Building the Millau Viaduct in only three years confronted the workers with numerous difficulties. The construction company innovated with the use of an oxy-fuel plasma cutting machine and a two-head welding robot. The bridge's deck consists of 172 elements and has a slight slope of 3.025% for a 242 ft (74 m) height difference between north and south. Its discreet curvature allows better driving comfort at a height of 885 ft (270m).