12/8/2004: Millau viaduct

Undertoad · 12-08-2004, 12:22 PM

This is a new construction in southern France. The Millau viaduct will connect a new A75 motorway from Paris to Barcelona above the River Tarn and 2.5 km of valley below.

I had not seen this before and it is a thing of beauty. It's been under construction for about four years. It has the tallest bridge piers ever, thus once opened next month it becomes the highest bridge in the world.

Amazingly, it was privately funded. It will be a toll road.

more info

glatt · 12-08-2004, 12:37 PM

So France can make more than chocolate after all, huh?

That is a beautiful bridge.

lookout123 · 12-08-2004, 12:38 PM

wow, that is beautiful. it almost doesn't look real.

do they get earthquakes and such in France? i bet it won't be long before that bridge is featured in a disaster film or a chase scene, etc.

Beestie · 12-08-2004, 12:42 PM

I think Billy posted an above-the-cloud pic of this bridge a while back but this shot shows just how dang high it is. Wow!

glatt · 12-08-2004, 12:52 PM

What it should look like when completed:

garnet · 12-08-2004, 01:17 PM

That is so cool! It's amazing how they managed to design a structure that looks nothing like the surrounding environment, yet doesn't detract from it. Almost like how the Golden Gate Bridge makes the views in SF even more beautiful. Neat!

Wormfood · 12-08-2004, 01:43 PM

Oboy.. The french police gonna have a lot to do when this thing is finished.
Basejumps,"hurry-to-the-next-world" guys,graffiti and oh.. ,this might
sometimes be OK, bungeejumping.

If that "riverpillar" is actually hitting the river, then they have a dam too.

wolf · 12-08-2004, 02:22 PM

There is a similarly structured, but much smaller, bridge that crosses the Delaware Canal.

jaguar · 12-08-2004, 02:47 PM

I can't wait to go see this thing, it's an engineering marvel.
Of course the road that actually finishes the connection won't be done for a few more years, great planning work there.

jbolty · 12-08-2004, 06:53 PM

"Of course the road that actually finishes the connection won't be done for a few more years"

They will cross that bridge when they get to it.

Undertoad · 12-08-2004, 06:57 PM

well done jbolty

xoxoxoBruce · 12-08-2004, 07:06 PM

Somewhere I have pictures from inside the crane cab. All the amenities and a glass floor, too.

dar512 · 12-08-2004, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wormfood

Oboy.. The french police gonna have a lot to do when this thing is finished.
Basejumps,"hurry-to-the-next-world" guys,graffiti and oh.. ,this might
sometimes be OK, bungeejumping.

If that "riverpillar" is actually hitting the river, then they have a dam too.

Think they'll allow fishing from the bridge?

lumberjim · 12-08-2004, 10:00 PM

It looks like the future

Sun_Sparkz · 12-08-2004, 11:24 PM

What a beautiful valley that is.
Cant wait till its littered with 10,000,000 ciggarette butts from car windows, macdonalds packets and hub caps.

12-08-2004, 12:22 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	12/8/2004: Millau viaduct This is a new construction in southern France. The Millau viaduct will connect a new A75 motorway from Paris to Barcelona above the River Tarn and 2.5 km of valley below. I had not seen this before and it is a thing of beauty. It's been under construction for about four years. It has the tallest bridge piers ever, thus once opened next month it becomes the highest bridge in the world. Amazingly, it was privately funded. It will be a toll road. more info

12-08-2004, 12:38 PM	#3
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	wow, that is beautiful. it almost doesn't look real. do they get earthquakes and such in France? i bet it won't be long before that bridge is featured in a disaster film or a chase scene, etc. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

12-08-2004, 12:42 PM	#4
Beestie -◊\|≡·∙■·∙≡\|◊- Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Parts unknown. Posts: 4,081	I think Billy posted an above-the-cloud pic of this bridge a while back but this shot shows just how dang high it is. Wow! __________________ ♠ ♥ ♣ ♦

12-08-2004, 01:43 PM	#7
Wormfood Superior Inhabitant Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 73	Oboy.. The french police gonna have a lot to do when this thing is finished. Basejumps,"hurry-to-the-next-world" guys,graffiti and oh.. ,this might sometimes be OK, bungeejumping. If that "riverpillar" is actually hitting the river, then they have a dam too. Last edited by Wormfood; 12-08-2004 at 01:48 PM.

12-08-2004, 02:22 PM	#8
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	There is a similarly structured, but much smaller, bridge that crosses the Delaware Canal. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

12-08-2004, 12:37 PM	#2
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	So France can make more than chocolate after all, huh? That is a beautiful bridge.

12-08-2004, 12:52 PM	#5
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	What it should look like when completed:

12-08-2004, 01:17 PM	#6
garnet ... Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 657	That is so cool! It's amazing how they managed to design a structure that looks nothing like the surrounding environment, yet doesn't detract from it. Almost like how the Golden Gate Bridge makes the views in SF even more beautiful. Neat!

12-08-2004, 02:47 PM	#9
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	I can't wait to go see this thing, it's an engineering marvel. Of course the road that actually finishes the connection won't be done for a few more years, great planning work there. __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

12-08-2004, 06:53 PM	#10
jbolty Alphabetarian Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 12	"Of course the road that actually finishes the connection won't be done for a few more years" They will cross that bridge when they get to it.

12-08-2004, 06:57 PM	#11
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	well done jbolty

12-08-2004, 07:06 PM	#12
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Somewhere I have pictures from inside the crane cab. All the amenities and a glass floor, too. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

12-08-2004, 10:00 PM	#14
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	It looks like the future Attached Images __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

12-08-2004, 11:24 PM	#15
Sun_Sparkz Has Body Temperature Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: I come from a land downunder Posts: 1,105	What a beautiful valley that is. Cant wait till its littered with 10,000,000 ciggarette butts from car windows, macdonalds packets and hub caps. __________________ We'll never be as young as we are right now

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