Construction%20Innovation:%20The%20Millau%20Viaduct%20Deck%20Launch

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Construction InnovationThe Millau Viaduct Deck
Launch

• Paul Eliasson
• Brian Follweiler

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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.

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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.

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Deck Launching

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

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Hydraulic Launchers

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

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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.

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Completion

• Two deck segments joined in May of 2004.
• Opened to traffic on December 16, 2004. This new
  route shaves 60km off the Paris-Barcelona route.
  

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