Bellamy Posted December 14, 2004 at 06:16 PM Posted December 14, 2004 at 06:16 PM The world's highest road bridge has been inaugurated in southern France by President Jacques Chirac. The Millau bridge over the River Tarn in the Massif Central mountains is more than 300m (984ft) high - taller even than the country's Eiffel Tower. The bridge, which opens to traffic on Thursday, was built to clear summer traffic jams around the town. The BBC's Paris correspondent, Caroline Wyatt, says the bridge is one of the most breathtaking ever built. She says that with its concrete and steel pillars soaring high above the morning fog in the Tarn Valley, the construction makes a spectacular sight. 'Delicacy of a butterfly' Seven slender piers support the roadway, rising into seven graceful pylons bound to the bridge with what look like cobwebs of steel, our correspondent says. "The bridge is just on the clouds," Millau Mayor Jacques Godfrain told the BBC's World Today programme. "The architect, Norman Foster, gave us a model of art." Mr Foster said the bridge was designed to have the "delicacy of a butterfly". "A work of man must fuse with nature. The pillars had to look almost organic, like they had grown from the earth," the world-renowned British architect said in an interview with regional daily newspaper Midi Libre. Like Concorde and the Channel Tunnel, the bridge is Franco-British. French construction group Eiffage - that built the Eiffel Tower - financed the project in return for the right to collect receipts from a bridge toll for 75 years. The bridge is now a source of pride for Millau, which believes many more tourists will come to admire one of the engineering wonders of the 21st Century, our correspondent says. The construction also removes a bottleneck at the town, completing a new motorway link between Paris and the Mediterranean. The construction of the steel bridge - now weighing about 36,000 tonnes - began in December 2001, using innovative techniques. From the north and south sides of the valley, the metal sections of the structure were assembled, lifted slightly and then carefully slotted into place on each of the supporting pillars. Motorists are expected to pay 4.6 euros (£3.18; $5.60) for a trip across the bridge.this bridge is http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39525000/jpg/_39525107_millau_203.jpg http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40625000/jpg/_40625309_bridge_afp300body.jpg http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/03/europe_the_millau_bridge/img/1.jpg http://www.aurelle-verlac.com/millau/Vmpaysa.jpg http://www.millau-clic.com/telechargement/viaduc/fonds/fond-viaduc.jpg http://www.valac.nl/millau.gif Quote Please support the forum by ordering everything through our special Amazon.com link Click here. Thank you!
Koolan Posted December 15, 2004 at 12:58 AM Posted December 15, 2004 at 12:58 AM OMG, it sounds so amazing. Took only 3 years to finish, what a work of art. Isn't it a bit scary to drive on it at the same time, it must have one of the best views ever! Quote Please support the forum by ordering through our Amazon.com referral link below. Click here to go to the Amazon homepage.
Bellamy Posted December 15, 2004 at 03:19 AM Author Posted December 15, 2004 at 03:19 AM acrophobes can't drive on it for sure. Quote Please support the forum by ordering everything through our special Amazon.com link Click here. Thank you!
ddmone99 Posted January 16, 2011 at 10:21 AM Posted January 16, 2011 at 10:21 AM (edited) OMG!! I have a huge fear of bridges! If I went on that I think I'd probably start hyperventilating and faint! But I have the same last name as Caroline Wyatt! Edited January 16, 2011 at 10:23 AM by ddmone99 Quote You'll never see the courage i know. It's colours richness won't appear within your view. I'll never glow the way that you glow. Your presence dominates the judgements made on you. But as the scenery grows, I see in different lights. The shades and shadow undulate in my perception. My feelings swell and strech, I see from greater heights. I understand what I am still too proud to mention to you. You'll say you understand. But you don't understand. You'll say you'd never give up seeing eye to eye. But never is a promise and you can't afford to lie. You'll never touch the things that I hold. The skin of my emotions lies beneath my own. You'll never feel the heat of this soul. My fever burns me deeper than I've ever shown. But as the scenery grows, I see in different lights. The shades and shadows undulate in my perception. My feelings swell and strech, I see from greater heights. I realize what i am now too smart to mention to you. You'll say you understand. You'll never understand. I'll say I'll never wake up knowing how or why. I don't know what to believe in. You don't know who I am. You'll say I need appeasing when i start to cry. But never is a promise and I'll never need a lie. Never Is A Promise-Fiona Apple
RLAAMJR. Posted January 16, 2011 at 10:43 AM Posted January 16, 2011 at 10:43 AM That's cool. If they're going to make a new bridge , why not make a record for it? Quote
Céline74 Posted January 16, 2011 at 05:55 PM Posted January 16, 2011 at 05:55 PM It's beautiful, but oh my! i agree with ddmone99 i would never have the courage to drive that high! It makes me dizzy just thinking about it. Edit: How old is this thread?!?!? 2004 Quote http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz298/virgo17th/Sam%20and%20Me/Senzatitolo-1-1.jpg
CelineAndRene Posted January 16, 2011 at 10:01 PM Posted January 16, 2011 at 10:01 PM Oh my! I hope a tragedy never happens on that bridge! It would be bad! But hopefully I get to experience driving on it in my life. Quote "...It's the circle of life. You gotta look forward. Two days during the year there's nothing you can do about: yesterday and tomorrow. Today is a great day." - Celine Dion, People.
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