Viaduct with larger spans, typically lack sufficient horizontal and vertical clearance for large ships. See the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. The Millau Viaduct is a cable-stayed road-bridge that spans the valley of the river Tarn near Millau in southern France. Designed by the French bridge engineer Michel Virlogeux, in collaboration with architect Norman Robert Foster, it is the tallest vehicular bridge in the world, with one pier's summit at 343 metres (1,125 ft)—slightly taller than the Eiffel Tower and only 38 m (125 ft) shorter than the Empire State Building. It was formally dedicated on 14 December 2004 and opened to traffic
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