grim news for those going to the Stella Alpina

[Tarka]

A friend has just come back from a 'pass storming' holiday,during which he went to Bardonecchia and rode up Mt Cenis on his own private Stella Alpina as he had to get home this week.
(apparently the snow line is the same as last year)

Now the grim stuff....

There are massive excavations to reach the Frejus Tunnel,along with horrendous traffic jams due to hundred yard long 'daisy chains' of cars being allowed through the works at intervals.
The wonderful downhill madness section towards Susa is cars,cars,cars.
Briancon and the roads to and from are equally bad.....

Also,two new hotels are being constructed at the top of the hill in Bardonecchia,with the associated noise and mess.....

 

[Madmountainman]

Alternative ways to Bardoneccia...

D902 Col de Iseran via Val d'Isere and then the N6 Col du Mt Cenis to Susa.

Grenoble to Briancon on the N91 and then the N94.

They'll both get you there avoiding the Frejus

Or... there's the old mountain pass over the Frejus!!!

 

[Possu]

I wouldn't ride through the Tunnel de Frejus at all, accident or not. Miles of poorly ventilated tunnel with a huge cloud of exhaust fumes in the centre - no thanks, prefer to be out in the fresh air on a mountain pass.

 

[Tarka]

Cheers guys,but I wasn`t going to use the horrible tunnel anyway...I went over the passes the on the last two Stella trips.

I just posted the info because it appears that due to all the excavation and the tunnel closure,the roads are likely to be crammed with traffic...with lots of roadworks.....

 

[Shurv]

just had 2 nights in annecy and 3 nights in briancon, loads of great riding around the area,no sign of traffic anywhere.Keep south though and to the "little" roads.

 

[russ996duke]

when is a tunnel not a tunnel?

we are "doing the Stella" this year, mainly as an excuse to explore some passes, in a sensible manner of course!
anyway, it has been reported in the press that the tunnel is to be closed for at least 12 months due to a lorry crash and subsequent car fire which cost two lives!
this could explain higher levels of traffic, but still leaves the option of the passes...much more fun than some stinking hole in the ground