Millau Viaduct

The builder claims that the bridge's lifetime will be at least 120 years. 2005 Billboard Music Awards. The project required about 127,000 m³ of concrete, 19,000 metric tons of steel for the reinforced concrete, and 5,000 metric tons of pre-stressed concrete for the cables and shrouds. Her favorite sports teams are the Boston Red Sox, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Lakers. However, if the concession is very profitable, the French government can assume control of the bridge in 2044. She is a big sports fan. The builders, Eiffage, financed the construction in return for a concession to collect the tolls for 75 years, until 2080. Carrie Underwood and Drake Clark agreed to break it off since the two were not spending enough time together.

The bridge's construction costs amount to €394 million, with a toll plaza 6 km north of the viaduct costing an additional €20 million. During American Idol she dated Drake Clark, also from Northeastern State University. The engineering group Setec has authority in the project, with SNCF engineering having partial control. Pictures of the two of them surfaced when Chad Eagelton posted pictures of him and Carrie at the Maxim after party on his Facebook account. The construction consortium is made up of the Eiffage TP company for the concrete part, the Eiffel company for the steel roadway (Gustave Eiffel built the Garabit viaduct in 1884, a train bridge in the neighboring Cantal département), and the Enerpac company for the roadway's hydraulic supports. As of November 2005, Carrie Underwood is currently dating Northeastern State University student Chad Eagleton. The work leader is the Compagnie Eiffage du Viaduc de Millau, owner of the government contract. [4].

Four consortia were in competition for the building contract:. "Don't Forget to Remember Me" was recently announced as the next single. He worked together with the Dutch engineering firm ARCADIS, responsible for the technical design of the bridge. On January 9th 2006, Some Hearts was certified Double Platinum by the RIAA with shipments of over 2 million units, making it the fastest-selling debut country album in the history of Nielsen SoundScan.[3]. The architects of the bridge are the British firm Foster and Partners. In December 2005, Underwood was named "Oklahoman of the Year" by Oklahoma Today magazine. The original concept for the bridge was devised by French designer Michel Virlogeux. The large first week sales of Some Hearts made it #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and the biggest debut of any country artist since the advent of the SoundScan system in 1990.

After the choice of the high viaduct's path, five teams of architects and researchers simultaneously worked on a technical solution. When the week's sales figures were tabulated, Some Hearts entered the Billboard 200 chart with 315,000 copies sold. After long construction studies, the low solution was abandoned because it would have intersected the water table, had negative effects on the town, cost more, and the driving distance would have been longer. [2] On that same day, she presented an award and performed "Jesus, Take The Wheel" at the 39th Country Music Association awards in New York City. It consisted of two possibilities: the high solution, and the low solution, requiring the construction of a 200 m bridge to cross the Tarn, then a viaduct of 2300 m extended by a tunnel on the Larzac side. Her initial album release, entitled Some Hearts, hit store shelves on November 15, 2005. The fourth option was selected by the government on June 28, 1989. The single also debuted at #48 on the Billboard Hot 100 where it currently sits at #26 after reaching a peak at #25.

In initial studies, four options were examined:. It is currently ranked at #1 in its thirteenth week on that chart. The viaduct was officially inaugurated by President Chirac on December 14, 2004 to open for traffic on December 16, several weeks ahead of the revised schedule. It received so much airplay that it debuted at #39 on the Billboard Country Chart in its first week, setting a record. A revised schedule aimed for the bridge to be opened in January 2005. Underwood's second single, "Jesus, Take The Wheel" was made available for radio airplay on October 18, 2005. Construction began on October 10, 2001 and was intended to take 3 years, but weather conditions put work on the bridge behind schedule. Underwood is also the latest spokesperson for Skechers shoes, following in the footsteps of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.

The Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado, United States has a deck considerably higher than either, at 321 m (1,053 ft) above the Arkansas River. The T-Shirts are now available to buy with proofs of purchase. Its deck, at "almost 270 m" (886 ft) above the Tarn, is apparently slightly higher than the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia in the United States, which is 267 m (876 ft) above the New River. She is also wearing vintage Hershey T-shirts that feature Hershey's, Almond Joy, Kit Kat, Reeses and other chocolate brand logos. The Millau Viaduct is the second highest vehicular bridge measured from the roadway elevation. The commercials have Underwood singing Hershey jingles like the jingles for Hershey's, Kit Kat and Almond Joy. Current plans call for towers 382.6 m high. In the same year, she starred in ads for Hershey's Chocolate.

The proposed Strait of Messina Bridge in Italy, if constructed would be taller still and would also be the world's largest suspension bridge. Underwood performed a well-received "The Star Spangled Banner" before Game 4 of the 2005 NBA Finals at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Michigan. The viaduct is the tallest vehicular bridge in the world, nearly twice as tall as the previous tallest vehicular bridge in Europe, the Europabrücke in Austria. [1] The B-side is "Independence Day", a cover of the Martina McBride hit. The piers were assembled first, together with some temporary supports, before the decks were slid out across the piers by satellite-guided hydraulic rams that moved the deck 600 mm (23.6 inches) every 4 minutes. Underwood's version was shunned by country radio reaching a peak of #59 on the country charts. The piers each support 97 m (319 ft) tall pylons. The single debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, with first-week sales of 170,000 copies, and briefly stopped Mariah Carey's run at #1 with "We Belong Together." One week later, runner-up, Bo Bice, released his version of the song, which debuted at #2.

These sections were assembled on site from pieces of 60 metric tons, 4 m (13 ft) wide and 17 m (56 ft) long, made in factories in Lauterbourg and Fos-sur-Mer by Eiffage. As part of her title, Underwood gained a recording contract with Arista Records; her first single, "Inside Your Heaven", was released on June 14, 2005. Each pier is composed of 16 framework sections, each section weighing 2,230 metric tons. During the season, Constantine Maroulis tried to flirt with her but she refused to go out with him. The piers range in height from 77–246 m (253–807 ft), and taper in their longitudinal section from 24.5 m (81 ft) at the base to 11 m (36 ft) at the deck. On her last song of the night in the final two, Carrie's spectacular performance of "Angels Brought Me Here" had Simon saying, "I think you've done enough to win the competition." On May 25, 2005, she became the fourth winner of American Idol, beating Southern rocker Bo Bice, and she joins Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken as the only contestants who have never been one of the "bottom three" singers during any week's results. It carries two lanes of traffic in each direction. I will make a prediction, not only will you win this competition, but you will sell more records than any other previous 'Idol' winner." Cowell went on to say on the March 30 show that she has the "it factor" that will make her a star.

The roadway has a slope of 3% descending from south to north, and curves in plan section on a 20 km (12.4 mile) radius to give drivers better visibility. On the March 22 show, after a performance of Heart's "Alone", Simon Cowell said, "Carrie, you're not just the girl to beat, you're the person to beat. The six central spans each measure 342 m (1,122 ft) with the two outer spans measuring 204 m (670 ft). After singing Martina McBride's "Independence Day" Simon Cowell said he couldn't believe no one has discovered her yet. The roadway weighs 36,000 metric tons and is 2,460 m (8,071 ft) long, measuring 32 m (105 ft) wide by 4.2 m (13.8 ft) deep. She can also play piano and yodel, the latter of which was demonstrated on the Tonight Show the night after she won. The Millau Viaduct consists of an eight-span steel roadway supported by seven concrete piers. On the April 20 elimination show, Underwood demonstrated her ability to play the guitar.

The bridge was constructed by the Eiffage group, which also built the Eiffel Tower, under a government contract which allows the company to collect tolls for up to 75 years. Underwood's musical influences include pop, but are predominantly country; she stated during Idol auditions that her favorite singer is Martina McBride. The Eiffage group operates the viaduct as a toll bridge, with the toll currently set at €4.90 for light automobiles (€6.50 during the peak months of July and August). She also competed in numerous beauty pageants at the university and was selected as Miss NSU runner-up in 2004. Many tourists heading to southern France and Spain follow this route because it is direct and without tolls for the 340 km between Clermont-Ferrand to Béziers, except for the bridge itself. Underwood attended Northeastern State University, where she majored in mass communication and is a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority. The purpose of the A75 is to increase the speed and reduce the cost of vehicle traffic travelling along this route. Underwood graduated from Checotah High School in 2001 as salutatorian.

The bridge forms the last link of the A75 (la Méridienne) autoroute, providing a continuous high-speed route south from Paris through Clermont-Ferrand to Béziers. At the age of 13, her manager at the time tried to get a recording contract at Capitol Records, but due to management changes at Capitol it never materialized. The bridge now traverses the Tarn valley above its lowest point, linking the causse du Larzac to the causse rouge, and is inside the perimeter of the Grands Causses regional natural park. Carrie Underwood was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma and raised in a farm in Checotah, Oklahoma. Before the bridge was constructed, traffic had to descend into the Tarn River valley and pass along the route nationale N9 near the town of Millau, causing heavy congestion at the beginning and end of the July and August vacation season. . . Carrie Marie Underwood (born March 10, 1983) is an American country singer who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol.

. Top-Selling Country Single of the Year: "Inside Your Heaven/Independence Day," Carrie Underwood (Won). It was formally opened on 14 December 2004 and opened to traffic on 16 December 2004. Country Single Sales Artist of the Year: Carrie Underwood (Won). Designed by British architect Lord Foster in collaboration with French bridge engineer Michel Virlogeux, it is the tallest vehicular bridge in the world, with one pier's summit at 341 metres (1,118 ft)—slightly higher than the Eiffel Tower and only 40 m (132 ft) shorter than the Empire State Building. Top-Selling Hot 100 Song of the Year: "Inside Your Heaven/Independence Day," Carrie Underwood (Won). The Millau Viaduct (French: le Viaduc de Millau) is a cable-stayed road bridge that spans the valley of the River Tarn near Millau in southern France. Final Results Show (post-win performance of first single) - "Inside Your Heaven".

[1]. Final Results Show (performance with Rascal Flatts) - "Bless the Broken Road". Felix Baumgartner became the first person to BASE jump from the bridge on 27 June 2004, shortly after the road deck was completed but well before the bridge was opened. Final Results Show (duet with Bo Bice) - "Up Where We Belong" (O.A.: Jennifer Warnes and Joe Cocker). 2080: Eiffage toll concession runs out. Finals Top 2 Performance 3 (song originally written for Australian Idol) - "Angels Brought Me Here" (O.A.: Guy Sebastian). 2044: French government can assume control of the bridge if the toll concession is very profitable. Finals Top 2 Performance 2 (favorite from season) - "Independence Day" (O.A.: Martina McBride).

January 10, 2005: initial planned opening date. Finals Top 2 Performance 1 (new song written for AI) - "Inside Your Heaven". December 16, 2004: opening of the viaduct, ahead of schedule. Finals Top 3 Performance 3 (Judges' choice) - "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" (O.A.: Shania Twain). December 14, 2004: official inauguration. Finals Top 3 Performance 2 (Performer's choice) - "Making Love out of Nothing at All" (O.A.: Air Supply). 2nd half of 2004: installation of the pylons and shrouds, removal of the temporary roadway supports. Finals Top 3 Performance 1 (Clive Davis' choice) - "Crying" (O.A.: Roy Orbison).

May 28, 2004: the pieces of roadway are several centimeters apart, their juncture to be accomplished within two weeks. Finals Top 4 Performance 2 (Gamble and Huff Songs) - "If You Don't Know Me by Now" (O.A.: Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes). November 2003: completion of the last piers (Piers P2 at 221 m and P3 at 245 m are the highest piers in the world.). Finals Top 4 Performance 1 (Nashville Songs) - "Sin Wagon" (O.A.: The Dixie Chicks). February 25–February 26, 2003: laying of first pieces of roadway. Finals Top 5 Performance 2 (Billboard top 40) - "Bless the Broken Road" (O.A.: Rascal Flatts' version of Marcus Hummon's "Bless the Broken Road"). November 2002: first piers complete. Finals Top 5 Performance 1 (Leiber and Stoller Songs) - "Trouble" (O.A.: Elvis Presley).

September 2002: assembly of roadway begins. Finals Top 6 Performance (Songs of the 21st Century) - "When God Fearin' Women Get the Blues" (O.A.: Martina McBride). August 2002: start of work on pier support C0. Finals Top 7 Performance (70's Dance Music) - "MacArthur Park" (O.A.: Donna Summer's version of Richard Harris' hit). July 2002: start of work on the foundations of temporary, height adjustable roadway supports. Finals Top 8 Performance (Songs from Contestants' Birthyear) - "Love Is a Battlefield" (O.A.: Pat Benatar). June 2002: support C8 completed, start of work on piers. Finals Top 9 Performance (Broadway Musicals) - "Hello Young Lovers" (O.A.: Johnny Mathis).

March 2002: start of work on the pier support C8. Finals Top 10 Performance (Songs of the 90's) - "Independence Day" (O.A.: Martina McBride). January 2002: laying pier foundations. Finals Top 11 Performance (Billboard #1's) - "Alone" (O.A.: Heart). December 14, 2001: laying of the first stone. Finals Top 12 Performance (Songs of the 60's) - "When Will I Be Loved" (O.A.: The Everly Brothers). October 16, 2001: work begins. Semi-Final Performance 3 (Women Top 8) - "Because You Love Me" (O.A.: Jo Dee Messina).

1998: decision to contract out both construction costs and future tolls to a private enterprise. Semi-Final Performance 2 (Women Top 10) - "Piece of My Heart" (O.A.: Faith Hill's version of Janis Joplin's classic). July 9, 1996: choice of the cable-stayed bridge type. Semi-Final Performance 1 (Women Top 12) - "Could've Been" (O.A.: Tiffany). term). Hollywood 2 - "Independence Day" (O.A.: Martina McBride). January 10, 1995: declaration of utilité publique (public usefulness), as needed to apply eminent domain(U.S. Hollywood 1 - "Young Hearts (Run Free)" (O.A.: Candi Staton)".

October 19, 1991: selection of the high solution, with the viaduct at 2500 m. Louis Auditions - "I Can't Make You Love Me" (Original Artist: Bonnie Raitt). June 28, 1989: governmental approval of the middle route. St. €4.90–6.50: typical automobile toll, as of 2005. 10,000–25,000 vehicles: estimated daily traffic.

290,000 metric tons: total weight of the bridge. 85,000 m³: total volume of concrete used. 32.05 m: width of the roadway. 4.20 m: thickness of the roadway.

270 m: average height of the roadway. 154: number of shrouds. 87 m: height of a pylon. 336 m: height of Pier 2, the tallest (245 m at the roadway's level).

77 m: height of Pier 7, the shortest. 7: number of piers. 2,460 metre: total length of the roadway. the successful bidders, lead by the Eiffage group, product of the Fougerolles-SEA fusion, the third largest French group in public works, and the sixth largest in Europe.

one led by Générale Routière, with Via GTI (French), and Cintra, Necso, Acciona, and Ferrovial Agroman (all Spanish). Société du viaduc de Millau, made up of ASF, Egis, GTM, Bouygues Travaux Publics, SGE, CDC Projets, Tofinso (all French) and Autostrade (Italian); and. one led by Dragados (Spanish), with Skanska (Swedish) and Bec (French);. traverse the middle of the valley.

follow the path of Route Nationale 9, providing good access to Millau but at the cost of technical difficulties and intrusion on the town; and. bypass Millau to the west (12 km longer), requiring four bridges;. bypass Millau to the east, requiring two large bridges over the Tarn and the Dourbie;.