Millau Viaduct mid-1998. After undergoing wind tunnel tests, the shape of the road deck was altered, and detailed corrections were made to the design of the pylons. When the details were eventually finalised, the whole design was approved in late 1998. Once the Ministry of Public Works had taken the decision to offer the construction and operation of the viaduct as a grant of contract, an international call for tenders was issued in 1999. Five consortia tendered: Piers were built with Lafarge high performance cement. The pylons of the Millau Viaduct, which are the tallest elements (the tallest pylon – ) were
Millau Viaduct is direct and without tolls for the between Clermont-Ferrand and Pézenas, except for the bridge itself. The Eiffage group, which constructed the Viaduct, also operates it, under a government contract, which allows the company to collect tolls ("Péage") for up to 75 years. As of 2018, the toll bridge costs €8.30 for light automobiles (€10.40 during the peak season of 15 June to 15 September). Each of the seven pylons is supported by four deep shafts, deep and in diameter. The abutments are concrete structures that provide anchorage for the road deck to the ground in the Causse du Larzac