Construction of Millau Viaduct

The Millau Viaduct is a cable-stayed bridge that spans the valley of the River Tarn near Millau in southern France.
Designed by the French structural engineer Michel Virlogeux and British architect Norman Foster, it is the tallest bridge in the world with one mast's summit at 343 metres above the base of the structure. It is the 12th highest bridge deck in the world, being 270 metres between the road deck and the ground below. Millau Viaduct is part of the A75-A71 autoroute axis from Paris to Montpellier. Construction cost was approximately €400 million. It was formally inaugurated on 14 December 2004, and opened to traffic on 16 December.
The bridge has been consistently ranked as one of the great engineering achievements of all time. The bridge received the 2006 International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering Outstanding Structure Award.
Some technical notes
The pier dimensions are as follows:
In the longitudinal direction: 16 to 17 meters
In the lateral direction: variable from 10 meters at the pylon head to 27 at the foot of the highest pier.
The piers split into two separate shafts around 90 meters below deck level. Each shaft is vertically post-tensioned using 8 19T15S cables.
The shaft dimension in the longitudinal direction are also variable from 5 meters at the head to 8.60 meters where the join.
The total height of the pylons is 87 meters. Their shape is that of an inverted Y in the longitudinal direction. The height of the legs of the Y is 38 meters.
The deck is cable-stayed. The stays are arranged in two planes with 11 stays each in a sem-fan arrangement. Deck anchors are spaced at 12.51 meters.
Each pylon has a weight of 650 tons and a height of nearly 89 meters. The assembly was done behind the abutments. They were then transported horizontally on Kamag trucks to the final location where they were lifted and rotated into place using a temporary structure.
Author of the film: Eiffage CEVM/Foster & Partners
www.leviaducdem...

[@spinynorman2187]

Nothing prepares you for the view over the Tarn Valley when you are crossing the bridge. Stunning experience !

[@ChrisHayes_agape]

France should be truly proud of such a wonderful construction. Bravo.

[@francinesicard464]

The technical realisation was French, but the pride must be shared with Norman Foster and his wonderful design.

[@redwithblackstripes]

Most of the design features were already established by Michel Virlogeux who was a friend of Norman Foster and already worked with him on the Vasco de Gama bridge, mister Foster was brought as an adviser/consultant and even though he had real impact and influence on the final design he and his team elaborated on something that already existed prior to his involvement, he did not entirely came up with it. Mr Foster involvement with the Millau Viaduct is to be noted and credited but it seems that it is often overstated by some to the unfortunate detriment of others.

[@berkit1959]

The design aesthetics of this bridge are extremely low on the list of impressive feats about this bridge in my opinion. Anyone can draw something cool looking, actually figuring out how to do it is amazing. I'd rather hear about who the engineers were that figured out how to launch this and when they determined the cable stay towers needed to be installed and in what sequence and how they accounted for the wind forces, what crane placement and sizing would be required, the launching forces and engineering systems that needed to be developed to push these gigantic sections among other things.

[@LOLOVAL-os3pq]

I crossed Millau before the viaduct was built, it was hell, hours spent behind the back of another vehicle, since the viaduct, which I crossed several times, it only takes me a few minutes! It's more pleasant like this! For me, Mr Foster made a beautiful design, but those who built this viaduct and Mr Virlogeux did a much greater job!

[@TheRailwayDrone]

I visited France a week ago and took a cab ride to Millau just to see this bridge. MUCH more imposing in person. Fantastic bridge.

[@valitino2704]

The Millau viaduct is just amazingly beautiful. Went to see it three yers ago. Unbelievable!

[@PacoOtis]

Gentlemen!!! A magnificent structure so very professionally accomplished. The music in the video is so horrible as to make viewing almost impossible. Congrats on the viaduct.

[@andrearobazza2102]

1 min di silenzio per la 4N CAT Primo levi sereno

[@andreapaterna117]

Hai proprio ragione

[@DeonneMorris]

Truly impressive

[@yves3560]

I drove over that bridge twice... in the fog, I didn´t see shit. :D

[@karnigbeylikjian9837]

The subject is great, but the narrator is a bit annoying. This bridge is terrific. Caltrans in the US should watch this video and learn form it. They took 11billion dollars and over 15 years to do a smaller Oakland Bay bridge. Over budget and late!

[@CraigGrant-sh3in]

Do you think it had anything to do with technology and the lack of large enough equipment ? The Golden Gate Bridge cost $35,000,000 in 1933. Adjusted for inflation that is $810,000,000 in todays money.The Golden Gate Bridge took 4 years and 4 1\2 months . The Millau Viaduct was built on land . The Golden Gate bridge was built in 370 feet of dangerous water . Apples and oranges .

[@ShawnaGraham50]

Amazing job!
The US use to do this stuff now all we do is fail bitch and complain

[@oscarsalesgirl296]

The footage is horribly laggy

[@mpigai7191]

i likefull the contruction.

There is too much videos in my channel about construction ;

[@rahulc4403]

the team

[@traianmot4993]

Gevlde fis8

[@TJK10]

RUclipspedia brought me here.

[@middaysun3553]

Man and women 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@thornil2231]

3000 men and 2 women...