The Millau Viaduct

The French know they can make their country a better place by investing in new roads.

Our government doesn't know this. They just come out with soundbites like "our green and pleasant land" and "you can't build your way out of congestion."

Yes you can, provided you don't encourage developent alongside the new road as is usually the case in the UK - giving rise to the myth that building new roads just increases traffic levels without curing the problem of congestion.

Last year I drove from Montpellier to Bellac in central France. The journey took about 8 hours. I bet that viaduct would knock about 45 minutes off such a journey. Millau is a sod of a town to drive down to and through. It is beautiful though, i.e: best seen from above.

Regards,

Steve.

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Originally posted by rodwsmith:
Finally opened http://www.fosterandpartners.com/internetsite/html/Project.asp?JobNo=0778#.

A beautiful feat of British engineering and design.

It will also knock a lot of time off the journey and be worth the toll manyfold.

According to the news it also has rather more "wobble" sensors than Foster's last bridge, although perhaps the French would be less likely to notice anyway.

I think we are probably contemporaries of a truly great architect who will eventually become one of the most famous people of our generation, just as Eiffel has of his.

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Rod,

If motoring misfortune may befall you in future, and touch wood it won't (!), please let it not be there!



Cheers,

JR

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Originally posted by rodwsmith:
I think we are probably contemporaries of a truly great architect who will eventually become one of the most famous people of our generation, just as Eiffel has of his.

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I think you're right, Rod. Along with one time partner Rogers, they will be viewed as the most influencial architects of our time. But don't forget the guy who makes it all happen for them - engineering partner Ove Arup, in the background of many of the most impressive structures of the 20/21st century.

He's danish, by the way.

Brian

You're absolutely spot on Brian.

As with so many things in life the architect is often (although not all that often) acknowledged as the sole creator and driving force behind buildings - and especially structures of this kind.

How many "great" film directors would be regarded as such if their camera and lighting people (and even, occasionally, actors) had been less good. Foster does, however, seem a little less self obsessed to me than many.

My father is a retired architect and the first, the very first, thing he was taught on his architecture course was - bricklaying. I doubt Tracey Emin could mix tempura, come to that.

The structural engineer is perhaps the true genius, but who gets and is given the credit is rarely the whole story.

Nevertheless Foster (and Rogers) are at the very top of their profession globally and the viaduct is I think staggeringly beautiful. That it stands up of course (more fundamentally important) is due to Arup.

I used to have the privilege of working in The Ark in Hammersmith - another Brit-Scandinavian origin work. It is lamentable that this building now stands empty - yours for 2.5 million a year though I hear.

Jon: thanks

Rod

A stunning achievement of architecture and structural excellence with a definite purpose.

I only hope it does not become blockaded with French farmers in the future..........

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I only hope it does not become blockaded with French farmers in the future..........

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..or blown up by some fruitcake 'with a cause'.

The Ark reminds me of The Brunswick building, near Russell Square, and the Tricorn Building in Portsmouth. I love the idea of mixed use buildings that encourge social activity, but they seem to suffer for their ambition.

I found myself flicking through the old marketing material on a Barbican site yesterday. I have no idea what it must be like to live in, but I think it would have been a thrilling environment in the beginning, and, like the Brunswick, it's still interesting now. In comparison, I wonder if Foster's style might seem a bit laminate flooring in a few years time. When I walk across the Millenium Bridge, it feels ho-hum.

Tricorn Building is now RIP.

Derek

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My above swipe against The Labour Government's untransport policy may have seemed only tangentally relevant, but it needs to be pointed out that the Millau viaduct is just the trickiest section of the extended A75 motorway (under construction, and evidently near completion) from Clermont Ferrand to link up with the A9 (Nimes to Barcelona motorway) near Montpellier.

The French are still expanding their motorway network, and so should we.

The last major road building project in the UK was the M6 Toll opened one year ago. The Labour Government even attempted to cancel that - until they learnt how much it would cost them in compensation payouts to the already-committed backers of the project.

The French are fortunate in not having wankers dictating transport policy.

Steve.

It is surely a beautiful thing to behold - British designed and all.
I note however that it was also completed on time and on budget - obviously there was no British input on these factors !!

Mr Toy - I totally agree with you. The British transport system is critically outdated. We desperately need more roads, new ones and existing ones widened. I have not heard any British political party dare suggest as much. I cannot believe that everyone is happy to accept paying 70pence per pound of fuel in taxes to the government and then also pay some sort of new (after the next election) congestion/toll charges per mile of road used.

It will probably prove ironic that the charge for crossing this new bridge will be a small fraction of what it costs Danish commuters to travel over the toll bridge. The excitement over the new French bridge may have had something to do with the recently promised reduction by 20% of the aprox. £25 one-way toll between two of the three major landmasses of Denmark. Perhaps the Ove Arup connection had something to do with it?

Nime

I have a fear of high bridges (stemming from an actual traumatic bridge-related event I experienced as a child).

I could not, under any circumstances, drive over that. The mere thought gives me a cold sweat.

It's very pretty, though.

Whilst not decrying this wonderful structure,
please remember it was the "Foster partnership" that was responsible for the design.Norman Foster is the head of that partnership that employs over 100 architects,whilst his name goes on all of the designs, he may not have actully put finger to computer [rather than pencil to paper]
ARCHITECTS think it, STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS actually make it.
oldie.