A road is a thoroughfare for the conveyance of traffic that mostly has an improved surface for use by vehicles (motorized and non-motorized) and pedestrians. Unlike streets, whose primary function is to serve as public spaces, the main function of roads is transportation.
The Millau Viaduct (French: le Viaduc de Millau) is a large cable-stayedroad-bridge that spans the valley of the River Tarn near Millau in southern France. Designed by the structural engineer Michel Virlogeux and British architect Norman Foster, it is the tallest vehicular bridge in the world, with one mast's summit at 343 metres (1,125 ft) — slightly taller than the Eiffel Tower and only 38 m (125 ft) shorter than the Empire State Building. The viaduct is part of the A75-A71 autoroute axis from Paris to Béziers. It was formally dedicated on 14 December 2004, inaugurated the day after and opened to traffic two days later. The bridge won the 2006 IABSE Outstanding Structure Award.
The bridge’s construction broke three world records:
The highest pylons in the world: pylons P2 and P3, 244.96 metres (803 ft 8 in) and 221.05 metres (725 ft 3 in) in height respectively.
The highest mast in the world: the mast atop pylon P2 peaks at 343 metres (1,125 ft).
The highest road bridge deck in the world, 270 m (890 ft) above the Tarn River at its highest point.
Image 4Vehicles experiencing a breakdown or an emergency can stop in the emergency lane; these lanes may themselves present risks to traffic. (from Road traffic safety)
Image 6According to Eurostat, there is almost a linear proportion between the total number of passenger-km driven by car and road fatalities. (from Road traffic safety)
Image 7Jan Brueghel (I) - Travellers on the Way, second half of 16th Century (from History of road transport)
Image 8The Dutch Reach - Use far hand on handle when opening to avoid dooring cyclists or injuries to exiting drivers and passengers. (from Road traffic safety)
Image 11Construction crew laying down asphalt over fiber-optic trench, in New York City (from Road surface)
Image 12The schedule of maximum tolls allowed on the Woodstock to Rollright Turnpike Trust on the Great Road to Worcester in 1751 (from History of road transport)
Image 15Different layers of road including asphalt layer. The total thickness of a pavement can be measured using granular base equivalency (from Road surface)
Image 23Car fatalities per pax-km vs. car usage per pax-day; in Europe. It seems, at least in these European countries, that car fatalities per person-km have no strong correlation with massification of car usage. The average car usage in these countries is around 30km per person-day with varying number of fatalities ratios. These differences might be related with different cultural approaches to traffic codes, or more safety measures implemented on such countries. (from Road traffic safety)
Image 25Sacrifices to the Modern Moloch, a 1922 cartoon published in The New York Times, criticizing the apparent acceptance by society of increasing automobile-related fatalities (from Road traffic safety)
Image 30Worker in a cloud of concrete dust (from Roadworks)
Image 31The Great North Road near Highgate on the approach to London before turnpiking. The highway was deeply rutted and spread onto adjoining land. (from History of road transport)
Image 34John Metcalf, also known as Blind Jack of Knaresborough. Drawn by J R Smith in The Life of John Metcalf published 1801. (from History of road transport)
Image 35German roadworks sign. In other European countries, the signs are similar. (from Roadworks)
Image 45According to Eurostat and European Railway Agency, in European railway mode of transport, there is a fatality risk for passengers and occupants 28 times lower compared with car usage. Based on data by EU-27 member nations, 2008–2010. (from Road traffic safety)
Improve: You may always improve the quality of road articles by adding more information and references to enhance the overall readers' experience. Improvements to GA and FA quality is much appreciated! Also, nominations for Selected article and Selected picture are always needed, as with Did you know and News. Add to the Portal
Photo request: Just about all of them! Any pictures of Highways regions, road surface or infrastruture varieties or Highways would be useful. In particular we need Highways region maps that can be licensed for Wikipedia.
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