Elected regional councilor Laurence Boetti-Forestier is at the heart of this matter, which is the focus of attention for the residents of the valley, and more generally, the Vallée du Paillon.
For the record, during the last session, the Departmental Council unanimously voted for a motion supporting a positive solution to the matter.
The Tende Tunnel is an essential infrastructure for the residents of the Roya and Vermenagna valleys. It is also a key communication route between France and Italy, between the Piedmont region and the South Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. However, this tunnel, over 4 km long, has become one of the most dangerous in Europe and is at risk of being closed to traffic or even becoming the scene of an accident at any moment.
Aware of this, French and Italian political leaders decided a few years ago to undertake a safety and duplication project for the Tende Tunnel. This involved digging a new parallel tunnel, strengthening the old one, and creating emergency exits communicating between the two tubes.
This construction project, estimated to cost over 250 million euros, was to be funded 58% by Italy and 42% by France (shared equally among the State, the Region, and the Department). After some delays under the previous majority, the Region confirmed its financial commitment. Personally, I have always supported this project, even though I wanted measures to be taken to regulate heavy truck traffic, which was achieved with the order from the five Mayors of the Roya.
However, almost four years after the start of the work, it appears today that nothing is going as planned and the difficulties are piling up. Indeed, since June 2017, the construction has been halted after suspicions of aggravated theft and misappropriation of materials led to the opening of a judicial investigation. These alleged malpractices required the replacement of the company and cast a legitimate doubt on the quality and solidity of the work already done.
The Mayor of Tende, Jean-Pierre VASSALLO, whom I wish to support, has subsequently expressed his concerns about the potential environmental consequences of the anhydride deposits, extracted during the drilling of the second tube, left on-site and flowing into the river. Finally, recent climatic events caused the flooding of the old tunnel, which had to be closed for several days, interrupting all communication, in the absence of an operational railway line.
But in the face of these inconveniences that threaten to abandon the project and isolate the Roya, I am worried to see that no collective initiative likely to address these difficulties is being taken. Furthermore, it is unacceptable that local elected officials have no information other than what appears in the media.
Therefore, I request:
- That the intergovernmental commission scheduled for May 18 results in an initiative by the Italian and French states to unblock this situation.
That a meeting be organized immediately afterward with all the funders and the contractor to provide concrete solutions to all the difficulties encountered.
That public meetings be organized in Tende and Limone to present the state of affairs and future actions to elected officials and residents.
That necessary actions be taken to ensure that local elected officials are informed officially, promptly, and fully, about all events and decisions concerning this project in the future.
The situation at the Tende Tunnel cannot remain as it is. A collective response is necessary and demanded by local elected officials and populations.
For my part, I have had the opportunity to discuss these issues, again this week, within the transport committee and the Euro-Mediterranean committee of the Region in which I sit. I actively participate in the search for solutions and defend the interests of local populations in upcoming negotiations.
by Laurence Boetti-Forestier
