The Mont Blanc Tunnel will undergo significant vault restoration work, necessitating its complete closure from September 2 to December 16, 2024. Tmb-Geie, the company managing the tunnel, confirmed this on August 27, emphasizing that the project is crucial for ensuring the tunnel’s safety and functionality for decades to come. Originally scheduled for 2023, the project was postponed by a year following a decision by the Italian and French Intergovernmental Commissions. This delay was necessary to maintain the connection between France and Italy after a landslide on the A43 in Maurienne, France.
The tunnel will close entirely at 5:00 PM on Monday, September 2, and will remain shut until 1:00 AM on Monday, December 16, 2024. The decision to carry out the work in the fall, a period with lower tourist traffic and fewer light vehicles—accounting for 68% of the tunnel’s total traffic in 2023—was made in collaboration with the prefectures of Valle d’Aosta and Haute-Savoie. The goal is to minimize the impact on tourism and the local and European economy.
The restoration work includes the complete dismantling of the safety systems in the tunnel’s vault, such as air current control accelerators, cameras, automatic event detection systems, and thermal cables. Tmb-Geie explained that the complexity and nature of the work make it impossible to allow vehicle traffic, even temporarily, during the entire project. This is due to the necessity of dismantling and reinstalling all safety equipment, which is essential for the tunnel’s operation.
The restoration project is divided into two test phases in 2024 and 2025, which will help determine the most effective operational methodology for future work. If the technology used in 2024 proves effective, another 600 meters of restoration will proceed in 2025. The total investment for this work is estimated at around €50 million.
During the closure, Tmb-Geie has prepared a map of alternative routes in collaboration with the prefectures of Valle d’Aosta, Haute-Savoie, Piedmont, and Savoie. It is estimated that about 90% of heavy goods vehicles will use the Frejus Tunnel, while light vehicles will be distributed between the Gran San Bernardo, Frejus, and various Alpine passes, depending on their origin and destination. The alternative route map is available on the official website and on the TMB Mobility app.
Additionally, subscriptions for 10 or 20 transits will be automatically extended by four months, without any specific request, to assist regular users during the closure. For more information and updates, contact Tmb-Geie’s communication service at +39 0165 890403/07 or +39 348 1512804/15 (Italy) and +33 (0)450553903/07 or +39 348 1512804/15 (France).
