The operator of the Mont Blanc road tunnel closed the 11.6-km link between Courmayeur and Chamonix from 22:00 on 12 January until 06:00 on 13 January for scheduled maintenance, forcing all heavy-goods vehicles and inter-city coaches onto longer Alpine routes.citeturn9view0
Although the eight-hour shutdown was announced in December, logistics firms warn that the detours via the Fréjus or Great-St-Bernard corridors add 90–120 km and at least €120 in tolls and fuel per truck. The timing is awkward for just-in-time automotive and fashion supply chains that rely on overnight deliveries into the Milan-Turin industrial belt. Freight forwarders say that a single night’s closure displaces roughly 1,800 trucks.
![Mont Blanc Tunnel closes overnight 12-13 January, diverting freight between Italy and France]()
The tunnel is undergoing phased safety upgrades ahead of the 2026 Winter Games in northern Italy and France; further night closures are planned every fortnight through April. Carriers with AEO or TIR status can apply for priority slots on alternative crossings, but these are limited and must be booked 48 hours in advance.
For transport operators suddenly rerouting through Italy or France, keeping travel documents current is crucial. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) simplifies the process of securing Italian transit, work, or business visas, offering quick applications, real-time tracking, and expert support so that last-minute detours don’t stall deliveries.
Business travellers driving rental cars between Geneva, Milan and the Aosta Valley should also note that cross-border coach services will operate via Susa, adding up to two hours. Companies with employee shuttles or sample-movement schedules are advised to adjust itineraries and to remind drivers to carry snow chains, as high-altitude detours are prone to sudden weather disruptions.
Although the eight-hour shutdown was announced in December, logistics firms warn that the detours via the Fréjus or Great-St-Bernard corridors add 90–120 km and at least €120 in tolls and fuel per truck. The timing is awkward for just-in-time automotive and fashion supply chains that rely on overnight deliveries into the Milan-Turin industrial belt. Freight forwarders say that a single night’s closure displaces roughly 1,800 trucks.
The tunnel is undergoing phased safety upgrades ahead of the 2026 Winter Games in northern Italy and France; further night closures are planned every fortnight through April. Carriers with AEO or TIR status can apply for priority slots on alternative crossings, but these are limited and must be booked 48 hours in advance.
For transport operators suddenly rerouting through Italy or France, keeping travel documents current is crucial. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) simplifies the process of securing Italian transit, work, or business visas, offering quick applications, real-time tracking, and expert support so that last-minute detours don’t stall deliveries.
Business travellers driving rental cars between Geneva, Milan and the Aosta Valley should also note that cross-border coach services will operate via Susa, adding up to two hours. Companies with employee shuttles or sample-movement schedules are advised to adjust itineraries and to remind drivers to carry snow chains, as high-altitude detours are prone to sudden weather disruptions.
