Mont Blanc tunnel open again after 15 weeks of work
The major France-Italy route closed for renovations in September
The Mont Blanc tunnel was first built 60 years ago and is now typically used by thousands of vehicles daily
MC MEDIASTUDIO/Shutterstock
The Mont Blanc tunnel has reopened after closing in September for 15 weeks of major renovation work.
The tunnel reopened at 22:00 on December 16, after successfully passing safety tests that began on December 4, said Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The complete restarting of traffic in both directions was conditional on the passing of these tests, said French concession holders Autoroutes et Tunnel du Mont-Blanc (ATMB) and the Italian concession holder SITMB, in a press release on their website.
More than 150,000 hours of work
Work took place on the bridge - specifically the renovation of the tunnel’s vault - for 105 days continuously, with more than 150 people putting in “more than 150,000 hours of work” at an investment cost of €24 million, the two companies added.
The 11.6 km tunnel closed for work on September 2, closing off a major route between France and Italy. The autumn season was chosen for the works because it is the lowest in terms of traffic, especially for light vehicles (which typically make up 68% of the tunnel’s traffic).
The closure also enabled civil engineering work to be carried out as well as on equipment and the exterior of the structure, the concession holders said. It also enabled engineers to “determine the best method for continuing the work [and maintenance] in the years to come”.
Having first opened 60 years ago the tunnel is now used by thousands of vehicles every day. This heavy use means that it “requires regular major civil engineering work”, the concession holders said.
Full details of the tunnel’s opening times, planned closures, and traffic forecasts (particularly over the forthcoming holiday period) can be seen on the official website at tunnelmb.net.
