Viaduc du Magnan, Motorway bridge in Nice, France
The Viaduc du Magnan is a motorway bridge spanning the Magnan Valley near Nice with two parallel decks serving traffic on the A8 route. The structure rises on substantial concrete pillars and extends nearly half a kilometer across the landscape.
The first section of the bridge opened in 1976, with the northern portion completed seven years later in 1983 to handle growing traffic. This two-phase construction allowed the road network to expand gradually as travel demands increased.
The engineering design of the Magnan Viaduct demonstrates French technical expertise through its prestressed concrete beams and advanced structural solutions.
The bridge carries two-level traffic on the A8 motorway and connects France with Italy via the northern bypass around Nice. Visitors can view the structure from the valley below or experience it while traveling along the highway.
The two parallel decks are separated by a 10-meter gap that creates striking shadow patterns on their towering concrete walls. This spatial separation is a notable design feature and makes the viaduct visually interesting from different viewing angles.
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