The A75 is an autoroute (motorway) in France.

A75 autoroute shield
A75 autoroute
La Méridienne (French)
Début de l'autoroute A75 depuis le pont de la rue Jean-Auguste Senèze (Clermont-Ferrand) 2021-08-15.JPG
Beginning of the autoroute at Clermont-Ferrand
Route information
Part of E11
Length335 km (208 mi)
Major junctions
North end A 71 / E11 / A 711 at Clermont-Ferrand
Major intersections
South end A 9 / E15 / E80 at Béziers
Location
CountryFrance
RegionsAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Occitania
DepartmentsPuy-de-Dôme, Haute-Loire, Cantal, Lozère, Aveyron, Hérault
Highway system
  • Roads 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 335 km (208 mi) between Clermont-Ferrand and Béziers. It was due for completion in spring 2011,[1] but 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.

Engineering achievements

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

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 metres (2,600 ft) with 50 kilometres (31 mi) in excess of 1,000 metres (3,300 ft).[2]

The single most impressive feature is undoubtedly 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.

Other impressive features include: Viaducts and bridges

  • Viaduc de la Violette, 560 metres (1,840 ft) long, between junctions 21 & 22
  • Pont sur la Truyère, 311 metres (1,020 ft) long, between junctions 30 and 31
  • Viaduc du Piou, 414 metres (1,358 ft) long, between junctions 38 and 39
  • Viaduc du Ricoulong, 342 metres (1,122 ft) long, between junctions 38 and 39
  • Viaduc de la Planchette, 221 metres (725 ft) long, between junctions 38 and 39
  • Viaduc de Verrières, 710 metres (2,330 ft) long, between junctions 44 and 44.1
  • Viaduc de la Garrigue, 340 metres (1,120 ft) long, between junctions 44.1 and 42
  • Viaduc de Millau, 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) long, between junctions 45 and 46
 
Millau Viaduct

Passes

  • 990|m}} between junctions 24 and 25
  • Col de la Fageole, 1,107 metres (3,632 ft), between junctions 26 and 27
  • Col des Issartets, 1,121 metres (3,678 ft), the highest point on the A75, between junctions 36 and 37
  • Col de la Fagette, 882 metres (2,894 ft), between junctions 40 and 41
  • Col d'Engayresque, 888 metres (2,913 ft), between junctions 44 and 44.1

Tunnels

  • Tunnel de Montjezieu, 616 metres (2,021 ft), long at an altitude of 650 metres (2,130 ft), between junctions 39.1 and 40
  • Tunnel de Pas d'Escalette, 725 metres (2,379 ft) southbound, 830 metres (2,720 ft) northbound, between junctions 50 and 51
  • Tunnel de la Vierge, 474 metres (1,555 ft), between junctions 52 and 53

The route

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A75 Autoroute junctions, listed north to south
km Junc. No. Northbound exits Southbound exits 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 Lozère 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 46
   Toll barrier
223   46  La Bastide-Pradines, St-Rome-de-Cernon, Roquefort, St Affrique - TOLL SECTION NORTH TO JUNCTION 45
234.5   47  Millau sud, la Cavalerie, Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon Millau, la Cavalerie, Roquefort, St Affrique
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
  59.1   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
The section between junctions 59 and 61 (the Pézenas by-pass) was not technically motorway and was still designated as the N9, despite the depiction on most maps. Work to upgrade the section to full motorway status was carried out between September 2013 and June 2014.

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

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  1. ^ a b "A75: Le point sur les travaux entre Pézenas et Béziers". Midi Libre (in French). 16 June 2008. p. 3.
  2. ^ "Association La Méridienne: On n'a pas tous les jours...". Decouverte & Patrimoine (9). Projective Groupe: 28. 2006.
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