Construction Innovation: The Millau Viaduct Deck Launch Paul Eliasson Brian Follweiler

The Millau Viaduct Recently completed Cable-Stayed bridge in Southern France. Built to span the plateaus of the Tarn Valley. Boasts the highest bridge pylons in the world. The deck rises 1,125 ft above the ground.

Construction Overview Temporary piers used to help launch and support the deck as the the pylons were constructed. The 2460m deck was launched in two pieces. Pylons and cables were added on top of the piers.

Deck Launching 7 temporary piers help support the weight of the deck. 2 deck segments are launched from the each end of the bridge.

Hydraulic Launchers Computerized launchers push the pre-fabricated deck segments onto the piers. Each cycle moves the deck 600mm. Total of 5000 cycles required.

Nose Recovery Weight of steel box- girder deck sags as span is completed. Nose recovery system attached to raise the deck to the level of the next pier.

Completion Two deck segments joined in May of Opened to traffic on December 16, This new route shaves 60km off the Paris-Barcelona route.