Good news for lovers of the open road and wide open spaces: the Col d'Allos, one of the most emblematic routes in the Alps, should once again be open to cyclists, motorcyclists and motorists by the end of June 2025.
Closed since the violent storms of December 2023, this vital link between the Ubaye valley and the Haut-Verdon had to remain impassable throughout the 2024 summer season, due to major damage to the road surface.
Since the snow melted last spring, work has resumed apace on this route, which is located at an altitude of 2,250 metres. Visit Department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provencethe company in charge of the works, confirmed on 10 June that the reopening is scheduled for the end of the month, although no specific date has yet been set.
A mammoth €6.4 million project
Earthworks, riprap, nailed walls, retaining walls... To restore the 14 damaged areas, the teams are mobilising substantial human and technical resources.
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The total cost of the work is €6.4 million, paid for by the Département, which points out that this return to traffic is part of a long-term strategy to make the pass safer, with work that will continue after the reopening.
Initially, only cars and motorbikes will be able to use the road. Alternating traffic and occasional closures are already planned in the event of heavy rain or new vulnerabilities on the route.
A breath of fresh air for the local economy
As well as its appeal to tourists and sportsmen, the reopening of the Col d'Allos is seen as a relief for the local economy.
READ MORE: Nicolas Restout: "The new link with Pra Loup will make the Val d'Allos even more attractive".
Last summer, the absence of this road severely affected business in the Haut-Verdon, particularly in the mountain villages and at the resort of La Foux d'Allos, where access was made much more difficult.
Every year, from May to November, this emblematic pass attracts a constant flow of visitors and contributes to the vitality of businesses on both sides of the mountain. Bringing it back into service, even if only partially and subject to certain conditions, should boost visitor numbers from the first weeks of summer 2025.