A landslide forced French authorities to close the A43 motorway in the Maurienne valley, between Lyon and the Italian border, and to suspend rail traffic in that region, the international press reported on Monday.
According to the EFE news agency, which quoted French authorities, the closure of road and rail traffic in the region will last several days.
L’A43 fermée and the traffic of trains between France and Italy interrompue jusqu’à mercredi: 700 m3 roches sont tombés in the valley of the Maurienne dimanche. pic.twitter.com/90em6lMaJl
– franceinfo (@franceinfo) August 28, 2023
French Transport Minister Clément Beaune stated today on the social network X (formerly Twitter) that “public services are being mobilized to restore road and rail traffic as quickly as possible”.
“The absolute priority is the safety of everyone,” the French minister added, warning that “the return to normality will take several days.”
A photo was also published of the site of the landslide, which occurred on a mountain slope on Sunday, affecting the railway line and the A43 motorway, which both run parallel.
Après l’éboulement massif intervened here #MaurienneNo public services have been mobilized to reimburse rotation and ferroviary. Priority absolutely on the safety of us; a return to the normal necessity of plusieurs jours. pic.twitter.com/vcVPjzzUf3
– Clement Beaune (@CBeaune) August 27, 2023
For trucks, the alternatives to the crossing between France and Italy, as the Fréjus tunnel is also closed to heavy car traffic, are the Mont Blanc tunnel or the A8 motorway along the French coast.
Source: DN
