France reduces deadlines and the reopening of the Somport Tunnel could come in January

The reopening of the Somport tunnel could take place earlier than expected. The works to repair the damage to the RN134 road will begin next week and could allow the reopening to traffic in January 2025. This was communicated by the French authorities to the Subdelegation of the Government of Huesca in a videoconference prior to the meeting of the Technical Monitoring Commission of the Binational Rescue Plan for the Somport Tunnel in Arudy (France), which will be attended by the Subdelegate of the Government in Huesca, Carlos Campo.

During the meeting, technicians from the public entity Cerema have explained the difficulties presented by the repair of the slope of the RN134, which require a solution based on the raising of embankments. The forecast, according to the French side, is to begin the work next week. The scenario proposed takes into account the safety of the interventions and contemplates a schedule that would have the deadline for reopening to traffic in January 2025, as long as the weather conditions allow it.

The Government’s sub-delegate in Huesca, Carlos Campo, plans to reiterate at the Technical Commission this afternoon the offer of the Spanish authorities of all possible help to speed up the repair of the damage caused by the DANA on the road on September 7. Campo will urge to reduce the time as much as possible, since he considers that “every day that the return to normality can be shortened will be crucial for the economies of both Aragon and the Atlantic Pyrenees.”

The Government of Aragon has echoed this possible advance in the reopening of Somport and has positively valued that “the social and institutional demands on both sides of the border have managed to get the French Government to improve the initial expectations regarding the reopening of Somport”. The DGA appreciates the collaboration shown by the region of New Aquitaine and the Ministry of Transport.

The company also stated that it will continue to maintain this collaboration to ensure that this reopening can take place “as soon as possible ” and it is at the disposal of the French authorities to collaborate in any way that may facilitate the advancement of dates.