A75 autoroute

Template:Short description Template:Expand French Template:Template other[[Category:Infobox road instances Template:Infobox road/meta/mask/category]] The A75 is an autoroute (motorway) in France.

Known also as la Méridienne, it is a developmental project aiming to speed up, and reduce the cost of car travel from Paris to the south of France. Apart from the Millau Viaduct, it is free for the entire between Clermont-Ferrand and Béziers. It was not due to be finished until spring 2011, but was fully opened in December 2010. South of St. Flour there are views of the Garabit viaduct.

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

Engineering achievements

File:A75autoroute.JPG

File:A75.JPG

Northbound on the A75 after junction 59 near Pézenas.
Translation: You are entering the A75 / La Méridienne / Have a good journey

File:Massiac autoroute A75.JPG

A75 near Massiac

The building of a motorway across the Massif Central, in itself, poses engineering challenges. Much of the motorway runs at an altitude in excess of with in excess of .

The greatest engineering challenge was the Millau Viaduct, which carries the road over the Tarn. 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.

South of the Millau Viaduct in the Pégairolles-de-l'Escalette commune, the road descends from the Larzac Plateau into the Lergue river valley, losing several hundred meters in altitude in a short distance. Including the Tunnel de Pas d'Escalette, the relatively tight and twisty nature of the motorway at this point means that lower variable speed limits are imposed over this stretch of road.

Other features include: Viaducts and bridges

• Viaduc de la Violette, long, between junctions 21 & 22
• Pont sur la Truyère, long, between junctions 30 and 31
• Viaduc du Piou, long, between junctions 38 and 39
• Viaduc du Ricoulong, long, between junctions 38 and 39
• Viaduc de la Planchette, long, between junctions 38 and 39
• Viaduc de Verrières, long, between junctions 44 and 44.1
• Viaduc de la Garrigue, long, between junctions 44.1 and 42
• Viaduc de Millau, long, between junctions 45 and 46

File:ViaducdeMillau.jpg

Millau Viaduct

Passes

• between junctions 24 and 25
• Col de la Fageole, , between junctions 26 and 27
• Col des Issartets, , the highest point on the A75, between junctions 36 and 37
• Col de la Fagette, , between junctions 40 and 41
• Col d'Engayresque, , between junctions 44 and 44.1

Tunnels

• Tunnel de Montjezieu, , long at an altitude of , between junctions 39.1 and 40
• Tunnel de Pas d'Escalette, southbound, northbound, between junctions 50 and 51
• Tunnel de la Vierge, , between junctions 52 and 53

The route

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").

External links

• : tourist information
• (Note: The distances on this site are inaccurate)
• Three noteworthy areas described with photo illustrations and sketch maps.

Region	Department	Junction	Destinations	Notes
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes	Puy-de-Dôme	File:Sinnbild Autobahnkreuz.svg A711 - A75 & A71	Lyon (A89), Saint-Étienne, Thiers
		becomes
		Exit 1 : Clermont-Ferrand - La Pardieu	Billom, Cournon-d'Auvergne
		Exit 2 : Pérignat-lès-Sarliève	Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, La Bourboule, Mont-Dore, Aubière
		Exit 3 : Cournon	Cournon-d'Auvergne, Pérignat-lès-Sarliève, alt Z. I. Cournon, Grande Halle, Zénith
		Exit 4 : La Noviale-Gergovie	Vic-le-Comte, Le Cendre, Gergovie, Pérignat-lès-Sarliève, La Roche-Blanche, Orcet
		Exit 5 : Le Crest	Aydat, Saint-Amant-Tallende, Veyre-Monton, Orcet
		File:Aire d'autoroute - station essence.png Aire de Veyre (Southbound)
		Exit 6 La Sauvetat	Besse, Saint-Nectaire, Champeix, Veyre-Monton
		File:Aire d'autoroute - station essence.png Aire d’Authezat (Northbound)
		Exit 7 : Montpeyroux	Montpeyroux, Coudes
		Exit 8 : Coudes	Coudes, Vic-le-Comte
		Exit 9 : Veneix	Sauvagnat-Sainte-Marthe, Saint-Yvoine
		File:Aire de pique-nique.png Aire du Val d'Allier (Southbound)
		Exit 10 : La Ribeyre	La Ribeyre
		Exit 11 : Issoire - nord	Issoire - centre	Entry and exit from Clermont-Ferrand
		Exit 12 : Issoire - Les Prés	Orbeil, Issoire
		Exit 13 : Issoire - Couze	Saint-Germain-l'Herm, Ambert, Sauxillanges, Parentignat, Issoire
		Exit 14 : Issoire - Chapeau Rouge	Besse, Saint-Nectaire, Champeix, Issoire - Aérodrome, centre
		Exit 15 : Le Broc	Ardes, Saint-Germain-Lembron, Le Broc, Le Breuil-sur-Couze
		Exit 16 : Civerac	Le Broc
		File:Aire de pique-nique.png Aire du Cézallier (Southbound) File:Aire de pique-nique.png Aire du Lembron (Northbound)
		Exit 17 : Les Coustilles	Jumeaux, Auzat-la-Combelle, Saint-Germain-Lembron, Le Breuil-sur-Couze
		Exit 18 : Charbonnier-les-Mines	Brassac-les-Mines, Sainte-Florine, Charbonnier-les-Mines
	Haute-Loire	Exit 19 : Lempdes-sur-Allagnon - nord	Lempdes-sur-Allagnon, Auzon	Entry and exit from Clermont-Ferrand
		Exit 20 : Lempdes-sur-Allagnon - sud	Le Puy-en-Velay, Brioude, Sainte-Florine, Vergongheon
		Exit 21 : La Fayette	Ardes, Lorlanges
			File:Aire d'autoroute - station essence.png Aire de La Fayette
		Exit 22 : Espalem	Brioude, Blesle, Espalem
	Cantal	File:Aire de pique-nique.png Aire du Chalet (Southbound)
		Exit 23 : Massiac - nord	Aurillac, alt alt Le Lioran, Murat, Massiac	Entry and exit from Clermont-Ferrand
		Exit 24 : Massiac - sud	Massiac	Entry and exit from Béziers
		Exit 25 : Espezolles	Saint-Poncy
		Exit 26 : La Fageolle	Vieillespesse
		Exit 27 : Salcrus	Coren, Montchamp
		File:Aire de pique-nique.png Aire de Montchauvet (Northbound)
		Exit 28 : Saint-Flour - nord	Espalion, Chaudes-Aigues, Coren, Saint-Flour - centre, Bel-Air, Aurillac, Murat
		Exit 29 : Saint-Flour - est	Saint-Flour - centre, Bellevue, Saint-Georges
		Exit 30 : La Gazelle	Ruynes-en-Margeride, alt Gabarit - Viaduc Eiffel
		File:Aire de pique-nique.png Aire de Garabit viaduc Eiffel
		Exit 31 : Loubaresse	Loubaresse, alt Gabarit - Viaduc Eiffel
Occitanie	Lozère	Exit 32 : Combe-Jouve	Albaret-Sainte-Marie - La Garde, Les Monts-Verts - Le Bacon
			File:Aire d'autoroute - station essence.png Aire de La Lozère
		Exit 33 : Saint-Chély-d'Apcher - nord	Fournels, Le Malzieu-Ville, Saint-Chély-d'Apcher
		Exit 34 : Saint-Chély-d'Apcher - sud	Le Malzieu-Ville, Saint-Alban-sur-Limagnole, Saint-Chély-d'Apcher, Rimeize, Chaudes-Aigues, Fournels
		File:Aire de pique-nique.png Aire de l’Aubrac
		Exit 35 : Aumont-Aubrac - nord	Aumont-Aubrac, Nasbinals	Entry and exit from Clermont-Ferrand
		Exit 36 : Aumont-Aubrac - sud	Aumont-Aubrac	Entry and exit from Béziers
		Exit 37 : Le Buisson	Le Buisson
		Exit 38 : La Bastide	Antrenas, Marvejols, Nasbinals
		File:Aire de pique-nique.png Aire de la Bête du Gévaudan (Southbound) File:Aire de pique-nique.png Aire de Marvejols (Northbound)
		Exit 39 : Le Monastier	Le Monastier, Chirac
		Exit 39.1 : Moriès	Nîmes, Mende, Florac, Chanac, alt Gorges du Tarn
		Exit 39.2 : Saint-Germain-du-Teil	Saint-Germain-du-Teil	Entry and exit from Clermont-Ferrand
		Exit 40 : Banassac	Banassac, La Canourgue, alt Gorges du Tarn, Saint-Germain-du-Teil, Saint-Laurent-d'Olt
	Aveyron	Exit 41 : Farnajous	Campagnac, Saint-Geniez-d'Olt
		Exit 42 : Séverac-le-Château	Rodez, Sévérac-le-Château, le Massegros, Laissac
			File:Aire d'autoroute - station essence.png Aire de l'Aveyron
		Exit 43 : Sermeillets	Le Massegros	Entry and exit from Béziers
		Exit 44 : Engayresque	Engayresque, Verrières
		Exit 44.1 : Aguessac - Gorges du Tarn	Cahors, Meyrueis, Pont-de-Salars, Vézins-de-Lévézou, Aguessac, Micropolis, Vezins de Levezon, Pont de Salars, Meyrenes, alt Gorges du Tarn
		File:Aire de pique-nique.png Aire de la Garrigue
		Exit 45 : Millau - Saint-Germain	Millau, Saint-Beauzély, alt Castelnau-Pégayrols
		File:Péage.png Péage de Saint-Germain (du Viaduc de Millau)
		File:Aire de pique-nique.png Aire du Viaduc de Millau
		Exit 46 : Saint-Rome-de-Cernon	Albi, Saint-Affrique, Roquefort, Saint-Rome-de-Cernon
		Exit 47 : La Cavalerie	Millau - centre, Nant, La Cavalerie, Saint-Affrique, Roquefort, alt Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon, alt Gorges du Tarn
		File:Aire d'autoroute - station essence.png Aire du Larzac
		Exit 48 : Larzac	L'Hospitalet-du-Larzac, alt La Couvertoirade, Cornus, Alzon, Le Vigan
	Hérault	Exit 49 : Le Caylar	Le Caylar, alt La Couvertoirade, alt Cirque de Navacelles
			File:Aire d'autoroute - station essence.png Aire du Caylar
		Exit 50 : Saint-Félix-de-l'Héras	Saint-Félix-de-l'Héras, Les Rives	Entry and exit from Béziers
		File:Aire de pique-nique.png Aire du Belvédère de la Lerque (Southbound)
		Exit 51 : Pégairolles-de-l'Escalette	Pégairolles-de-l'Escalette
		Exit 52 : Lodève - nord	Lodève, Soubès, Le Vigan, Ganges, alt Cirque de Navacelles
		Exit 53 : Lodève - sud	Lodève, Lunas, Bédarieux, Le Bousquet-d'Orb, Lamalou-les-Bains	Entry and exit from Béziers
		Exit 54 : Mas Lavayre	Le Bosc, Lodève - sud, Saint-Jean-de-la-Blaquière, alt Lac du Salagou	No southbound entry
		Exit 55 : Saint-Fréchoux	alt Lac du Salagou	Southbound entry and northbound exit only
		Exit 56 : Salelles-du-Bosc	Ceyras, Salelles-du-Bosc, Saint-Jean-de-la-Blaquière, Saint-Félix-de-Lodez
		File:Sinnbild Autobahnkreuz.svg  A750 - A75	Montpellier, alt Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, Gignac, Saint-André-de-Sangonis
		Exit 57 : Clermont-l'Hérault	Bédarieux, Canet, Nébian, Clermont-l'Hérault, alt Lac du Salagou
		File:Aire de pique-nique.png Aire de Paulhan
		Exit 58 : Paulhan	Paulhan, Adissan, Lézignan-la-Cèbe
		Exit 59 : La Grange des Prés	Sète, Mèze, Montagnac, Lézignan-la-Cèbe, Pézenas - nord
		Exit 59.1 : Pézenas - centre	Pézenas, Castelnau-de-Guers
		Exit 60 : Conas	Agde, Bessan, Florensac	Entry and exit from Clermont-Ferrand
		Exit 61 : Pézenas - sud	Roujan, Tourbes, Valros, Pézenas
		File:Aire d'autoroute - station essence.png Aire de Valros
		Exit 62 : La Bégude de Jordy	Servian, Montblanc, Florensac, Valros
		Exit 63 Béziers - nord	Béziers - centre, Narbonne, Boujan-sur-Libron	Entry and exit from Clermont-Ferrand
		Exit 64 : Béziers - centre	Valras-Plage, Serignan, alt Béziers Cap d'Agde Airport, Béziers - est
		File:Sinnbild Autobahnkreuz.svg A9 - A75	Montpellier, Sète, Lyon (A7)
			Narbonne, Barcelone, Toulouse (A61)