Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions How to get there How do you cross the Millau Viaduct? The viaduct is a section of the A75 motorway linking Clermont-Ferrand with Béziers. Interchanges located north and south of the structure allow access to this motorway.How to get to the Millau Viaduct Can you visit the Millau Viaduct? Two reception areas are available for visitors. Viaduc Expo, located in the motorway rest area, offers a free exhibition as well as tourist information; Viaduc Espace Info, an interpretation centre for the structure located at the foot of the viaduct, organises guided tours.Find out more about visiting the Millau Viaduct Is visiting the Millau Viaduct suitable for children? Yes, the visitors' areas provide information that is accessible to children over the age of six. Whether you're with your family or in a group, the exhibition spaces are sure to appeal to young and old alike! How much time is needed to visit the viaduct? Crossing the viaduct itself takes less than two minutes. If you want to learn more about the viaduct, allow one and a half hours to visit the exhibition areas (the guided tour takes 45 minutes). Don't forget to leave some time to get to the places with the best views. In total, half a day would be a reasonable time frame to get a comprehensive overview of the Viaduct. Is the viaduct open all year? Yes, with two exceptions: In strong winds: see the section on "Safety" (this eventuality has never yet arisen). During the Course Eiffage du Viaduc de Millau: every two years, thousands of runners trample the deck of the Millau Viaduct for a 23.7 km challenge. The decision was made, together with the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, to close the viaduct to traffic for several hours, for everyone's safety. Where are the best places to take photos of the Millau Viaduct? The viaduct is visible from many places in the Millau area. Seven observation points have been selected. You can find out how to get to them on this page. Is the Millau Viaduct lit up at night? The structure is no longer lit up at night since a few years. The Compagnie Eiffage du Viaduc de Millau committed alongside the city of Millau, the Grands Causses Regional Natural Park and the Cévennes National Park in their project of an international label “Ville porte de la Réserve Internationale de Ciel Étoilé”, to find the purity of a starry sky, turning back the light pollution. That is why the architectural illumination, that used to sublimate the viaduct, is now completely turned off. Is the Course Eiffage du Viaduc de Millau held every year? No, the race is held every two years in May. During the event, the viaduct is closed to traffic for four hours to allow 15,000 athletes to run between heaven and earth. Race website The toll How much is the toll to cross the Viaduct? The toll varies depending on the type of vehicle, the time of year and any subscriptions you may have. You can find all the details on the Prices page How can I pay the toll? All payment methods are accepted, including E-toll pass tags. Only Maestro and Electron cards are not accepted. Safety What safety features are there on the viaduct? The operations centre is located 4 km from the Millau Viaduct. From the safety control station, which is a true control tower, traffic on the viaduct is continuously monitored. It is next to the toll gate and is the nerve centre of the structure. The viaduct is operated using cutting-edge technology. The information provided by the dozens of sensors embedded in the road surface, piers, deck, pylons and stays is also centralised there, ensuring motorists' safety in all weather conditions. Can you cross the Millau Viaduct on foot/a bicycle? The viaduct is a section of the A75 motorway. According to Article R421-2 of the French Highway Code, motorways must not be used by pedestrians. Never forget that on motorways, the average life expectancy of a pedestrian is 18 minutes. Is the Millau Viaduct closed in the event of strong winds? While the viaduct itself is designed to withstand wind, the vehicles using the structure may still feel its effects. The viaduct is equipped with windbreaks to protect vehicles against gusts. A 3 metre-high structure made from transparent materials reduces the effects of the wind while giving motorists a chance to see the valley. A whole series of safety procedures is in place to ensure motorists' safety. When winds reach 90 km/h, lorries and caravans must reduce their speed. At 110 km/h, they are prohibited from the viaduct, and beyond 140 km/h the viaduct is closed. Since opening, the viaduct has never yet been closed to traffic for this reason. How fast can you drive on the viaduct? The viaduct has the same rules as a regular motorway. The maximum permissible speed is 110 km/h for light vehicles. Heavy goods vehicles are subject to the usual driving restrictions. Is there a risk of being affected by a fear of heights while driving on the viaduct? In addition to the 3 m-wide emergency lane there is also a 2.15 m ledge, which is itself protected by a safety barrier and windbreaks. Drivers have a horizontal view of the panorama, but never a view looking down over the valley. There is thus no particular risk of being affected by a fear of heights. What should I do if my vehicle breaks down? You need to park in the emergency lane, step out of your vehicle on the right hand side, walk behind the safety barrier, then alert emergency services at one of the emergency call points. They are spaced every 500 m. In addition, cameras connected to an automatic incident detection system immediately identify any vehicle that stops and send a warning signal to the monitoring control station. What plans are in place in the event of an accident? An emergency response plan approved by the Aveyron Prefecture is in place on the viaduct. It sets out the response measures for the structure and their organisation. Variable Message Signs (VMS) inform motorists and a patrol team arrives in a few minutes.