| Fact file |
When built: 2004
Height: 343m
Width: 2 460 m
Workforce: 500
Timescale: Three years
Construction material: Steel and concrete
Number of piers: 7
Capacity of concrete used: 85,000 cubic metres |
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Spanning almost 2.5km across the River Tarn in the South of France, the Millau Viaduct is set to become the world’s highest bridge. Designed by the architect Lord Norman Foster, the six-lane cable-stay bridge is 19m taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Supported by two anchorage points at either side and seven piers supporting the carriageway, the bridge will soar across the Tarn valley at a central height of 245m. The project has consumed 19,000 tons of concrete-reinforcing steel, 5,000 tons of reinforcing steel for cables and 85,000 cubic meters of concrete - enough to fill London’s Albert Hall.
During construction, seven intermediate temporary piers were required between the permanent concrete piers in order to 'launch' the deck across the gorge from pier to pier. Each of its seven sections spans 350m.
To compensate for expansion and contraction, each column splits into two thinner, more flexible columns beneath the carriageway. This effectively creates an A-frame above deck level, narrowing the bridge’s silhouette, reducing its impact on the surrounding landscape.
Designed to withstand the most extreme seismic activity and weather conditions, the Millau Viaduct comes with a 120-year guarantee. To protect drivers against fierce crosswinds, the structure has been equipped with protective screens and heavy-duty crash barriers.
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