Almost two weeks later severe storms that caused significant damage in the PyreneesThis Friday the Bielsa tunnel was able to reopen, one of the two border crossings between Spain and France via Aragon that remained closed. After days of work, at 6 p.m., a temporary lane with alternating passage, regulated by traffic lights, was opened at kilometer point 86 of the A-138.
In this way, Trucks will also be able to circulate and enter France via this route, with the exception of those transporting dangerous goods.The rains of September 7 caused a considerable increase in the flow of the Barrosa River, which caused the complete erosion of three quarters of the road, forcing the road to be closed until its temporary repair.
The solution was to allow a temporary route, once the river flow has dropped sufficiently to allow technicians to carry out the workThese consisted of the construction of a stone foundation to support the embankment on which the detour was made.
In turn, a layer of artificial gravel was placed, on which today a layer of particle boards six centimeters thick is placed. Unfavorable weather, with heavy rain at several times during the morningprevented the start of asphalt work until a few minutes before 1:00 p.m.
With this action, undertaken in less than two weeks since the last DANA caused damage to various roads in the Pyrenees, one of the two border crossings that remained closed is reactivated. The Government of Aragon therefore recommends that Drivers travelling on both sections of the A-138 must exercise extreme caution and follow instructions at all times. and the speed limit of 40 kilometers per hour in the affected sections.
Somport is still closed
Meanwhile, pressure continues from Aragon for France speeds up RN-124 repair work and allows Somport tunnel to reopenFrom Budapest, the Secretary of State for Transport, José Antonio Santano, expressed to the representative of the French government, Aude Charrier, his concern about the effects on traffic and the need to speed up the repair of this road, given the importance of the international connection.
Likewise, The President of Aragon, Jorge Azcón, and the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, had a telephone conversation to address the problem that has arisen in the Pyrenees of Huesca.The two administrations will work “closely” together to ask the French government to speed up “as much as possible” the road reconstruction work and thus shorten the six-month deadline it had initially planned for the reopening of the Somport passage.
