The Millau Bridge in France is the tallest bridge in the world, with a roadway so tall a 770ft skyscraper could fit underneath it – and it’s a must-see for petrolheads
When it comes to massive infrastructure projects, the likes of China and the US usually come to mind, but France is actually home to the world’s tallest bridge. The Millau Bridge, located in the Aveyron region, is part of the highway connecting Paris to the Mediterranean and was designed by British architect Norman Foster.
It opened to great fanfare in the early 2000s. At 1,104ft high, it remains the world’s tallest bridge, with a roadway so lofty that a skyscraper could fit underneath. But what’s less well-known is that the bridge has several design secrets that help keep drivers safe.
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According to Enjoy Travel, the bridge has a three percent incline and a slight curve to prevent drivers from feeling like they’re floating. The bridge’s designers also incorporated a 20km curve to improve visibility and reassure drivers.
The website explained: “It has two lanes in each direction and interestingly, the bridge is not straight as this could induce a sensation of floating for drivers.
“To remedy this, the architects designed the bridge to have a slight curve, which is 20km in range. Another design feature that improves safety, is the road’s slight incline of 3 percent, which improves visibility and reassures the driver.
“The bridge is exposed to strong gusts of up to 151km/h, so designers installed side screens that cut the wind’s impact by 50 per cent.”
This iconic bridge has become a magnet for car enthusiasts and tourists worldwide, drawn to its striking design, reports the Express.
On TripAdvisor, visitors rave about the bridge’s engineering and architecture. Simon N wrote: “An amazing piece of engineering and architecture spanning an even more beautiful gorge. If you’re an engineering/architecture enthusiast, this is a must-see, but you don’t have to be one to be blown away by this marvel of a bridge.”
Bluebellplasnewydd posted: “This bridge is spectacular and you should plan your car journey to go over it. There are observation posts and a visitor centre but it doesn’t matter if you miss these. The experience is in the approach and transit across.”
User boruthedog exclaimed: “It is a beautiful and extraordinary piece of engineering, and the visitors centre (accessible also from the south) has an exhibition, a good cafeteria and a viewing platform from which you can get an idea of the enormity of the project.
“After this, get back in the car and drive over it. The bridge is cleverly curved so that you get a good feel for its length and can clearly see its pylons and supporting cables.”
