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Chirac launches highest bridge
CNN ^
| 12/14/04
Posted on 12/14/2004 7:07:08 AM PST by finnman69
MILLAU, France (Reuters) -- President Jacques Chirac has inaugurated the world's highest bridge, a creation taller than the Eiffel Tower, longer than the Champs Elysees and designed to end a traffic bottleneck in southern France.
Conceived by British architect Norman Foster, the slender white viaduct in the picturesque Tarn Valley will provide a new motorway link between Paris and the Spanish border, easing congestion in the Rhone valley during the busy summer months.
Chirac unveiled a simple commemorative plaque Tuesday before plunging into a throng of white helmeted construction workers, as an air display team flew past the bridge trailing red, white and blue smoke -- the colors of the national flag.
He hailed the viaduct as a "marvel of art and architecture," a monument to French engineering genius that was a "miracle of equilibrium" and projected a bold, successful, modern image.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: bridge; france; millau; millaubridge
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Pretty cool for the French.
1
posted on
12/14/2004 7:07:08 AM PST
by
finnman69
To: finnman69
It's actually quite stunning the photos.
Wonder how long it will be before the terrorists see it as a thrilling target.
To: finnman69
3
posted on
12/14/2004 7:08:49 AM PST
by
finnman69
(cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestus globus, inflammare animos)
To: finnman69
4
posted on
12/14/2004 7:10:50 AM PST
by
finnman69
(cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestus globus, inflammare animos)
To: finnman69
5
posted on
12/14/2004 7:14:33 AM PST
by
finnman69
(cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestus globus, inflammare animos)
To: finnman69
Goota love their ambition, but given that it's France, who couldn't even build an aircraft carrier, you know this is going to come in way over budget, be delayed by years and generally just suck in general.
6
posted on
12/14/2004 7:15:08 AM PST
by
Gothmog
To: finnman69
Must have been built with the Oil for Food money from Saddam.
7
posted on
12/14/2004 7:16:12 AM PST
by
Piquaboy
(22 year veteran of the Army, AIr Force, Pray for all our military in hostile territory.)
To: Gothmog
Im surprised they are only charging a 6 Euro toll during the peak season. I figured it would be $20 at least.
8
posted on
12/14/2004 7:18:59 AM PST
by
finnman69
(cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestus globus, inflammare animos)
To: finnman69
Beautiful structure ... very impressive. A potential terrorist target as well ... right up there with the Channel tunnel or Chunnel.
9
posted on
12/14/2004 7:24:16 AM PST
by
BluH2o
To: finnman69
Pretty in a way, but it goes smack across one of the loveliest valleys in France. Not exactly nature-friendly.
10
posted on
12/14/2004 7:24:47 AM PST
by
Cicero
(Nil illegitemus carborundum est)
To: BluH2o
Beautiful structure ... very impressive. A potential terrorist target as well ... right up there with the Channel tunnel or Chunnel. ...and it’ll be a suicide magnet…
11
posted on
12/14/2004 7:29:35 AM PST
by
Lurking in Kansas
(;&ôÀžUñj/ÈëžÕ “ ’· ....If you have to ask, you wouldn't understand)
To: finnman69
He hailed the viaduct as a "marvel of art and architecture," a monument to French engineering genius ...designed by a Brit.
12
posted on
12/14/2004 7:30:00 AM PST
by
CaptRon
(Pedecaris alive or Raisuli dead)
To: finnman69
At least it's white . . . like their National Flag.
13
posted on
12/14/2004 7:31:35 AM PST
by
geedee
(History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.)
To: finnman69
the slender white viaduct in the picturesque Tarn Valley will provide a new motorway link between Paris and the Spanish border, easing... ...the invasion of the Muslim hordes.
14
posted on
12/14/2004 7:31:45 AM PST
by
Aquinasfan
(Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
To: Gothmog
Actually the bridge was a bargain. 520 million dollar altogether. I think it looks more expensive. Like a billion or so.
To: All
Discovery channel had a special on this bridge about a month ago - quite the engineering marvel
To: finnman69
I just remember the last French architectural triumph:
To: Lurking in Kansas
And a magnet for Greenpeace hanging banners from the deck.
18
posted on
12/14/2004 7:35:48 AM PST
by
finnman69
(cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestus globus, inflammare animos)
To: michaelbfree
That was one of the better discovery channel shows. Cool bridge!
To: Aquinasfan
...the invasion of the Muslim hordes. Exactly what I was thinking.
20
posted on
12/14/2004 7:38:12 AM PST
by
DoctorMichael
(The Fourth Estate is a Fifth Column!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
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