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
Read more about this topic: A75 Autoroute
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