A75 autoroute (France)

The A75 is an autoroute (motorway) in France.

Known also as "la Méridienne", it is a developmental project with the aim of speeding up and reducing the cost of car travel from Paris southwards, and apart from the Millau Viaduct, it is entirely free for the 340 km (210 miles) between Clermont-Ferrand and Pézenas, with extension to Béziers due for completion in spring 2010.

South of St. Flour there are excellent views of the Garabit viaduct.

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 800m (2600ft) with 50km in excess of 1000m (3250ft). cite journal
title = Association La Méridienne: On n'a pas tous les jours..
journal = Decouverte & Patrimoine
volume =
issue = 9
pages = 28
publisher = Projective Groupe
date = 2006 ]

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, 560m long, between junctions 21 & 22
* Pont sur la Truyere, 311m long, between junctions 30 and 31
* Viaduc du Piou, 414m long, between junctions 38 and 39
* Viaduc du Ricoulong, 342m long, between junctions 38 and 39
* Viaduc de la Planchette, 221m long, between junctions 38 and 39
* Viaduc de la Verrières, 710m long, between junctions 44 and 44.1
* Viaduc de la Garrigue, 340m long, between junctions 44.1 and 42
* Viaduc de Millau, 2500m long, between junctions 45 and 46Passes
* 990m between junctions 24 and 25
* Col de la Fageole, 1107m, between junctions 26 and 27
* Col des Issartets, 1121m, the highest point on the A75, between junctions 36 and 37
* Col de la Fayette, 882m, between junctions 40 and 41
* Col d'Engayresque, 888m, between junctions 44 and 44.1

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

The route

In May 2007, construction started on the final section of the A75, which will see it connected to the A9 autoroute a kilometre or so east of the Béziers east intersection 35. The route will be to the south of the present D609 Pézenas-Béziers road. The section bypassing Valros is scheduled to open early 2009, and the final connection to the A9 in spring 2010.

References

External links

* [http://www.a75.com "La Meridienne" official website (French)] : tourist information
* [http://saratlas.free.fr/index.php?page=autoroute&route=a75&lang=en A75 autoroute] in Saratlas
* [http://www.abelard.org/france//motorway-aires10.php Rest areas on the magnificent A75 autoroute] Three noteworthy areas described. Photo illustrations, sketch maps.