The Gorges de l’Arly reopen tomorrow

During the winter the gorges de l’Arly linking Albertville with St Gervais are more often closed than open due to the real danger of landslides and stone fall. The last 8 months have been a bit of nightmare for anyone wanting to use this important route. It is has been completely closed with a complicated detour through the mountains by Héry en Ugine. Now after over 6 million euros of work the road will reopen tomorrow, one month ahead of schedule.

The pont des Pontets above the ski resort of Flumet has been improved and a 91 meter long gallery de la Poniente has been constructed to protect travellers as well as a number of other major improvements. The road remains treacherous in winter with the danger of black ice particularly above bridges but the reopening will be good news for the Arly resorts and anyone touring around the region in winter. The RN 212 (route national) has been downgraded to RD 1212 (a mere departmental). The road was first opened in 1862 and has seen almost constant road works ever since, particularly in advance of the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics.