Travelling through the Mont Blanc Tunnel between Chamonix and Courmayeur is set to get even more expensive as of 1st January 2010, with the company Autoroute et Tunnel Mont Blanc announcing a 5.5% price rise.
This means a one way crossing in a standard car will cost 36,10€, with a return being raised to 43,70€. If you use the tunnel more than once in a blue moon to go skiing or shopping in Italy, it might be worth you getting an 'abonnement' pass. A 10 crossing pass will go up to 108,30€ for a standard car, whilst the 20 crossing option will be at 163,20€.
A press release from the ATMB explains the price hike is a combination of the 'average inflation levels of France and Italy' and the need to finance the fact that the company will take full control of the section of road we call the Route Blanche. This is actually the section of road from the lorry park at Le Fayet right the way up through Chamonix and to the entrance of the tunnel.
The ATMB has plans to spend over 17million euros on improving the tunnel, including financing a team of up to 250 people on stand by 24 hours a day in the tunnel, trialing a new ventilation system, investing in new electronic control systems for the tunnel and even a second lane for the road up to the tunnel entrance from the Chamonix side.
In terms of the Route Blanche section, the ATMB is planning to invest 30 million euros over five years to improve the route, which will, once the works are finished next summer, be dual carriageway all the way from Le Fayet up to the Mont Blanc tunnel roundabout.
The fact that the contract with the ATMB says the Route Blanche must remain free to users until 2050 means the company has to finance it somehow and tunnel users are the ones who'll pay. And, in case you think 36,10€ is expensive, if you're driving one of those escorted 'convoi exceptionel' lorries, you'll be charged a Yorkie-bar dropping 744,60€ one way!
Source : ATMB
