Mont Blanc Tunnel#The 1999 fire

{{Short description|Highway tunnel underneath the Alps connecting France and Italy}}

{{Infobox tunnel

|name = Mont Blanc Tunnel

|other_name = {{native name|fr|Tunnel du Mont-Blanc}}
{{native name|it|Traforo del Monte Bianco}}

|image = {{Location map

|Alps

|relief = 1

|label = Mont Blanc Tunnel

|lat = 45.854

|long = 6.914

|caption = Location in the western Alps

|float =

|background=

}}

|image_size =

|caption =

|location = {{ubl|France|Italy}}

|coordinates = {{Coord|45.854|6.914|display=inline, title}}

|route = File:Route nationale française 205.svg RN205
x22px T1

|status = Open

|start = Chamonix, Haute-Savoie, France

|end = Courmayeur, Aosta Valley, Italy

|startwork = May 1959 (1946)

|opened = 19 July 1965

|close =

|owner =

|operator = MBT-EEIG, controlled
by both ATMB and SITMB

|traffic = Automotive

|character = Passenger and freight

|toll = €48.- (one-way), 2020
passenger vehicle
over €300 (one-way),
three or more axles

|vpd =

|construction = 1959–65

|length = {{convert|11.611|km|abbr=on}}

|lanes = 2

|speed = {{convert|50|-|70|kph|abbr=on}}

|hielevation = {{convert|1395|m|abbr=on}}
center

|lowelevation = {{convert|1274|m|abbr=on}}
France (NW)

|height = {{convert|4.35|m|abbr=on}}

|width = {{convert|8.6|m|abbr=on}}

|grade =

}}

File:Tunnel du mont-blanc coté italien.jpg

File:Mont Blanc Tunnel French Side.jpg File:Mont Blanc Tunnel.jpg

The Mont Blanc Tunnel ({{langx|fr|Tunnel du Mont-Blanc}}, {{langx|it|Traforo del Monte Bianco}}) is a highway tunnel between France and Italy, under Mont Blanc in the Alps. It links Chamonix, Haute-Savoie, France with Courmayeur, Aosta Valley, Italy, via the French Route Nationale 205 and the Italian Traforo T1 (forming the European route E25), in particular the motorways serving Geneva (A40 of France) and Turin (A5 of Italy). The passageway is one of the major trans-Alpine transport routes, particularly for Italy, which relies on this tunnel for transporting as much as one-third of its freight to northern Europe. It reduces the route from France to Turin by {{convert|50|km|-1|abbr=off}} and to Milan by {{convert|100|km|-1|abbr=on}}. Northeast of Mont Blanc's summit, the tunnel is about {{convert|15|km|-1|abbr=on}} southwest of the tripoint with Switzerland, near Mont Dolent.

The agreement between France and Italy on building a tunnel was signed in 1949. Two operating companies were founded, each responsible for one half of the tunnel: the French Autoroutes et tunnel du Mont-Blanc (ATMB), founded on 30 April 1958, and the Italian Società italiana per azioni per il Traforo del Monte Bianco (SITMB), founded on 1 September 1957.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/thisdayintech/2010/07/0716mont-blanc-tunnel-opens/|title=July 16, 1965: Mont Blanc Tunnel Opens|date=15 July 2010|magazine=Wired|access-date=16 July 2010|last1=Barry|first1=Keith}} Drilling began in 1959 and was completed in 1962; the tunnel was opened to traffic on 19 July 1965.

The tunnel is {{convert|11.611|km|abbr=on}} in length, {{convert|8.6|m|abbr=on}} in width, and {{convert|4.35|m|abbr=on}} in height. The passageway is not horizontal, but in a slightly inverted "V", which assists ventilation. The tunnel consists of a single gallery with a two-lane dual direction road. At the time of its construction, it was twice as long as any existing highway tunnel.{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wyoDAAAAMBAJ&q=popular+science+1930&pg=PA121|title=World's longest auto tunnel to pierce the Alps |magazine=Popular Science |last=Soule |first=Gardner |date=December 1959 |pages=121–123/236–238}}

The tunnel passes almost exactly under the summit of the Aiguille du Midi. At this spot, it lies {{convert|2480|m}} beneath the surface, making it the world's second deepest operational tunnel{{cite web|url=http://todayinsci.com/7/7_16.htm|title=Today in Science History|access-date=22 November 2014}} after the Gotthard Base Tunnel.

The Mont Blanc Tunnel was originally managed by the two building companies. Following a fire in 1999 in which 39 people died, which showed how lack of coordination could hamper the safety of the tunnel, all the operations are managed by a single entity: MBT-EEIG, controlled by both ATMB and SITMB together, through a 50–50 shares distribution.{{cite web|url=http://www.atmb.com/atmb/en/tunnel/100/the-mont-blanc-tunnel/the-tunnel-today/a-french-italian-operator.html |title=A French-Italian Operator - Autoroutes et Tunnel du Mont Blanc |access-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729211317/http://www.atmb.com/atmb/en/tunnel/100/the-mont-blanc-tunnel/the-tunnel-today/a-french-italian-operator.html |archive-date=29 July 2012 }}

An alternative route for road traffic between France to Italy is the Fréjus Road Tunnel. Road traffic grew steadily until 1994, even with the opening of the Fréjus tunnel. Since then, the combined traffic volume of the former has remained roughly constant.

Construction statistics

Workforce: five engineers and 350 workmen worked an estimated grand total of 4.6 million man-hours to complete the project
Explosives: {{convert|711|t}} of explosives were used to blast {{convert|555000|m3|abbr=on}} of rock
Energy: 37 million kilowatt-hours and {{convert|2700000|L}} of fuel for trucks and engines
Other facts: 771,240 bolts, 6,900 drill rods, and {{convert|300|t}} of iron were used to support the vault, {{convert|5000|m3|abbr=on}} of formwork for {{convert|60000|t}} of cement (mixed with {{convert|280000|m3|abbr=on}} of aggregates)

History

File:Mont Blanc Tunnel Inaugural Plaque.jpgThe idea of building a tunnel underneath Mont Blanc to avoid the need for long journeys dates back to the nineteenth century during the heyday of the railway. However, the idea did not receive widespread attention until 1907, when Francesco Farinet, a Member of Parliament of the Aosta Valley, advocated constructing of the tunnel.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tunneltalk.com/Mont-Blanc-Tunnel-Sep11-An-historic-review-46-years-of-operation.php|title=Mont Blanc Tunnel at age 46|website=www.tunneltalk.com|access-date=21 December 2018}} In 1908, a first design was presented by French engineer Arnold Monod, to much interest from Italian and French politicians.

=Agreement between France and Italy and start of construction by 1959=

Due to political turmoil and World War I and World War II, the project did not start until 1959, when excavations on the tunnel officially began. This was preceded by the signing of a national charter for the tunnel construction, ratified by the parliaments of France (1957) and Italy (1954). That same year, the STMB (Société du tunnel du Mont Blanc) was formed, which became ATMB (Autoroutes et Tunnel du Mont Blanc) in 1996. In 1962, the French and Italian drilling teams met on 4 August. The opening was successful, with an axis variation of less than {{convert|13|cm|in|0|abbr=off}}.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2010/07/0716mont-blanc-tunnel-opens/|title=July 16, 1965: Mont Blanc Tunnel Opens|last=Barry|first=Keith|date=16 July 2010|magazine=Wired|access-date=21 December 2018|issn=1059-1028}}

=Opening=

The tunnel was inaugurated by the French president, Charles de Gaulle, and the Italian President, Giuseppe Saragat on 16 July 1965. The tunnel opened to traffic on 19 July. Surveillance cameras were installed in 1978.{{Cite web |url=https://www.atmb.com/connaitre-atmb/histoire-datmb-les-dates-cles-de-la40-la-rn205-et-le-tunnel-du-mont-blanc/histoire/histoire-du-tunnel-du-mont-blanc/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221182940/https://www.atmb.com/en/about-atmb/network/mont-blanc-tunnel-work |archive-date=21 December 2018 |title=Histoire du Tunnel du Mont Blanc |website=ATMB (Autoroutes et Tunnel du Mont Blanc) |access-date=29 February 2024}}

=Updates in the 1990s=

The tunnel underwent extensive modernisation works in 1990, including the addition of safety features such as new video surveillance cameras, 8 pressurized emergency shelters, a sprinkler system and other safety maintenance. In 1997, a fire detection system was installed along with centralized safety equipment management, and new variable message signs.{{cite web |url=http://www.atmb.com/atmb/en/tunnel/26/the-mont-blanc-tunnel/the-history-of-the-tunnel.html |publisher=Autoroutes et Tunnel du Mont Blanc |title=History of the Tunnel |access-date=20 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104022749/http://www.atmb.com/atmb/en/tunnel/26/the-mont-blanc-tunnel/the-history-of-the-tunnel.html |archive-date=4 January 2014 }}

=1999 fire=

On the morning of 24 March 1999, the engine of a Belgian transport truck carrying volatile freight caught fire in the tunnel. The event expanded into a catastrophe which killed 39 people.{{cite web|url=http://www.atmb.com/atmb/en/tunnel/25/the-mont-blanc-tunnel/the-history-of-the-tunnel/the-fire-of-1999.html |title=The Fire of 1999 - Autoroutes et Tunnel du Mont Blanc |access-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729212003/http://www.atmb.com/atmb/en/tunnel/25/the-mont-blanc-tunnel/the-history-of-the-tunnel/the-fire-of-1999.html |archive-date=29 July 2012 }}

=2002 reopening=

The fire led to a tunnel closure until 9 March 2002.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1863245.stm|title=Mont Blanc tunnel reopens|date=9 March 2002|access-date=21 December 2018|language=en-GB}} The reopening followed an extensive overhaul of the safety features.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/the-security-features-of-the-mont-blanc-tunnel/a-18591388|title=The security features of the Mont Blanc Tunnel {{!}} DW {{!}} 17 July 2015|website=DW.COM|language=en-GB|access-date=21 December 2018}} The highway trunk from Aosta to the tunnel on the Italian side was completed in 2007.{{Cite web|url=https://www.salini-impregilo.com/en/projects/completed/motorways-airports/a5-mont-blanc-aosta-motorway-courmayeur-morgex-section-lot-no-2.html|title=A5 Mont Blanc-Aosta Motorway - Courmayeur- Morgex Section – Lot No 2 - Salini Impregilo|website=www.salini-impregilo.com|access-date=21 December 2018}}

Traffic

File:Traffico autostradale Frejus-Monte Bianco.pngs]]

In 2010, the average traffic volume was 4,945 vehicles per day, or around 1.80 million vehicles per year. In 2011, there were an average of 5,113 vehicles per day (about 1.87 million vehicles per year).

Although several lines of vehicles can queue up at the toll station, only a limited number of vehicles per unit time is allowed to transit the tunnel to ensure a safety distance between them.

Within the tunnel, a minimum speed of 50 km/h and a maximum speed of 70 km/h applies, while the prescribed distance between vehicles is 150 m; trucks are allowed to enter in groups of five. These security measures were taken as a consequence of the 1999 tunnel fire.

Pedestrians can cross the tunnel by bus; bicycles can also be carried through the tunnel with a reservation.

Toll

File:TunnelMtBlanc1969.jpg

The tunnel crossing is subject to a toll; the toll differs from Italy to France because of their different VAT rates.

In 2013, the one-way ticket for a car was €40.90 (€41.40 on the Italian side), while the return ticket, valid for 7 days, was €51 (€51.60 on the Italian side).{{Cite web|url=http://www.tunnelmb.net/v3.0/frasp/tariffr.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230235847/http://www.tunnelmb.net/v3.0/frasp/tariffr.asp|archive-date=30 December 2013|title=TMB - Tarifs|url-status=dead|website=archive.wikiwix.com|language=FR|access-date=12 November 2018}} In 2016, the one-way ticket for a car cost €43.50 (€44.20 on the Italian side).

Mont Blanc Tunnel Tolls on the Italian side from 1 January 2022 (22% VAT included){{Cite web |title=Mont Blanc Tunnel Toll Prices - Get from France to Italy |url=https://www.chamonix.net/english/travel/mont-blanc-tunnel |website=chamonix.net}}

Vehicle Type	One Way	Return
class="wikitable"
Cars	€52.30	€65.30
Motorbikes	€34.60	€43.50
Caravans	€69.30	€87.10

Mont Blanc Tunnel Tolls on the French side from 1 January 2022 (20% VAT included)

Vehicle Type	One Way	Return
class="wikitable"
Cars	€51.50	€64.20
Motorbikes	€34.10	€42.80
Caravans	€68.10	€85.60

References

External links

{{Official website|http://www.tunnelmb.net}}
[https://books.google.com/books?id=ytwDAAAAMBAJ&dq=1954+Popular+Mechanics+January&pg=PA92 "Traffic Tunnel to Pierce Mt Blanc."] Popular Mechanics, April 1952, pp. 92–96. Detailed drawings of planned tunnel construction
[http://www.atmb.com/en/ ATMB, Official Company Website] {{in lang|en}}
[http://www.atmb.com/fr/ ATMB, Official Company Website] {{in lang|fr}}
[http://www.atmb.com/it/ ATMB, Official Company Website] {{in lang|it}}
{{structurae|id=20003177|title=Mont-Blanc Tunnel}}
[http://www.planetware.com/map/chamonix/mont-blanc/chamonix-mont-blanc-map-f-cham.htm Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Map]
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4221565.stm BBC story on fire trial]