The Mont Blanc Tunnel, a critical trans-Alpine transport route connecting France and Italy, has been closed to traffic from September 2 to December 16 for essential upgrade works.

The €50 million (£41 million) project will focus on renovating two 300-meter sections of the tunnel, aiming to improve safety and security for drivers.

The tunnel serves thousands of vehicles daily since 1965, significantly shortening the route between France and major Italian cities like Turin and Milan.

The tunnel cuts travel distances by 50km to Turin and 100km to Milan, making it a vital link for freight and passenger transport across the Alps.

While the current work was initially scheduled for 2023, it was delayed due to a landslide on the A43 in Maurienne.

In addition to the full closure, the tunnel will also undergo a series of overnight closures for resurfacing, which will continue until June 2024.

Drivers are advised to check schedules regularly to avoid facing long delays.

The need for safety upgrades in the Mont Blanc Tunnel is particularly poignant, as it has seen tragedy in the past.

In 1999, a truck fire inside the tunnel resulted in the deaths of 39 people and led to an extended closure while extensive safety improvements were made.

That incident prompted a comprehensive overhaul of road tunnel safety standards across Europe, including the introduction of new regulations for tunnel management and construction.

The Mont Blanc Tunnel fire was part of a series of deadly tunnel disasters in Europe in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including the Tauern Tunnel fire in Austria and the Gotthard Tunnel fire in Switzerland.

Combined, these incidents claimed dozens of lives and led to severe injuries.

The three major fires prompted a significant change in European safety regulations for road tunnels, which have since been adopted or mirrored in other parts of the world, including the US, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia.

Following the Mont Blanc fire, France alone has invested nearly £2bn in road tunnel upgrades to improve safety for both drivers and emergency responders.

As part of broader European efforts, tests conducted in Norway’s Runehamar road tunnel simulated various vehicle fire scenarios, shaping new safety protocols now in place across the continent.