March 9th, 2007 at 6:26 am
This goes into my book of great engineering and architectural feats: The world’s tallest traffic bridge.
Designed by British Architect Norman Foster in collaboration with French bridge engineer Michel Virlogeux, the bridge is located in Millau, southwest of France. It helps traffic over the river Tarn within the Masif Central mountain range.
Opened in 2004, the bridge has 4 lanes for traffic, stands at 270 meters (886 ft) above the ground and 2,460 metres (8,071 ft) in length. Just to put in perspective how tall it is, it is 23 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower (at its highest point) and 38 meters (125 ft) shorter than the Empire State building. The total structure weighs approximately 36,000 tonnes, took 3 years to make and cost approximately 394 euros ($524 million).
5 Responses to “The world’s tallest traffic bridge”
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yoshi said: @ 10:35 am
March 9th, 2007
It’s just quite amazing what we can do nowadays. Those pictures look awesome!
janvangogh said: @ 12:07 pm
March 9th, 2007
Impressive. But I would have a real problem travelling over it. Only way would be as a passenger so I could close my eyes! I know I couldnt drive it.
Kristyn said: @ 10:33 am
March 12th, 2007
Oh, awesome! I agree with Yoshi, that is just amazing! As someone terrified of heights, I’m not sure driving over it would be for me, but the pictures are awesome, not to mention the engineering that must have gone into making that stable! There’s just something about bridges that I love!
-t- said: @ 12:48 pm
March 12th, 2007
Foster is an amazing architect. Your post just makes me wanna visit that bridge in France and walk over it. :)
I happen to work at the Freie Universität Berlin, for which Foster designed a new library. Pictures can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/s.....s/1053588/
and here: http://www.fosterandpartners.c.....fault.aspx
But the most impressive view is this one, taken from the entry: http://pg.squids.images.focus......_385xA.jpg
And this is the opposite view depicting the entrance itsself: http://www.zuv.fu-berlin.de/un....._klein.jpg
John said: @ 4:11 pm
April 15th, 2007
Amazing, went over the bridge in february this year, takes your breath away, your right Kristyn, no good if your afraid of heights.