The A75 is an autoroute 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 between Clermont-Ferrand and Béziers. It was due for completion in spring 2011, but was fully open in December 2010. South of St. Flour there are excellent views of the Garabit viaduct. A large portion of the A75 is also part of the European route E11.
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 800 m with 50 km in excess of 1000 m. The single most impressive feature is undoubtedly the Millau Viaduct, which carries the road over the Tarn. 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, 560 m long, between junctions 21 & 22
Pont sur la Truyère, 311 m long, between junctions 30 and 31
Viaduc du Piou, 414 m long, between junctions 38 and 39
Viaduc du Ricoulong, 342 m long, between junctions 38 and 39
Viaduc de la Planchette, 221 m long, between junctions 38 and 39
Viaduc de Verrières, 710 m long, between junctions 44 and 44.1
Viaduc de la Garrigue, 340 m long, between junctions 44.1 and 42
Col de la Fageole, 1107 m, between junctions 26 and 27
Col des Issartets, 1121 m, the highest point on the A75, between junctions 36 and 37
Col de la Fagette, 882 m, between junctions 40 and 41
Col d'Engayresque, 888 m, between junctions 44 and 44.1
Tunnels
Tunnel de Montjezieu, 616 m long at an altitude of 650 m, between junctions 39.1 and 40
Tunnel de Pas d'Escalette, 725 m southbound, 830 m northbound, between junctions 50 and 51
Tunnel de la Vierge, 474 m, between junctions 52 and 53
The route
In May 2007, construction started on the final section of the A75, a connection from Pézenas to the A9 autoroute a kilometre or so east of the previous Béziers east intersection 35. The route to the south of the present D609 Pézenas-Béziers road bypassing Valros opened in February 2009. Further sections opened in spring 2010. The final section, a gap between Valros and Servian, was completed in December 2010. According to Serge Cuculière, construction operations manager, the delay was due to difficulties encountered on the section.
