Great Saint Bernard tunnel will be free to use over Christmas
The Local - [email protected]
Published: 20 Dec, 2017 CET.
Updated: Wed 20 Dec 2017 09:19 CET
The Great Saint Bernard road tunnel will reopen on Christmas Eve after being closed for several months, with tolls waived until January 1st.
The tunnel, which connects the Valais in Switzerland with the Aosta valley in Italy, has been closed since September 21st after a part of the ventilation system collapsed.
It will reopen on December 24th at 8am after passing a series of tests and safety exercises, the operating company announced on Tuesday, according to news agency ATS.
Aware that the long closure has caused considerable disruption, the company has decided to waive tolls for using the tunnel over the Christmas period, until January 1st.
It normally costs 46.90 francs return for a car and 23.30 francs for a motorbike.
The 5.7km tunnel bypasses the Great Saint Bernard pass above, which is now closed for winter.
The historic pass has been a crossing point over the Alps for centuries and is famous for its hospice and the St Bernard dogs that live part of the year there.
The road tunnel opened in 1964, becoming the first road traffic tunnel through the Alps.
Comments
See Also
The tunnel, which connects the Valais in Switzerland with the Aosta valley in Italy, has been closed since September 21st after a part of the ventilation system collapsed.
It will reopen on December 24th at 8am after passing a series of tests and safety exercises, the operating company announced on Tuesday, according to news agency ATS.
Aware that the long closure has caused considerable disruption, the company has decided to waive tolls for using the tunnel over the Christmas period, until January 1st.
It normally costs 46.90 francs return for a car and 23.30 francs for a motorbike.
The 5.7km tunnel bypasses the Great Saint Bernard pass above, which is now closed for winter.
The historic pass has been a crossing point over the Alps for centuries and is famous for its hospice and the St Bernard dogs that live part of the year there.
The road tunnel opened in 1964, becoming the first road traffic tunnel through the Alps.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.