Mont Blanc Tunnel, Road tunnel between Chamonix and Courmayeur, France and Italy.
Mont Blanc Tunnel is a toll road tunnel linking Haute-Savoie in France with the Aosta Valley in Italy. The single gallery stretches 11.6 kilometers (7.2 miles) beneath the Mont Blanc massif, crossing through rock at an elevation of 1,274 meters (4,180 feet) with a width of 8.6 meters (28 feet).
Construction started in 1959 with drilling teams working from both sides simultaneously, using 711 tons of explosives and 4.6 million work hours. The official opening took place in July 1965 after the two sections met in the middle of the mountain.
This Alpine crossing links the French ski resort with the Italian valley year-round, offering travelers a route that avoids the high mountain passes. Place names at both ends reflect the bilingual character of the region, where French and Italian traditions meet.
Strict safety protocols apply to all vehicles, with trucks required to obtain permits at control stations located 22 kilometers (14 miles) before the French entrance. Drivers follow clear signage to both portals, and the crossing takes less than fifteen minutes in normal traffic conditions.
The gallery runs directly beneath the Aiguille du Midi, one of the most recognizable peaks in the Mont Blanc range, with a maximum rock cover exceeding 2,400 meters (7,874 feet). Both portals sit at nearly the same elevation, so the roadway inside rises only slightly.
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