France hopes to reopen Somport before Christmas

France is accelerating the deadlines for the reopening of the Somport road pass. The French authorities have informed the Government’s sub-delegate in Huesca, Carlos Campo, this Thursday that it is expected to take place on December 20, before the Christmas holidays. The French road RN-134 has been closed near Urdos since September 7 due to a sinkhole caused by the effects of the storm and initial calculations pointed to a closure of around a year. A circumstance with a direct impact on traffic, both passenger and freight, and the economy.

Official confirmation came this afternoon from the sub-prefect of Oloron-Sainte-Marie, Marion Aoustin-Roth. From the chosen date, if the deadlines are finally met, cars and trucks will be able to circulate. The work is progressing faster than expected, although the scenario of resuming traffic in just under a month has already been advanced by the Minister of Transport, François Durovray.

One million euros will be invested in the sinkhole alone, which is about 50 metres long. The work consists of four phases, which involve securing the collapsed road surface, re-asphalting the surface and installing a retaining wall at the bottom of the embankment.

From Huesca, the subdelegate Carlos Campo has expressed his satisfaction with the news. “The work maintained by different bodies of the Government of Spain with France, and the work developed by the French Executive itself to speed up the works, will allow the recovery of traffic on a route that is essential for the population and economy of the Atlantic Pyrenees and Aragon,” he declared.