The project for a new two-section gondola linking the centre of Auron to the top of the resort's pistes was approved at the last Conseil métropolitain meeting.
Departing from Le Riou to reach the summit of Sauma-Longue, with an intermediate station at Chastellarès, the new gondola lift will replace the Riou ski lift and the Les Prés chairlift.
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"The works will start in 2025, after 2024 which will be devoted to all the studies and the launch of public procurement contracts.explained Colette Fabron, mayor of Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, speaking to BMF Côte d'Azur.
Will the Las Donnas cable car soon be replaced?
This is a long-awaited achievement in Auron. It will take customers from the heart of the resort to the start of the ski lifts. The second section will take them to the summits, as close as possible to the natural snow.
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The new gondola lift is expected to offer high capacity, with 3,000 passengers per hour. It is estimated to cost between 25 and 30 million euros.
This is the first phase of a modernisation plan that is set to extend over the coming years, with the replacement of the iconic Las Donnas cable car with a six- or eight-seater chairlift.