A75 Autoroute - Engineering Achievements

Engineering Achievements

The building of a motorway across the Massif Central is, in itself, a formidable achievement. Much of the motorway runs at an altitude in excess of 800 m (2600 ft) with 50 km in excess of 1000 m (3250 ft).

The single most impressive feature is undoubtedly the Millau Viaduct, which carries the road over the Tarn River. It was constructed under a government contract with the Eiffage group, effective for 75 years. Eiffage collects tolls at agreed rates making this the only tolled part of the A75.

Other impressive features include:

Viaducts and bridges

• Viaduc de la Violette, 560 m long, between junctions 21 & 22
• Pont sur la Truyere, 311 m long, between junctions 30 and 31
• Viaduc du Piou, 414 m long, between junctions 38 and 39
• Viaduc du Ricoulong, 342 m long, between junctions 38 and 39
• Viaduc de la Planchette, 221 m long, between junctions 38 and 39
• Viaduc de la Verrières, 710 m long, between junctions 44 and 44.1
• Viaduc de la Garrigue, 340 m long, between junctions 44.1 and 42
• Viaduc de Millau, 2500 m long, between junctions 45 and 46

Passes

• 990 m between junctions 24 and 25
• Col de la Fageole, 1107 m, between junctions 26 and 27
• Col des Issartets, 1121 m, the highest point on the A75, between junctions 36 and 37
• Col de la Fayette, 882 m, between junctions 40 and 41
• Col d'Engayresque, 888 m, between junctions 44 and 44.1

Tunnels

• Tunnel de Montjezieu, 616 m long at an altitude of 650 m, between junctions 39.1 and 40
• Tunnel de Pas d'Escalette, 725 m southbound, 830 m northbound, between junctions 50 and 51
• Tunnel de la Vierge, 474 m, between junctions 52 and 53