The Mont Blanc Tunnel between Chamonix in France and Courmayeur in Italy finally reopened on Saturday, just before noon. Passenger vehicles re-entered the tunnel just under three years after it closed following the catastrophic fire which raged for two days and claimed 39 lives. The re-opening came after nearly six months of speculation of 'imminent reopening' which at one time included the belief that it might happen before the start of the current ski season. The final re-opening was delayed for about an hour because an explosive device was set off on the French side of the tunnel shortly before the planned opening time. This was believed to be 'the work of environmental extremists.' As we passed the tunnel shortly after it re-opened, these extremists were clearly evident in their white overals. They were also seen all over Chamonix town asking people to sign petitions to restrict the tunnel's use for freight vehicles.

The re-opening of the Mont Blanc Tunnel was a solemn affair, concentrating on remembering those who lost their lives in March 1999. The first car through the tunnel was an aged British-licensed convertible, which drove past ranks of assembled media photographers as well as more than a thousand environmental protestors. Their key concerns and those of the majority of the population of Chamonix, include the reopening of the tunnel to lorries. No date has been given for the return of freight transportation but it is generally expected to restart within a relatively short period. When lorries are allowed back in to the tunnel it will be in one direction and lorries carrying hazardous products will not be allowed.

A huge number of safety improvements have been made to the tunnel, including more than three dozen concrete-lined, pressurised and video-linked emergency shelters located every 300 metres (1000 feet) along the tunnel; over 100 smoke extractors and 76 new fresh air vents have been installed as have 120 video cameras. Heat sensors at either end of the tunnel are designed to detect over-heating vehicles as they enter. A fire fighting team will be in place 24 hours a day in a new central command centre created in addition to the French and German tunnels.

The Mont Blanc Tunnel fire was the first of five tunnel fires in the Alps in the past three years that have together clamed over 270 lives. 12 died the following May in the Austrian Tauern tunnel; 56 people died in a rail tunnel crash near Germany's Zugspitze mountain above Garmisch; 155 were killed in the Kaprun funicular rail tragedy and last October ten were killed in the Gotthard tunnel fire. An enquiry in to the Mont Blanc Tunnel fire is continuing.

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