The Mont Blanc Tunnel is to close for a full 15 weeks from early September as two portions of the tunnel’s vault undergo essential maintenance and reconstruction works. The closure is expected to cause significant disruptions to travel in this part of the Alps, but there are alternative routes available.
Between Monday 2nd September and Monday 16th December, the Mont Blanc Tunnel, a major artery linking France to Italy and Switzerland, will be closed for renovations. Workers will be reconstructing two 300m sections of the tunnel’s vault some 60 years after the famous route opened to road users.
The Mont Blanc Tunnel measures more than 11.5km in length and passes almost directly beneath the Aiguille du Midi, some 2,480m below the surface. After the Swiss Gotthard Base Tunnel, the Mont Blanc Tunnel is the world’s second deepest operational tunnel.
ALTERNATIVE ROUTES
The standard tariff for a car travelling through the Mont Blanc Tunnel is €51.50 one-way from France and €64.20 for a return trip, making it the most expensive Alpine tunnel in the region.
The Fréjus Tunnel to the south, connecting Modane on the French side with Bardonecchia in Italy, is a slightly cheaper option, with a single trip for cars priced at €47 and €57 for a return.
It should be noted that the heavy goods vehicles that would typically use the Mont Blanc Tunnel will be directed to the Fréjus Tunnel, so be prepared to share the road with them if taking this route.
Another way to get through the mountains is via the Grand-Saint-Bernard Tunnel that connects Italy’s Aosta Valley with Martigny in Switzerland. The one-way toll for cars is €31.
The nearby Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard is another option, but the possibility of snow closures is real in the autumn, winter and early spring so check ahead before travelling.
Less user-friendly roads include a single-track rail tunnel, the Tunnel des Montets, which is sometimes used as a road, the Mont Cenis pass between the Cottian Alps in France and the Graian Alps in Italy, which usually remains open until November, and the Montgenèvre Pass connecting Briançon in France with Cesana Torinese in Italy.
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Photo source: Tunnel Mont-Blanc