MONT BLANC TUNNEL
Chamonix, France
MONT BLANC TUNNEL OPENS
After nearly 3
years the world famous Mont Blanc Tunnel from France to Italy was opened to
vehicle traffic on March 9, 2002. The long awaited event was greatly
anticipated worldwide. See the story below for the details of the previous
events which caused the tunnel to be closed.
***UPDATE-----TO:
HUMAN UTILITIES WHOLE ARMOUR FROM ATMB------NOTE
THE FOLLOWING:
"In
a joint press release dated February 15th, Jean-Claude GAYSSOT, the French
Minister of Equipment, Transportation and Housing, and Pietro LUNARDI, the
Italian Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation, announced the opening
of the tunnel to light vehicles on the first Saturday following the meeting
of the Intergovernmental Control Commission (CIG) that will finalize the
validation of the security exercises and the end of the restoration and
modernization works. The date of this meeting will be set when the ceiling
works are finished, according to the schedule recommended by experts, and
when the government-supervised exercises are all complete.
Moreover, the two ministers
confirmed their approval of the opening of the tunnel to alternate truck
traffic, no more than 15 days later, with traffic direction alternating
every half-hour."
The world famous Mont Blanc (white
mountain) Tunnel had a serious fire in it on March 24, 1999.
Per the ATMB (Autoroutes et Tunnel du Mont
Blanc), which is the organization given the responsibility of running the tunnel, the fire was started by a truck which began to burn shortly after enter the tunnel from the France side. The
Volvo truck began to burn rapidly along with its cargo of margarine (butter). The combination of heat
produced elements created an extremely hot, super-heated environment in the tunnel
in which even the smoke was deadly for anyone it came into contact with. The heat
and smoke were extremely toxic. These combinations of elements, super-heated/toxic smoke, extreme heat (almost an oven effect), and poor visibility contributed to the deaths of 38 people who were trapped in cars and trucks.
"...to remove any doubts and ambiguities." the ATMB has released the following "Works Progress Report" as of August 2001. Civil engineering work finished end of April on Italian section and mid-July on French section. There was a leakage problem. The civil engineering work lasted 9 months the ATMB notes DUE TO CABLES DISPLACED AND THE MAJOR DECONTAMINATION WORK lasting 2 1/2 months on the French section. Because of the intense heat, the road had to be resurfaced and the tunnel walls worked on or
replaced as well as installation of tunnel services. "By early August, road-resurfacing has been completed to 2/3 of the Italian section."
A central
computerized management system is being installed to manage future monitoring of the tunnel. The report notes: "Once this work (computerization) is completed, and only then, can work be declared completed on both the French and Italian sections." Also, "According to this timetable,
initial tests on services will be able to start on 8th October, integration of the GTC-[Gestion Technique Centralisee] (the
computerized management system) to be completed by 23rd October, at that date a blank run and the tests, trials and practice drills necessary to the reopening of the tunnel (Mt. Blanc) can be carried. out. The decision to reopen the tunnel will not be made by the management companies but by the two governments (France and Italy) on proposal by the Intergovernmental Commission." The dates of 8th and 23rd October do not allow any margin for
technical hazards and consequently assume that the various tests and other activities will take place according to schedule." (From August 7, 2001 ATMB report)
The 7.25mi. long Mont Blanc Tunnel and its neighbor to the south the Frejus Tunnel @8 miles long are the two main tunnels leading from France to Italy. Frejus is in the direction of Lyon, France and Turin, Italy. The Mont Blanc Tunnel leads to Geneve, Switzerland on the French side and is a direct route to Milan, Italy from Geneve.
report by Human Utilities
News Division .
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