France 'completes' tallest bridge

BBC ^ | 5/30/04 | BBC

[SC Swamp Fox]

what was the purpose for such a monstrosity?

That's what I was thinking too. From the picture it appears they could have used a bridge half as long and high.

[Vaduz]

I wonder how long before it's done in by there friends in the east.

[Consort]

[pageonetoo]

...this bridge is an amazing feat of engineering genius....

...and I, for one, would never drive over it. I can't help thinking of a falling ceiling in a certain airport... and that bridge has to stand straight, for a long time!

It is but another example of taking money from those who can't afford it, and giving it to those who can! This bridge probably will cost more than enough to have bought a new Peugeot for everyone in France!

It will not be there when the Roman bridge finally falls!

[gg188]

From the picture it appears they could have used a bridge half as long and high.

How many hundreds of valleys like that are traversed on our various interstate highways, but without the spectacular (and spectacularly expensive) 1,000 foot high bridge?? I'd like to read an engineer's analysis of why it was done this way.

[gg188]

This project shows just how incredible the possibilities of the human mind are

Please allow me to finish the sentence for you.

This project shows just how incredible the possibilities of the human mind are when government has limitless resources at hand through confiscation of the largesse of the citizenry.

[TomB]

Here is a CG 3D view of the topography of the area. I still can't see what the purpose is, other than "preservation" of the valley.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

If you read the article, it seems to have been privately funded, in return for 75 years of tolls. It was built by the same company that built the airport terminal that collapsed, which is not reassuring.

[Cobra64]

Good terrorist target.

[nuconvert]

Nice picture

[nuconvert]

Oh, Dear

[nuconvert]

tourist attraction >>$$$

[VadeRetro]

That's quite a bridge crossing the little creek. what was the purpose for such as monstrosity?

This way they won't need a drawbridge when an aircraft carrier comes down the creek.

[chainsaw]

I wonder how long before it's done in by there friends in the east.

If I were a terrorist, that bridge would look very inviting.

[Kenny Bunk]

Attention engineers of Europe!

Visitez aux Etas Unis. We cross bigger valleys than this on every interstate in every state .... at how you say ... a fraction of the cost. But you know, mes amis, it IS quite beautiful.

And beautifully useless.

[tubebender]

My wife says the French built this as a short cut to the French looking JF'n Kerry's "Villa".

I sure hope that valley wasn't formed by earthquakes...

[pageonetoo]

I wonder how long before it's done in by there friends in the east.

If I were a terrorist, that bridge would look very inviting. -cs

You need to remember, this is the French! they are a-hole buddies!

[chainsaw]

tourist attraction >>$$$

Don't you mean terrorist attraction?

I'm not so sure they will have a terrorist problem. Two semi's might bring it down first. It didn't take anything for the airport building at CDG to collapse. Do they teach new math in France? Wondering minds want to know.

[dfwgator]

All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh-water system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for France?

[chainsaw]

Terrorist need to practice on something. It might as well be on a buddy that won't retaliate.