French highway engineering

The French are very good at building roads in hilly places. By following the natural contours of the terrain, they can maintain a (usually) manageable grade on the steepest slopes.  The resultant roads can be sinuous and a bit precipitous but way awesome to cycle.

Fortunately, the French are capable and prudent drivers, and have worked out that one need only adjust one's speed expectations a bit and all is well.

Each summer however, visitors to this region have been plummeting like lemmings from the switchbacks and into the Tarn valley, necessitating a new approach.  The solution was the Viaduct de Millau, a stunning piece of engineering that will induce bridge envy in the smuggest of BC Liberals.

The exact specifications were unfortunately available only at the information centre located about 400 meters directly above us, but it appeared to be really high and extend from horizon to horizon.