A75 autoroute

The A75 is an autoroute (motorway) in France.

Known also as la Méridienne, it is a developmental project with the aim of speeding up and reducing the cost of car travel from Paris southwards, and apart from the Millau Viaduct, it is entirely free for the 340 km (210 mi) between Clermont-Ferrand and Béziers. It was due for completion in spring 2011,[1] but in fact was fully open in December 2010.

South of St. Flour there are excellent views of the Garabit viaduct.

A large portion of the A75 is also part of the European route E11.

Contents

Engineering achievements

The building of a motorway across the Massif Central is, in itself, a formidable achievement. Much of the motorway runs at an altitude in excess of 800 m (2600 ft) with 50 km in excess of 1000 m (3250 ft).[2]

The single most impressive feature is undoubtedly the Millau Viaduct, which carries the road over the Tarn River. It was constructed under a government contract with the Eiffage group, effective for 75 years. Eiffage collects tolls at agreed rates making this the only tolled part of the A75.

Other impressive features include:

Viaducts and bridges

Passes

Tunnels

The route

A75 Autoroute junctions, listed north to south
km No. Southbound exit for Northbound exit for Notes
0 A71 becomes A75 at Clermont-Ferrand
1.5 1 La Pardieu, Billom, Cournon Billom No northbound entry
4 2 Bordeaux, La Bourboule, Le Mont Dore, Aubière La Bourboule, Le Mont Dore, Aubière
5 3 Pérignat-lès-Sarliève, Z.I. Cournon, La Roche Blanche, Orcet, Le Cendre Cournon
6.5 4 Orcet, Le Cendre, Vic-le-Comte, La Roche-Blanche Le Cendre, Pérignat-lès-Sarliève, La Roche-Blanche
10 5 Veyre-Monton, St-Amant-Tallende Orcet, St-Amant-Tallende, Aydat
15 6 Veyre-Monton, Murol, Chambon sur Lac, Champeix, St Nectaire Veyre-Monton
18.5 7 Montpeyroux, Coudes Montpeyroux
21 8 - Coudes, Vic-le-Comte Southbound entry and northbound exit only
23 9 Sauvagnat, St-Yvoine Sauvagnat, St-Yvoine
26.5 10 La Ribeyre La Ribeyre
28.5 11 Issoire centre - Southbound exit and northbound entry only
31 12 Issoire-les-Prés, Orbeil Issoire-les-Prés, Orbeil
31.5 13 Issoire couze, Parentignat, Sauxillanges, Ambert, St Germain Issoire couze, Parentignat, Sauxillanges, Ambert
34 14 Issoire aérodrome Issoire centre, Champieux, St Nectaire, Besse No northbound entry
39 15 Le Broc, St Germain, Ardres, Le Breuil - No northbound exit
38 16 - Le Broc No southbound exit
41 17 St-Germain-Lembro, Jumeaux St-Germain-Lembron, Le Breuil
45.5 18 Charbonnier, Brassac, Ste Florine Brassac, Charbonnier
50 19 Lempdes - Southbound exit and northbound entry only
51 20 Lempdes, Vergongheon, Brioude, Le Puy en Velay Lempdes, Vergongheon, Ste Florine, Le Puy en Velay
56 21 Lorlanges Lorlanges, Ardres s. Couze Aire de Lafayette via this junction
61 22 Espalem, Blesle, Brioude Le Puy en Velay, Espalem, Blesle, Brioude
66 23 Massiac, Aurillac, Murat, Le Lioran - Southbound exit and northbound entry only
68.5 24 - Massiac Southbound entry and northbound exit only
81 25 St-Poncy St-Poncy
85 26 Vieillespesse Vieillespesse
87.5 27 Coren, Montchamp Montchamp
92.5 28 St-Flour, Chaudes-Aigues, Espalion St-Flour bel-air, Coren
96.5 29 St-Flour belle vue, St Georges Aurillac, St Flour centre, Murat, Le Lioran
100.5 30 Ruynes-en-Margeride Ruynes-en-Margeride
108.5 31 Loubaresse Loubaresse, Viaduc de Gabarit
117 32 La Garde, Le Bacon La Garde, Le Bacon Access to La Lozere services and Geoscope
122.5 33 St-Chély-d'Apcher, Le Malzieu-Ville, Fournels - Southbound exit and northbound entry only
128.5 34 St-Chély-d'Apcher, Rimeize, St-Alban-sur-Limagnole St-Chély-d'Apcher, St-Alban-sur-Limagnole, Le Malzieu-Ville, Fournels
134 35 Aumont-Aubrac, Nabrinals - Southbound exit and northbound entry only
138.5 36 - Aumont-Aubrac Southbound entry and northbound exit only
146.5 37 Le Buisson Le Buisson
153 38 Antrenes, Marvejols Antrenes, Marvejols, Nasbinals
162 39 Le Monastier, Chirac, Chanac, Florac Mende, Le Monastier, Chirac, Chanac, Florac
163 39.1
168.5 39.2 St-Germain-du-Teil - Southbound exit only
172 40 La Canourge, Banassac, St-Germain-du-Teil La Canourge, Banassac, St-Germain-du-Teil
182.5 41 Campagnac, St-Geniez-d'Olt Campagnac, St-Geniez-d'Olt
190 42 Rodez, Sévérac-le-Château, le Massegros, Laissac Rodez, Sévérac-le-Château, Laissac A68 junction. Access to Aveyron services
193 43 - Le Massegros Southbound entry and northbound exit only
200.5 44 Engayresque Engayresque
210 44.1 Aguessac, Micropolis, Vezins de Levezon, Pont de Salars, Meyrenes Cahors, Aguessac, Pont de Salars, Meyrenes
215 45 St-Germain, St Beauzély, Castelnau de Petgarolles Millau, St Beauzély, Castelnau de Petgarolles TOLL SECTION SOUTH TO JUNCTION 47
223 46 La Bastide-Pradines, St-Rome-de-Cernon, Roquefort, St Affrique -
234.5 47 Millau sud, la Cavalerie, Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon Millau, la Cavalerie, Roquefort, St Affrique TOLL SECTION NORTH TO JUNCTION 45
244 48 L'Hospitalet-du-Larzac, La Couvertoirade, Cornus, Alzon, La Vigan L'Hospitalet-du-Larzac, Cornus, Alzon
257.5 49 Le Caylar, Lunas, Bedarieux, Cirque de Navacelles Le Caylar, La Couvertoirade Access to Le Caylar services
260 50 - St-Félix-de-l'Héras Southbound entry and northbound exit only
267 51 Pégairolles-de-l'Escalette Pégairolles-de-l'Escalette
271.5 52 Lodève nord, Soubès Le Vignan, Ganges , Lodève nord, Soubès
275.5 53 - Lodève sud, Lunas Southbound entry and northbound exit only
280 54 Le Bosc Le Bosc No southbound entry
283 55 - Le Bosc, Lac du Salagou Southbound entry and northbound exit only
285-289.5 56 Salelles Salelles, L'Oasis No Southbound entry
289.5 Montpellier Montpellier, Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, Gignac, St André-de-Sangonis Junction with A750
294.5 57 Clermont-l'Hérault, Nébian, Canet, Bedarieux Clermont-l'Hérault, Bedarieux, Canet, Lac du Salagou
305.5 58 Paulhan, Adissan, Lézignan-la-Cèbe Paulhan, Adissan
310 59 Pézenas nord, Sète, Montagnac, Mèze, Marseillan Sète, Montagnac, Mèze, Marseillan
Pézenas sud, Castelnau-de-Guers Pézenas sud, Castelnau-de-Guers
60 Agde, Cap d'Agde - Southbound exit and northbound entry only
61 Pézenas ouest Roujan, Pézenas ouest
324 62 Servian, Montblanc Florensac, Servian, Valros, Montblanc
331 63 Narbonne, Béziers Centre - Southbound exit and northbound entry only
332 64 Valras-Plage, Serignan, Béziers Cap d'Agde Airport, Béziers Béziers Centre
333 Toll barrier
334 Junction with A9

In May 2007, construction started on the final section of the A75, a connection from Pézenas to the A9 autoroute a kilometre or so east of the previous Béziers east intersection 35. The route to the south of the present D609 Pézenas-Béziers road bypassing Valros opened in February 2009. Further sections opened in spring 2010. The final section, a gap between Valros and Servian, was completed in December 2010. According to Serge Cuculière, construction operations manager, the delay was due to difficulties encountered on the section ("Les difficultés recontrées sur la section exigent un temps de réalisation plus important").[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "A75: Le point sur les travaux entre Pézenas et Béziers", Midi Libre, 16 June 2008, p3
  2. ^ "Association La Méridienne: On n'a pas tous les jours..". Decouverte & Patrimoine (Projective Groupe) (9): 28. 2006. 

External links