Frejus Tunnel Reopens in the AlpsThe French-Italian Frejus tunnel in the Alps, which was closed since 4th June due to a fire that killed two truckers, reopened to traffic on 4th August. However, this is a partial reopening for trucks. As a precaution measure until 23rd August when an automatic fire detection system is put in service, the tunnel will operate alternately - one hour in one direction, one hour in the other - for trucks heavier than 3.5 tonnes. Vehicles carrying hazardous goods remain barred from the tunnel. The tunnel operator recalled the 70 km per hour speed limit and the obligatory security distance of 150 m between cars and even longer between trucks or coaches.Prior to the reopening, several reconstruction works to repair the damages caused by the fire have been done, for a cost of EUR10 million, together with the implementation of new safety devices. These new devices include two firefighting trucks with two agents in each vehicle, which will patrol permanently in the 12.9 km tunnel to take immediate action in the event of a fire or other incident.The Frejus tunnel reopening signals a return to normality for the Mont Blanc tunnel, the other major Alpine tunnel between France and Italy, to the great relief of local inhabitants who protested against the thousands of additional trucks in the tunnel since early June. 65% of heavy goods vehicles taking the Frejus tunnel before the fire then took the Mont Blanc tunnel. A fire in the Mont Blanc tunnel in March 1999 killed 39 people. Click here. Subscribe to E-News Weekly 28/2005. Visit www.sitaf.it and www.tunneldufrejus.com 33-34/05.