creating cracks. But it also meets the traditional road surface requirements, such as wear resistance, tire grip, density, lack of sagging and rutting.
A total of 9,000 tons of special asphalt concrete and 1,000 tons of standard asphalt concrete were used.
Electrical and security systems
Such a gigantic structure contains tens of kilometers of various electrical cables. There are as many as 30 km of high-voltage cables, 20 km of fiber-optic cables and 10 km of low-current cables. The viaduct has 357 telephone points located in different parts of the bridge. This is done for quick communication of service teams both with the control center and among themselves.
The Millau Viaduct is literally strewn with various sensors and monitoring systems for the condition of the bridge. This whole set of control equipment is designed to track the slightest vibrations and shifts of the entire structure and its individual sections. The instruments measure temperature, slope changes, wind speed and direction, and a host of other parameters.
On the largest support, the deformation of as many as 12 strain gauges is measured. They are able to catch the shift literally in a micrometer. Moreover, up to 100 measurements per second are carried out. All data on the state of the viaduct flow to the control and management center located in the area of the toll booth.
Is the Millau Bridge really the highest?
The viaduct has a lot of competitors. There are designs much higher and wider, but each has its own BUT. These are mainly measurement methods and technical features.
For example, in Colorado (one of the US states) there is the Royal Gorge Bridge (in the original Royal Gorge Bridge). It lies at a height of 321 meters above the ground, BUT - this is a bridge for pedestrians only.
Now the Millau Bridge is inferior in height to the location of the road directly to the Chinese bridge on the Siduhe River. Its height is 472 meters above the gorge. And here there is a "BUT" - the pillars of this bridge, like other highest bridges, lie on the hills, and not at the bottom of the crossed gorge. But at the Millau viaduct, the supports are installed right at the bottom of the gorge. Therefore, from a constructive point of view, it is the Millau Bridge that has the right to bear the title of the highest in the world.
The best places to see the Millau Viaduct
Of course, such a landmark bridge is clearly visible from afar, but there are places from which it looks as impressive as possible.
Cape Coast Brunas
Excellent overview of the viaduct and its surroundings. Leave Millau on the D 992 towards Albi/Toulouse. At the village of Crissel, turn onto Brunas Street and walk 5 km along a narrow road to the observation deck.
Geographic coordinates 44.070574, 3.058249
Luzenson
About a kilometer in a straight line west of the village of Saint-Georges-de-Luzençon, there is an observation deck with an excellent view of the Pont Millau. Follow the signs for Albi/Toulouse to Saint-Georges de Luzençon. Then follow the signs to the Luzenson lookout.
Geographic coordinates 44.064485, 2.969102
Peyre village
It is located on the banks of the Tarn River, just 2 kilometers west of the viaduct. Go there from Millau on the D 41 road.
Geographic coordinates 44.091668, 2.999611
Rest area on the northern edge of the Millau Viaduct
This observation deck offers unusual views of the bridge. From Millau, take the RD991 road heading north. At the Berger roundabout, 7 km from Millau, take the 4th exit towards the recreation area. Then walk about 500 meters to the south.
Geographic coordinates 44.091944, 3.022049
Lerouge Bridge
This bridge now stands on the site of the "old bridge" (Pont Vieux), washed away by a flood in 1758. From here you have an excellent view of the Millau Viaduct. Especially at sunset. This vantage point lies near the city center.
Geographic coordinates 44.092823, 3.075350
Lérouge bridge Terrace of Beffroy de Millau
This is the bell tower known as the Tower of the Kings of Aragon. The 17th century octagonal tower rises 42 meters above the center of the old town. The visit is open from mid-June to mid-September. For getting additional information visit the Millau Visitor Centre, it is located opposite the tower.
Geographic coordinates 44.097992, 3.078939
Viaduct Millau and sports
The bridge is not intended for pedestrians, but races still pass through it.
In December 2004, 19,000 runners were able to run across the bridge, but only to the first pylon. They were not allowed further, as the bridge was still closed to traffic.
May 13, 2007 - 10,496 runners still crossed the Millau Viaduct. The total distance of the race was 23.7 kilometers
Since then, races have been held here every 2 years, during which the bridge is closed to traffic for 3-4 hours.
To learn more about the viaduct, watch the following video. Ignore Millau's signature. This is just a literal translation of the French name for the Millau Bridge.
Millau Bridge is considered the most high bridge, on which cars drive, there is, of course, also higher, for example, in the state of Colorado, but only pedestrians are allowed to move along it, or in China on the Siduhe River, but its supports are located on a plateau, which is also above the ground. Therefore, if you look honestly, then Millau is the highest with its 270 meters.
Such heights could not go unnoticed, so many tourists come to this place to take pictures of the wonderful bridge. It looks especially impressive when there is fog in the Thar Valley, then the bridge seems to soar above it. A sight like this is truly breathtaking.
Why was Millau built?
The Millau viaduct bridge seems to soar over the Thar Valley.
Many wonder why such a huge bridge was built in this area. It does not lead to any big cities, but connects Paris and the small town of Beziers. It turns out that the town, although small, is where many elite educational institutions are located.
From Paris and other French cities, all students who are eager to get an elite education come here. In addition, Beziers is located very close to the Mediterranean Sea, so the influx of people heading towards the city is quite large.
Previously, all motorists moving in this direction moved along highway number 9. But due to the large flow of people, traffic jams often formed there. Tourists could not arrive at their destination on time, truck drivers could not deliver goods, students could not have time for their studies - everyone was stuck in huge traffic jams for hours.
Now, thanks to Miyo, the way is clear. You can get things done on time. However, it should be borne in mind that the passage on Millau is not free, and read below about how much it costs to travel on the bridge.
Construction and difficulties in building the bridge
Studies that were carried out before the construction of the bridge, according to some sources, lasted 10 years. During this time, the chief architect Norman Foster, together with Michel Virlajo and the Eiffage group, were able to create an almost perfect design for the bridge. By the way, Eiffage includes the Eiffel workshop, which designed and built the main Parisian attraction.
They worked on Milhaud for exactly three years. On December 14, 2001, construction began, and ended on the same date, only in 2004. During this time, the developers had to overcome many difficulties.
The most basic is the development and installation of the supports on which the bridge rests. Each support was developed separately, each has a different length, weight and diameter, the largest support has a base of 25 meters.
Big problems arose with their transportation. For example, the largest support has 16 sections, each of which weighs at least 2300 tons. It is clear that it was impossible to deliver the entire support to the bridge. Therefore, it had to be delivered in parts. It took a lot of time and effort. In total, there are 7 supports, in addition, there are also pylons and a lot of other design elements on the bridge.
However, the difficulties of the developers did not end there. Millau Bridge was threatened by the deformation of metal structures, which are not only very expensive, but also difficult to replace.
Therefore, the team working on the project had to invent a new formula for asphalt concrete. The coating was designed to protect the canvas from deformation and meet other standards. As a result, it was possible to develop a unique asphalt concrete of its kind, on which motorists drive.
Despite the carefully thought-out project and the hardest work, not everyone liked the idea. The Millau Bridge was sharply criticized, demonstrations were staged, the purpose of which was to stop construction. Few believed in the success of the project. And even when the bridge began to be built and funds had already been invested in it, there were people and organizations trying by all means to prevent its construction.
Is the bridge project successful as a business? Time will show
Pont Millau is considered the highest bridge on which cars drive.
Now that the Millau Bridge has already been built, the developers had to face another difficulty. The bridge is not state-owned, it was built for the money of "Eiffage", but the French government gave only 78 years to recoup these costs. And by the way, 400 million euros were spent!
That is why you need to pay 7.7 euros for motorists, 21.3 euros for trucks, 3 euros for motorcyclists and even symbolic 90 cents for pedestrians.
However, the company can be understood, such costs are difficult to recoup, especially for such a line, and this despite the fact that the guarantee for the Eiffage bridge itself was given for 120 years. But if you look, this project was not developed in order to make a profit, but in order to strengthen the image of the famous company, which can now be famous not only for the Eiffel Tower.
Millau Viaduct Bridge – VIDEO
The Millau Viaduct Bridge is the tallest transport bridge in the world, one of its pillars is 341 meters high - slightly higher than the Eiffel Tower and only 40 meters lower than the Empire State Building. The bridge stands on 7 pillars. The total length of the bridge is 2460 m, its width is 32 m. See how the Millau Bridge was built.
http://youtu.be/SdhGM3N4CXY
We will be pleased if you share with your friends:Viaduct Millau (Millau, in different sources in different ways. French Le Viaduc de Millau) is highest bridge in the world. It is located in France, near the small town of Millau. The highway connecting the north of France with the south passed through this provincial locality. And in the summer, during the holidays, when a large flow of cars was heading from the north to the south coast and to Spain, Millau simply died in traffic jams. In order to unload this town, it was decided to let the traffic flow through the Tarn river valley over the bridge. In the competition for best project defeated Viaduct Millau...
According to the approved project, 7 pillars were to be installed in the Tarn valley. On top of them, a transport canvas is laid and pylons are installed, which, with the help of guys, will help the supports keep the canvas in balance.
Construction began on October 16, 2001. And the builders had to do a great job. The length of this structure is 2460 meters, width - 32 meters. The height of the largest of the supports is 245 meters, and together with the pylon installed on it - 343 meters, which is almost 20 meters higher!
It took 200,000 tons of concrete and 16,000 tons of metal reinforcement to build the supports. These pillars support the highway, weighing 40,000 tons, about the size of a large ocean liner, and 7 pylons, each weighing 700 tons.
The frame of the conveyor belt itself is made of metal. But it was not possible to lift huge, heavy metal blocks to the height of the supports. Therefore, it was decided to assemble the frame on the heights that will connect the bridge, and with the help of guides push it onto the viaduct supports.
To simplify the task, additional temporary metal supports were erected between the bridge supports (pictured, red).
The transport canvas was pushed onto supports from both sides. And when the two sides of the frame met each other between 2 pillars at a height of almost 300 meters from the ground, having overcome the entire length of the bridge of 2460 meters for two, their discrepancy was less than 1 cm!!!
Almost 10 thousand tons of asphalt were laid on top of the frame, pylons were installed and 154 shrouds were pulled. After the bridge passed the test of 900 tons load, 3 years after the start of construction, on December 14, 2004, the grand opening of the Millau Viaduct took place.
477 million dollars were spent on the construction of this wonderful bridge. However, paid travel for vehicles (and this is almost 50 thousand cars per day in summer period) will reimburse all costs very soon.
Let's just admire this creation of mankind.
