Road between France and Andorra to reopen from March 9 after rockfall
Reopening to come more than seven weeks earlier than initially forecast after end of January closure
The RN20 in Ariège has been blocked since January 31 between Ax-les-Thermes (pictured) and Mérens-les-Vals
Gamjai/Shutterstock
The main road between France and Andorra will reopen on March 9, more than seven weeks earlier than initially forecast after a major rockfall forced its closure at the end of January.
The RN20 in Ariège has been closed since the night of January 30-31, when several large rocks fell near Mérens-les-Vals, between Ax-les-Thermes and L’Hospitalet-près-l’Andorre, causing damage to the road surface and raising concerns that more rockfalls could follow.
Initial estimates suggested the cross-border route would remain closed until May.
However, the Ariège prefecture said on February 27 that stabilisation works have restored previous safety conditions, allowing a partial reopening from Monday.
Emergency works focused first on clearing unstable debris from the source area of the rockfall.
Two additional rock masses totalling some 100m³ and supporting a 500m³ block above, were then secured to the cliff face using cables and rock bolts.
Limited reopening
Traffic will resume in a limited manner.
Movement sensors are being installed to detect any shift in the remaining rock mass, triggering flashing red lights to stop vehicles immediately if instability is detected. The system is already used in other mountainous areas of France.
Drivers must comply instantly with any red signal and are forbidden from stopping within the section identified as at risk from falling rocks.
The prefecture has warned that the road will need to close again once further geological studies are completed, to allow longer-term securing works. A broader reassessment of rockfall risks along this stretch is also planned.
The RN20 is the main road link between France and Andorra and is heavily used by winter tourists and cross-border workers.
