The New Tenda Tunnel Reopens: Direct Connection Between Italy and France Restored

Saturday, June 28, 2025, marks a key milestone for cross-border connections: the new Tenda Tunnel reopens to traffic, linking the Vermenagna Valley (Province of Cuneo, Italy) with the Roya Valley on the French side.

Closed since autumn 2020 due to damage from Storm Alex, the tunnel has undergone major reconstruction and upgrading. The new 3.2-kilometer tunnel was built to the highest standards of safety and technology, including fire prevention systems, environmental sensors, information panels, and a direct link to the Anas Operations Center in Turin, ensuring safe and efficient transit.

A new 66-meter steel bridge over the Cà stream was also built to replace the historic viaduct destroyed by the flood.

While the reopening has been welcomed locally, the tunnel won’t operate at full capacity immediately: traffic will be initially regulated with alternating one-way flow, controlled by traffic lights timed at 15-minute intervals.

The Tenda Tunnel is a strategic infrastructure for both tourism and commercial travel between Italy and France, as it restores the shortest direct connection between Cuneo, Imperia, and the French Riviera, crossing the stunning landscapes of the Maritime Alps. Its reopening brings full accessibility back to a historically busy cross-border region, much loved by travelers, hikers, and commuters.

With a total investment of around €210 million, this project is a major step forward for tourism, the local economy, and mobility between Italy and France, reestablishing continuity to a vital artery for both residents and visitors.

Tenda Tunnel: schedules and transit rules during the initial phase