High above the deep and winding gorges of the Tarn River valley stands a structure massive in size, yet beautiful and delicate in appearance. Considered to be a modern-day architectural marvel, the Millau Viaduct in Millau, France, was recently recognized as an outstanding achievement. The 885-ft-tall bridge was awarded the Gustav Lindenthal Medal on June 13, at the International Bridge Conference (IBC) in Pittsburgh. The Millau Viaduct has earned the right of being the world's tallest traffic bridge, standing 1,125 ft high at its tallest point—53 ft taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The multi-cable-stayed bridge stretches 1.6 miles between two plateaus in the Massif Central mountain range, connecting Paris with the Mediterranean. Studies for the Millau Viaduct began in 1988 with the objective of ending congestion on the A75 motorway link between Paris and Barcelona.
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