There are dozens of tunnels longer than this open to motor vehicles in France, Italy and Switzerland, what’s this all about?
There is since 2006 an European law (sometimes called "Loi Mont-Blanc") that applies to road tunnels, and although the Parpaillon does not appear on the map of the Trans-European road network, the Hautes Alpes county authority wants to apply that law to the Parpaillon tunnel, and therefore permanently ban motorcycles, 4X4, quads, etc... and just bicycles, hikers, horses and other short-haired moleskins will be authorized.
The main reason for this ban would be the upgrading and maintenance costs too high to bring this tunnel to European standards, which is admittedly pure bullshit but which will soon be voted on despite several petitions from local and departmental users associations.
Here is a summary of the law in question :
"Decree n ° 2006-1354 of November 8, 2006 relating to the safety of works of the road network and modifying the code of the road network.
This Directive enters into force on April 30, 2004. It is transposed into their internal law by the Member States by April 30, 2006 at the latest.
Complete transposition by the following texts :
- Law n ° 2006-10 of January 5, 2006 relating to security and development of transport.
- Decree n ° 2006-1354 of November 8, 2006 relating to the safety of works of the road network and modifying the code of the road network.
- Order of 8 November 2006 setting the minimum safety requirements applicable to tunnels over 500 meters from the trans-European network."
Vive la france and long live to its crystal-clear politics