The tunnel between Italy and France will close: why and what are the alternatives

One of the most important transportation arteries between Italy and France is the Mont Blanc Tunnel. Its strategic location makes it a key link between Northern and Southern Europe, providing unimpeded passage through the Alps.

However, it has recently become known that the tunnel is to undergo large-scale repairs, which will bring major changes to transportation in the region. Euronews reported on alternative routes .

The Mont Blanc Tunnel is the second deepest in the world after the Swiss Gotthard Base Tunnel. It opened in 1965 and is now part of the European E25 highway, connecting the French city of Chamonix with the Italian city of Courmayeur.

This fall, travelers planning to travel between France and Italy will have to take into account an important change. One of the most important transportation routes through the Alps will be closed for large-scale repair work.

For 15 weeks, from September 2 to December 16, 2024, one of the tunnel sections will be completely reconstructed, so it is worth taking care of alternative routes in advance. Be prepared for the fact that they are likely to be longer and increase travel time.

Why is the Mont Blanc Tunnel closing?

The tunnel is an important part of Europe's infrastructure and passes thousands of cars and trucks every day. This has led to the inevitable wear and tear of the structures, so in order to improve safety and reliability, it is planned to carry out structural reconstruction of its vault.

The first stage of the repair work involves the reconstruction of a 600-meter section of the tunnel, which will last 15 weeks, after which the repair will continue in 2025 on other sections.

Alternative routes

The closure of the Mont Blanc Tunnel will cause some inconvenience for tourists, as this route significantly saves time and effort when crossing the Alps. However, this will not make the trip impossible, as there are other routes.

The Fréjus Tunnel is the closest and perhaps the most convenient alternative. It is located about 160 km south of Mont Blanc and connects the French city of Modane with the Italian city of Bardonecca.

The fare for traveling through the Frejus tunnel is slightly lower than through Mont Blanc: 47 euros one way and 57 euros for both directions for cars.

TheGrand Saint Bernard tunnel is another alternative. It connects Martigny in the Swiss canton of Valais with the Italian town of Saint-Remy-en-Bosset in the Aosta Valley. The fare here will cost 31 euros one way.

If you need a more natural route, you can choose the Mont-Seny Pass, which connects France with Italy through the Savoyard and the Aosta Valley. Another option would be the Montgenevre Pass, which passes through the Alps mountain range, connecting the French city of Briançon with the Italian Cesana Torinese. And if the mountain passes are closed due to snowfall, you can use the Monte railway tunnel.

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