Driving over the Viaduc Millau (1 Viewer)

[Allanm]

On our way back up from the Med last week, we managed to drive over the Millau Viaduct and the Roadhawk dash cam hung on long enough to record most of the event. ( it just got posted back to the supplier because it keeps shutting itself down.
Anyway, if you're interested in seeing the bridge from the drivers seat, click away....
Best viewed in HD ( 1080p) and full screen
[ame]http://youtu.be/x-615FsfNgU[/ame]

Allan

 

[MattR]

Thanks for posting this - we have seen it from one side and it looks magnificent. Did you get to see much of the valley as you drove across?

 

[Allanm]

Thanks for posting this - we have seen it from one side and it looks magnificent. Did you get to see much of the valley as you drove across?

Not too much, unfortunately, its difficult to look right down as you drive, makes my knees go funny! Had a few quick glances, its an awful long way down, around 300metres I believe. We were going to go into Millau and take a few photos of the new bridge from the old one, but were a bit pushed for time.
Allan

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[Figaro]

That left me a little underwhelmed, pictures of the viaduct always make it look stunning but they`re usually of the bridge from a distance. The drivers eye view was a disappointing - sorry.
It`s still a crossing I`d love to do some time so I`m probably just jealous really !
I guess side views are better than the black stuff.
I gather there is a viewing park nearby, did you go there ?

 

[Allanm]

Theres an Aire north of the bridge, but we didn't go there. Your right though, viewing the bridge from a distance gives the best impression, but driving over was pretty good too.
Allan

 

[MattR]

We saw it from the viewing area and visitor centre on the northern side of the valley - it was amazing. We didn't go across though - which is fortunate as I learnt later that there isn't anywhere to turn around for approx 20km after the viaduct and we wouldn't have had time for the 40km round-trip.

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[Rapphil]

The views of the viaduct are so much better underneath and Millau a really nice town, an aire and couple of good but cheap sites right by the river.worth a stopover at least.

 

[MHVirgins]

Thanks for posting this, did you see the Eddie Stobbart episode when they were all crossing and getting their photos taken?

Bill

 

[Allanm]

It also has a €10.80 toll fee.....
Didn't see the Stobarts though, I bet that was good.

Allan

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[MHVirgins]

It also has a €10.80 toll fee.....
Didn't see the Stobarts though, I bet that was good.

Allan

It was impressive, they had to be exactly the same distance between each other, had a look on Youtube but it's not on there:Sad:

 

[Snowbird]

I always drive through the valley as am never in a hurry. The bridge looks fantastic from below. It is a climb but well worth it for the view of the bridge. Even if you drive over the bridge, you can see very little as there are panels and the bridge structure blocking the view. There are various stopping places below so that you can appreciate the structure.

 

[Nirvanauk]

Thanks for that. The trouble is is that I hate heights and had to watch the whole thing with my eyes closed.

I liked the quality of your Roadhawk HD but I do keep hearing about reliability problems.

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[Spenders]

We drove across the viaduct on our way south to Spain last summer. I'd have to agree with earlier comments that the actual drive across it was very underwhelming.... nothing to see apart from the barriers at the sides of the carriageway!

Having said that, I'd definitely recommend anyone to do it.. we visited the aire/viewing area on the north side and the views are spectacular. After crossing the viaduct we made our way into Millau town, which we found to be delightful. The drive down into the town was magnificent and we stayed at one of the sites adjacent to the river.. we enjoyed it so much we even stayed an extra night!

It's one of those things that you should see if you can.. at least once.. just don't expect much from driving across it!

Simon
:thumb:

 

[Welsh girl]

We went there specially to go over the bridge but as a then PHGV it would have cost us €27 each way do I'm glad you posted that Thank you.
We didn't miss much and now we are not PHGV we still wouldnt drive over it.
We enjoyed the views from below though and we went to the visitor centre.
Never used the Aire though, stayed in the campsite nearby.
Nice little town though.

 

[Jim and Lorraine]

Thank you, We are going accross the bridge in June for the first time and this has stifled any fears we had.

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[Larby]

Thanks for posting, was tempted to cross one day but now will view from below, seems more rewarding.
I also noted the lack of other vehicles, unlike the UK

 

[mariner]

A few pics I took off the bridge.

Nothing much to see on it.



:Cool:

 

[Allanm]

We went there specially to go over the bridge but as a then PHGV it would have cost us €27 each way do I'm glad you posted that Thank you.
We didn't miss much and now we are not PHGV we still wouldnt drive over it.
We enjoyed the views from below though and we went to the visitor centre.
Never used the Aire though, stayed in the campsite nearby.
Nice little town though.

It cost us €10.80 as a PHGV, mind you, we are low profile and generally get charged as a class 2

Allan

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[Viennese]

We saw it and drove it 2 years ago... makes you proud to be British! Well done Sir Norm...

Catherine

 

[Minxy]

We went over it a few years ago not long after it first opened ... disappointed to say the least! You really can't see much at all going across which, to be fair, is the point ... they don't want you admiring the scenery and accidentally driving off because you're not paying attention do they! oh:

Much, much better viewed from afar as you really appreciate the scale of it then.

 

[WynandJean]

Yes I have to agree with what the others have said, viewing it from below was astounding and prompted me to double back to drive across it. Was rather disappointed to find that there is not much to see as you drive across other than barriers.
We reckon the Normandie bridge is more spectacular to drive over. We'll take a clip of that on the dashcam next time!:thumb:

Wyn

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[Allanm]

Thanks for that. The trouble is is that I hate heights and had to watch the whole thing with my eyes closed.

I liked the quality of your Roadhawk HD but I do keep hearing about reliability problems.

The Roadhawk has been playing up for some time. I just sent it back and will be getting a new replacement in a day or so. I do like the quality and it just shows how smooth our Motorhomes are. I saw a similar video taken from a Volvo and it was shaking all over the place.

Allan

 

[scousebird]

The year it opened my OH was determined to go over it. I have a very great fear of heights & bridges but I agreed to crossing it. Anyway as we approached it and I saw it in the distance I started having a panic attack, I was a gibbering wreck!! We pulled off the autoroute at the junction before to assess the situation. The family offered to ply me with gin and let me smoke as many fags as I could (I smoked then and my son hated it). I decided to get in the back of the car (we had the caravan then) and hide behind a pillow. I have to say that once we were on there and I realised that you can't actually see over the side I was fine. We have since been over it twice and I managed it without the gin!

 

[cruiser]

whent over a little while back.asked the boss to flim the crossing.she whent over with her eyes closed.but it felt great going over.we saw the bridge just before it was finished.it looks so thin from the ground.and there is a couple of nice sites down there and a good little supermarket down there as well.:Sad:

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[pappajohn]

we recorded the crossing on VHS tape a few years ago...or so i thought.

Shirl had pressed pause instead of record so got nowt. :Angry:

The road view isnt worth bothering about, forget how high you are as theres no real impression of height, and the side views are extremely restricted due to the positioning of the wind deflector baffles at the sides.

Only far distant views are really visible.

As said, the most dramatic views are from a distance...down by the Tarn river near the head of the gorge is a good viewpoint.

The northern viewpoint carpark/aire is ok but not worth the effort rolling off the motorway in my opinion.

 

[Allanm]

I quite enjoyed driving over it......riving2:

Allan

 

[Reallyretired]

Been over and under it many times and Millau is a nice little place to visit. We usually go over it, because although the views aren't great, its a good few miles to not go over it, unless you want to visit Millau. We are PHGV but have never been charged the high rate.

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[old-mo]

Been by it when they were building it..

And drove over it on Friday... fantastic bit of engineering.. :thumb:

The wife paid on her card, she hasn`t checked yet....

Think she has a shock coming if they charge on axles/wheels we had 10... (wheels).. :Sad: