Millau Viaduct, Cable-stayed road bridge in Aveyron, France
The Millau Viaduct is a cable-stayed bridge that crosses the Tarn valley between Causse du Larzac and Causse Rouge, resting on seven concrete pillars. The deck sits an average of 270 meters above the river, while the tallest pillar including its pylon reaches 343 meters.
Planning began in the 1980s to address traffic congestion in Millau, where the national road passed through the town center. Construction ran from December 2001 to December 2004, opening later that same year.
When fog fills the valley, the roadway seems to float above the clouds, a sight many travelers capture from the viewing area. The region has embraced the crossing as a landmark that now feels as much a part of the landscape as the hills themselves.
The crossing itself takes about two minutes, while a rest area near the northern end offers a better view of the entire structure. Wind gusts can be strong, especially in winter, when the deck occasionally closes to high vehicles.
Each of the seven pillars rests on four deep foundations driven into the bedrock, supporting a combined weight of over 36,000 tons. The cables that hold the deck are regularly checked for tension, a process that takes place at night to avoid disrupting traffic.
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