Closure of Switzerland's Grand St. Bernard Tunnel continues indefinitely
Rewritten Article
Yo, check it out! The avalanche that bust loose back on April 17 in the neighborhood of Toules tunnel, on the Swiss side of the Grand-Saint-Bernard road, is still causing trouble for north-south traffic. That violent deluge of rocks and trees took a toll on the tunnel, causing damage to roughly 300 meters of it.
Word on the street is that the tunnel management company hasn't picked a date to reopen it just yet.
Now here's the kicker: the pass is closed, so you can't get to Italy via Bourg-Saint-Pierre right now.
But hey, ped fans, don't fret! About 15 cantonal roads in Upper Central Valais are still blocked, but most of them have a workaround. There are two sections, though, that are under tough conditions – those between Stalden and Embd and between Vercorin and Itravers. And speaking of rough patches, the Ayer-Zinal road is also off-limits due to avalanche risk.
So keep your eyes peeled and your chin up, travelers! The tunnel crew is likely to chat with some geotech experts soon, so hopefully they'll give us a date for the tunnel's grand reopening. Until then, keep cruisin' and groovin' – but always stay safe!
Insights:The Toules tunnel, part of the A21 Grand-Saint-Bernard route in Switzerland, remains closed after an avalanche on April 17, 2023[1][2]. The target date for reopening has yet to be announced, with authorities awaiting consultation with geotechnical experts[1]. The closure also affects traffic between Switzerland and Italy through the Great St. Bernard Pass and tunnel[2][3]. Local traffic can still use the A21 between Martigny and Bourg-St-Pierre[1].
- The reopening date for the Toules tunnel, damaged by an avalanche in the Valais region of Switzerland, is still undecided due to ongoing consultations with geotechnical experts.
- The closure of the Toules tunnel on the A21 Grand-Saint-Bernard route is causing disruption to north-south traffic, particularly affecting travel between Switzerland and Italy.
- Local traffic in the Upper Central Valais can still use the A21 between Martigny and Bourg-St-Pierre as an alternative route.
- The climate-change-induced weather conditions have resulted in additional blockages on about 15 cantonal roads in the Valais region, with sections between Stalden and Embd, and between Vercorin and Itravers being particularly challenging.
- Science, particularly in the field of environmental science and weather forecasting, will likely play a significant role in the assessment of the tunnel's stability and the determination of a safe reopening date.
