Major France–Italy trade artery to close for over three months

Major France–Italy trade artery to close for over three months

trans.info — 2025-08-27

Land transportation

From 1 September 2025, the Mont Blanc Tunnel — one of the key transport arteries between France and Italy — will be completely closed for more than three months due to extensive renovation works. The closure is expected to cause major disruption to road transport, forcing hauliers onto lengthy detours and raising serious concerns across the industry.

According to the operator ATMB, the closure will begin on Monday 1 September at 5 p.m. and remain in place until Friday 12 December at 5 p.m. During this period, the Mont Blanc Tunnel will be entirely shut to traffic — for both freight and passenger vehicles.

The renovation works are so extensive that a full closure is unavoidable. Given the tunnel’s strategic role in trade between France and Italy, the shutdown presents significant logistical challenges for international road transport.

Alternatives: limited and problematic

ATMB has published a map of alternative routes, but each option comes with drawbacks:

• The Fréjus Tunnel is the most obvious alternative, but heavy congestion is anticipated. Hauliers are advised to monitor traffic reports closely.
• The Great St Bernard Tunnel (on the Swiss-Italian border) offers another route, but it has restrictions: ADR transport is not permitted (class E tunnel).

Other mountain passes may be used, but their availability depends on weather conditions, making them particularly risky in autumn and winter.