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Highest Bridge in the World Nearing Completion

Posted by michael on from the don't-look-down dept.

An anonymous reader writes "A weekend cookie for all engineering geeks out here. The central span of the Millau bridge (270 meters or 886 ft) has been completed!" The photo is awesome.

14 of 425 comments (clear)

  1. try this website by werdnapk · · Score: 5, Informative
    The posted site seems to be /.'ed already, try this one out instead.

    That sure is some bridge, but must be a real eyesore to those who have to live near it.

  2. Re:What's the use? by PHP+Wolf · · Score: 5, Funny
    What's the use of having a bridge that is that high? Just seems like a serious waste of resources just for bragging rights.

    They get serious flooding in that valley.

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    Double Compile

  3. Er... why? by FFFish · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Why did they build this bridge? That looks like a perfectly nice valley down there, easy to push a road through, and at 1/100th the cost and no where near the danger.

    Is this a penis boast ("I've got the biggest bridge!"), an environment issue ("No automobiles in this valley!"), an ownership issue, what??

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    1. Re:Er... why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      They built it because every summer thousands of cars get stuck in Millau while traveling from north to south.

    2. Re:Er... why? by Chairboy · · Score: 5, Funny

      Because the german army hates to march up and down hills, of course.

    3. Re:Er... why? by bobbyque · · Score: 5, Interesting

      For the same reason people build smokestacks...to lift pollution out of a valley. That's the Rhone Valley down there: "Millau's 20,000 residents can also breathe easier--literally--since the bridge opening will put an end to decades of environmental damage caused by the endless lines of vehicles and traffic jams." (http://www.pobonline.com/CDA/ArticleInformation/c overstory/BNPCoverStoryItem/0,2340,108886,00.html)

    4. Re:Er... why? by k98sven · · Score: 5, Funny

      But doesn't it seem more fitting to computer geeks if the road to Béziers is curved?

    5. Re:Er... why? by ElGanzoLoco · · Score: 5, Informative

      IIRC, a LOT of trucks take that road every year, so building a road around Millau still solves just part of the problem: it will be a lot easier and faster for everyone to just take a straight line rather than going down in the valley, through the valley, and up again. IIRC, they claim the trips will be 1 to 2 hours shorter thanks to the bridge -that's less time on the road, therefore safer overall, less pollution etc...

      This is an entirely private project, the french govt didn't want to pay for it. That's bad for the drivers though, who will have to pay a lot of money to cross the bridge.

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  4. Re:Timmmmmberrrr... by fluce · · Score: 5, Informative

    Well, in fact, they are the same folks... 2E airport terminal was built by Vinci and Eiffage. Millau viaduc is built by Eiffage alone.

  5. Funding? by PHP+Wolf · · Score: 5, Funny

    There's probably a sign before you drive onto the bridge that reads: "World's tallest bridge! World's highest toll!"

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    Double Compile

  6. Re:Lowest Bidder by rilister · · Score: 5, Informative

    no, but the architect is Sir Norman Foster of Foster and Partners, responsible for the Millenium Footbridge in London that had to be closed after it was found to be dangerous... ...I'll follow you over...

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  7. It's quite a sight by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I've been at Milau last summer, and I must say that bridge is quite spectacular, also the way it was built. During the dozen days I was there, you could see the daily progress they made as the cranes moved and the whole bridge was pushed across the pillars little by little. Amazing bridgebuilding technology, really.

    And maybe it's not evident from the pictures, but the bridge does make some sense when you look at the landscape close-up.

    And it's really big. Standing under the pillars makes it look very, very intimidating.

  8. Re:Lowest Bidder by misterpies · · Score: 5, Informative


    Double inaccuracy... first of all, the millenium bridge was by Lord Foster, not Sir Foster (if you think such details are irrelevant, try talking about Congressman Kerry and Prime Minister Bush). And secondly, it was never found to be dangerous. It was closed temporarily when it was found to sway several feet from side to side under heavy foot traffic due to an unforeseen resonance at around the frequency of human walking. (Frankly, this was the falt of the engineers more than the architect.) This was fixed by adding a few dampers and now it's perfectly steady.

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  9. Re:How do they get the ends to meet? by King_Pickle · · Score: 5, Informative

    The road will have two lanes (3.50m each) on each side and will run at about 270m above the river Tarn. The Millau Viaduct will not be straight. A straight road could induce a sensation of floating for drivers. A slight curve will remedy that. The curve will be of 20km in range. Moreover, the road will have a light hill of 3% to improve the visibility and reassure the driver. A 3m wide emergency lane will bring increased security. It will, in particular, prevent drivers from seeing the valley from the viaduct. As the bridge will be exposed to winds of up to 151km/h, side screens will reduce the effects of the wind by 50%. The speed of the wind at the level of the road will therefore reflect to speed of the wind found at ground level around Larzac and Sauveterre.

    From http://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/projects/mil lau_viaduct/