Which French viaduct, opened in 2004, has the world’s highest bridge deck?

The Millau Viaduct, opened in 2004, has the world’s highest bridge deck.

It carries the A75 and A71 autoroutes across the Tarn valley near Millau in southern France. The cable-stayed viaduct was designed by the French engineer Michel Virlogeux and the British architect Norman Foster. Its roadway reaches about 270 metres above the valley floor at its highest point.

The bridge opened to traffic on December 16, 2004, after roughly three years of construction. It is supported by seven slender piers, with the tallest pier and pylon combination reaching 343 metres, taller than the Eiffel Tower.

The Millau Viaduct is often described as the world’s tallest bridge, but that wording can cause confusion. “Highest bridge deck” refers to the roadway’s elevation above the ground below; the tallest structural bridge is a different category. The viaduct shortened journeys through the Massif Central and reduced congestion in Millau.